Here to stay,
Here to grow.
2014 Annual Report
YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit
For youth development
Nurturing the potential of every child and teen.
From a kid with ‘the horse bug’
to a career as an equine vet.
Jeremy Shaba’s love of horses came at an early age. He says he caught “the horse bug” the first time he set foot in the barn at YMCA Camp Nissokone in Oscoda.
“It became apparent how much I loved being at Nissokone and riding when I would find myself dreaming of my home away from home, the people, and the horses during the months in between summers,” he says.
Nissokone has almost always been a part of his life. His camp history dates back to 1993, when he was 4 and attended family camp. He went to sleepaway camp at age 8 and continued every summer until he became a counselor at 16. He remained a counselor for three summers and then was promoted to ranch director for two summers.
During one summer at sleepaway camp, the ranch director gave Jeremy a project horse to work on named Beau. It was a new horse that the camp had just gotten but it wasn’t quite steady enough for campers who had never ridden before.
“For three summers, I rode him and worked on making him a better horse. Every summer I came back, I was so excited to see him and continue growing together,” he says.
Jeremy eventually bought Beau and brought him home, where they continued growing together and going on wild adventures.
Today Jeremy advises the ranch program at Camp Nissokone and attempts to make it back to camp whenever he can.
“Nissokone has had a major impact on my life. It has shaped who I am as an individual, taught me how to be a leader, how to deal with conflict resolution, and how to work in a team,” Jeremy says.
It has also carved his career path. Jeremy graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College this spring and has taken a job as an equine veterinarian in Lexington, Kentucky. His studies have brought him on externships all over the United States and around the world, with recent trips to Northern Ireland and Dubai.
He credits Camp Nissokone on his blog, jeremyshaba.com, where he writes about all of his adventures as a veterinary student. “After my time at Nissokone, I knew that horses would somehow always be a part of my life,” he says.
And for those who have never been to summer camp, Jeremy offers his advice: “You will never understand what it is like, and I will never be able to adequately explain the magnitude of its effect. For those who ever felt bullied or felt like they didn’t fit in, that all goes away at summer camp. You can be whoever you want to be and you are not judged at all. All of your cabin mates will bring new ideas and perspectives to your group dynamic. It’s the diverse group of people coming together and forming a tight knit group that makes camp at Nissokone so special.
Drive up the driveway to camp and roll down your windows. Take a deep breath and realize that you have just entered one of the most beautiful places on earth. The smell of camp is something that I have dreams about. The white pines hanging tall over the driveway as you pass by. The breeze of the lake blows through your hair and provides a much needed cool down on a hot summer day. You close your eyes and instantly all of your senses become heightened. The smell of the trees, the breeze off the lake blowing through the leaves, and the sun shining down on your skin. It’s utopia.
That’s what camp does for me and I think it can do the same for you. I know that leaving your family and friends for one to two weeks can be very scary, especially when you are going someplace brand new. The hardest part of the journey will be getting on the bus. Once you do that, you will never look back. I promise! Prepare to make memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.”
For Healthy Living
Improving Metropolitan Detroit’s health and well-being.
A lesson beyond bootcamp.
Leslie Hare, a health educator at Lincoln Park High School, lives by the mantra “practice what you preach,” especially as it relates to teaching. She didn’t anticipate that the mantra would lead her to Parris Island for recruit training with the Marine Corps.
Her journey to boot camp began when a recruiter visited Leslie’s students to explain opportunities the Marines can offer today’s young adults. He mentioned that teachers had the opportunity to attend a boot camp experience that allowed them to get a taste for life as a Marine recruit, and Leslie’s students were listening intently.
“My students took it as their personal mission to constantly nag me and even approached my boss about my being gone for a few days to be able to attend,” Leslie said.
A few weeks later, the sergeant was on the phone, informing her that she had a spot if she wanted one.
“My students used their persuasiveness again to remind me of all of the times I told them to take healthy risks, to expand their comfort zones, to grow through life-changing experiences, and I said yes to the sergeant,” she said.
She was nervous. Her personal fitness was going to be put to the test, and by Marines no less. She called the Downriver Family YMCA, where she was a member. She scheduled an hour of personal training with Mary Reed.
“I was beyond grateful and thoroughly exhausted – as well as sore – after an hour,” she said. “YMCA trainers know their stuff!”
She continued to build her strength and endurance, both in personal training and on her own at the Y. When she made it to boot camp, she found herself to be more prepared than others.
“The obstacles were insane and really hard,” she said. “While I didn’t execute them flawlessly, I was able to keep up with my peers and survive. I call that success.” Leslie’s Y story goes beyond boot camp.
“The fact is, as appreciative as I am to the YMCA for its assistance in the preparation for boot camp, that pales in comparison to my gratitude for their programs for my immediate family,” she said.
In October 2013, Leslie’s dad received life-shattering news: He had cancer. He was 59 and lived a fairly active lifestyle. His odds of survival were unfavorable, and he was in for the fight of his life.
“Dad joined the YMCA to get his fitness up to par as he battled chemo, radiation, and eventually faced the surgery he knew was coming,” Leslie said. “Some days we would walk the track, and when he was feeling weak from his treatments, we did the stationary bikes together. Dad became more comfortable at the YMCA and grew to love it. He would even come on days I couldn’t make it and then proudly text me his mileage accomplished for some much-needed encouragement.”
In February of 2014, he completed his surgery. Leslie credits prayer, family support, treatments and surgery, and the routine he developed at the YMCA for his survival.
“He beat some very grave odds and I will forever be grateful,” she said.
“Looking back, I know that even years from now I will always value those walks on the track with Dad,” Leslie said. “Some of our deepest and most meaningful conversations about life, dreams, fears, goals, and family were had between Dad and I on that track at the YMCA.”
2014 Financial Report
for the period ended December 31, 2014
Operating Activities
| Support & Revenue | |
|---|---|
| Contributions & Special Events | $ 1,669,083 |
| Membership Dues | 15,081,187 |
| Program Fees | 12,263,963 |
| Educational Services | 7,347,498 |
| Grants | 2,414,214 |
| Other | 1,533,429 |
| Total Operating Revenue | 40,309,374 |
| Expense | |
|---|---|
| Personnel | 24,016,448 |
| Occupancy | 6,273,878 |
| Program | 5,834,408 |
| Other | 1,816,959 |
| Total Operating Expense | 37,941,693 |
| Net Income from Operating Activities | 2,367,681 |
Non Operating Activities
| Capital & Other Contributions | 267,191 |
| Investment Activity | 429,207 |
| Interest Expense | (612,234) |
| Depreciation Expense | (2,915,467) |
| Other | (644,456) |
| Net Loss from Non Operating Activities | (3,475,759) |
| Net Income/(Loss) | ($1,108,078) |
Our Volunteer Leadership
Officers
Chairman of the Board:
William Erken
Vice Chairman:
James Nicholson
Vice Chairman:
Michael McInerney
Treasurer:
Steven Kurmas
Secretary:
Scott Landry
Immediate Past Chairman:
Ronald Deneweth
Members-at-large
- David Allen
- Sabah Ammouri
- William Baer
- Paul Balas
- John Bamberger
- Tom Borg
- Wayne Bradley, Sr.
- Daniel Bretz
- Evelyn Caise
- Jeanne Carlson
- John Carter
- Brian Cloutier
- Mary Corrado
- Anthony Cracchiolo
- Matthew Cullen
- Ahmad Ezzeddine, Ph.D
- Burton Farbman
- Jay Farner
- Raymond Finocchio
- Gary Forhan
Branch Chair, YMCA Camping Services - Wendy Foss
- Ronald Gantner
- Marita Grobbel
- Sandra Hermanoff
- Amy Hochkammer
Branch Chair, Birmingham Family YMCA
- Pearl Holforty
- Patricia Hubbell
Branch Chair, Boll Family YMCA - Eric Huffman
Branch Chair, Metro Youth YMCA - Larry Johnson
- Kyle Kerbawy
- Marshall Kleven
Branch Chair, Livonia Family YMCA - Pete Kowalski
- Brad Kreiner
- Arthur Kubert
- Daniel Langlois
- Elaine Lewis
- Ben Maibach, III
- Maria Martinez
Branch Chair, Lakeshore Family YMCA - Erik Meier
Branch Chair, South Oakland Family YMCA - James Mestdagh
- Edward (Chip) Miller
- Grant Morisette
- Joseph Mullany
- James Nicholson
- Arthur Nitzsche
- Karen O’Donoghue
- Michael Ottaway
- Venus Randle
Branch Chair, North Oakland Family YMCA - Carl Rashid, Jr.
- Carl Roehling
- Paula Roman
- Scott Russell
Branch Chair, Plymouth Family YMCA - Dennis Rutkowski
Branch Chair, Downriver Family YMCA - James Scapa
- Tom Schumm
- Bernard Silverstone
- Jennifer VanHorn
- Dwight Vincent
- Gail Bernard von Staden
- Susan Webb
- Sean Werdlow
- Alan Whitman
- Steve Youtz
Branch Chair, Carls Family YMCA - Al Zander
Branch Chair, Farmington Family YMCA
Non-Metropolitan Board Members Serving on Committees of the Metropolitan YMCA Board
- Richard Aginian
- Paula Brown
- Rick Bartlette
- Dennis Dust
- Frederick Karn
- Jennifer Guariniello
- Mike Heatley
- Clare Kabel
- Mike Kollver
- Mark R. Lezotte
- Gary Marowske
- Kim McAuliffe
- Pamela Melvin
- Kevin Morin
- RoseAnn Nicolai’
- Nancy A. Peters
- Kevin M Prather
- Robert Roy, Jr.
- Ken Rutyna
- Jennifer L. Village
Leadership Staff
Our Officers
Scott Landry
President and CEO
Scott Walters
Executive Vice President/COO
Michelle Kotas
Senior Vice President/CFO
Latitia McCree
Senior Vice President of Mission Resources/CDO
Lorie Uranga
Senior Vice President of Properties and Purchasing
Alison Bailey
Senior Vice President of Human Resources
Darcie West
Senior Vice President of Association Business Systems
Chad Creekmore
Vice President of Membership and Marketing
Lynette Simmons
Vice President of Mission Resources
John Harris
Vice President of Branch Operations
Lisa Mullin
Vice President of Finance/Controller
Branch Leadership
Tony Pecoraro
Birmingham Family YMCA Executive Director
Kristofer Stimac
Boll Family YMCA Executive Director
Bart Reed
Carls Family YMCA Executive Director
Doreen Durandetto
District Vice President,
Downriver Family YMCA Executive Director
Laura Perlowski
District Vice President,
Farmington Family YMCA Executive Director
Andrea Strutz
Lakeshore Family YMCA Operations Director
Brian Wolverton
Livonia Family YMCA Executive Director
Rheanne Suszek
Macomb Family YMCA Executive Director
Chris King
North Oakland Family YMCA Executive Director
Sage Hegdal
Plymouth Family YMCA Executive Director
Kyle Anderson
South Oakland Family YMCA Executive Director
Steve Heiny
YMCA Camp Ohiyesa Executive Director
Ryan Mertz
YMCA Camp Nissokone Executive Director
Margaret Edwartowski
Y Arts Director
Nicole Richard
Metro Youth YMCA Executive Director
Tricia Hamzik
Y Reach Executive Director
Helping us grow
Our 2014 Donors
Heritage Club
Members of the Heritage Club provide financial stability for the Y either through a current gift or an estate plan to the YMCA Endowment Fund. These generous contributions will support the Y for generations to come. We can’t thank the Heritage Club members enough for their generosity and vote of confidence in the bright future of the Y.
Chairman’s Club
Chairman’s Club members strengthen the Y by giving an annual campaign gift of $1,000 or more. The Y uses these generous donations to give everyone an opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. Chairman’s Club members’ contributions help the Y create meaningful, enduring impact right here in our community.
Every effort has been made to ensure these lists are correct and complete.
If you have questions or concerns regarding this list, please contact Debbie Kaiser at (313) 223-2493.
Grow with Us
How you can help us strengthen Southeast Michigan
Join
Be a part of a cause for strengthening community that is committed every day to helping you and your kids learn, grow and thrive. As a Y member, you can find personal balance and enjoy quality time with family and friends.
Volunteer
You positively impact lives right in your own community with the Y while making new friends and connections. Our volunteers have an opportunity to share their time and talents in a wide variety of ways.
Give
Your gift makes an immediate, lasting impact right in your community, helping children and families striving to overcome difficult circumstances become healthier and more confident.
In 2014,