Contact Us
YMCA of Greater Miami
Association Office
1200 NW 78 Avenue,
Suite 200
Miami, FL 33126
305-357-4000
www.ymcamiami.org
YMCA of Greater Miami
Children Services
1200 NW 78 Avenue,
Suite 200
Miami, FL 33126
305-357-6622
South Dade Family Branch
9355 SW 134 Street
Miami, FL 33176
305-254-0310
|
Homestead Family Branch
1034 NE 8th Street
Miami, FL 33030
305-248-5189
Village of Allapattah
Family Branch
2370 NW 17 Avenue
Miami, FL 33142
305-635-9622
Stay Connected
Social Networking Links
Follow us on Twitter:
YMCA of Greater Miami
South Dade Family Branch
Homestead Family Branch
Village of Allapattah Family Branch
Strong Kids Campaign: Donate Now!
|
|
|
We build strong kids, strong families and strong communities.
|
|
 |
|
 |
The YMCA means a lot of different things to a lot of
different people around the world. To
Barbara Wong (shown to the left with husband Philip Wong), the YMCA means camaraderie, community, and fond high school
memories of playing gigs on the gymnasium stage of the YMCA of West San Gabriel
Valley in Alhambra, California with her all-girl rock band, The Jaggz.
Currently, Barbara
resides in South Florida. She has been a member of the South Dade
Family YMCA for about four years now, and spends five to six days there
every week. During the weekdays, Barbara trains with Membership and
Wellness Director, and personal trainer, Julian Castro, and partakes in Boot Camp whenever possible. On the
weekends, she enjoys
a variety of group exercise classes such as
kick-boxing, weight exercise and spinning with trainer Annette
Figueroa.
Barbara likes to stay active. Although she had enjoyed the YMCA as a teenager in California, she did not become involved with the Y in South Florida until 2006. "From about 1983 up until a few years ago, I attended a
retail gym," said Barbara. "A few years ago, a friend finally convinced me to
go work out at the Y. Once I went, I
thought to myself 'what was I thinking?'
At the retail gym, no one talked to each other. No one knew my name. At the Y, after just a few days, everyone
knew me by my first name. The trainers
and staff work hard to make sure members are happy and comfortable. They are always ensuring that the place is
clean, and taking the time to explain exercises to you so that you don't hurt
yourself while working out. My old
retail gym didn't offer any of that."
Aside from staying healthy and active at the Y, Barbara takes
joy in being part of different South Dade Family YMCA events such as the Casino
Night annual fundraiser and the annual Christmas party. Additionally, Barbara
enjoys including her family in the fun.
Her husband, Philip, is also a member.
Philip had stopped going to the gym about 25 years ago, but he is now refocused on his
health, and trains with Julian Castro at the South Dade Family YMCA three days
each week. "He loves it," Barbara said.
Barbara also takes her granddaughter Melanie, 13, to the Y to
participate in a variety of youth sports and other activities. "My second granddaughter, Kelsy, is only two
months old, but just as soon as she's potty trained, I'm taking her to the Y
with me," said Barbara. "I've got plans
for her."
The Y is like a second home, Barbara explains. "You walk in, and that's it.
All the staff work really hard, and are so well-mannered and
welcoming. Many times I've seen members with personal problems, and they get a
great deal of moral support from employees and other members. The Y also never turns anybody away for
inability to pay. The YMCA always steps
up to the plate, always." "It's just really nice to go
somewhere where everyone knows you.
You're definitely not invisible at the YMCA." Please help us continue to build strong kids, strong families and strong communities, and Donate Now.
Missed our last e-mail? Read it here. |
 |
|
