Darlene Leflar started taking her son, Vincent “Vinni” Piselli, to the Bob Sierra Family YMCA ten years ago. As a single mother from out-of-state, Darlene turned to the Y to help keep Vinni engaged. And he’s been busy ever since, participating in about 75 team sports programs, attending several summer camps and racking up numerous trophies. Darlene says, “I have watched Vincent grow from a 5-year-old kid at the Y, to a 14-year-old with a plan. The values that were instilled in Vincent from the counselors and coaches here are exactly the values any mother would want for their child.”

At the Y, Darlene is also learning a great deal as a parent. “Respect, trust, hope, team unity, sportsmanship and the ability to lose with grace are just a few of the attributes learned in this program. What a great thing! I love this place! I, too, have learned a lot from the coaches and the staff and I trust and value their opinions.” Darlene views the Y staff as family, “As a mother, it’s a good and comforting feeling to know that when you drop your kid off at this facility, your child is in the best of care and is being taught good values in life.”

The Y granted a financial scholarship to Vinni, who’s now 14 years old. That cut costs in half for Darlene, who can’t work much due to a health setback, “If not for their generosity, Vincent would not have participated and grown as much as he did. All of those years of youth sports has prepared Vinni for his position as Captain of the Blake High School Varsity Soccer Team. And it all started at the Y."

The Y counts on the generosity of members and donors to keep our doors open to those who need a place to go to be healthier, more confident, connected and secure. It’s through your generous donations that we’re able to place kids like Vinni in a caring, supportive environment and help them grow into “teens with a plan.”