The Y wouldn’t be the place it is today without its members and program participants. We want to embrace your Y experience and share it with others in your community so your neighbors, friends, and families can see the impact the Y has had on your life. Please use this form to submit your story.

How the gymnastics program at the Darien YMCA proved to be a perfect 10 for one young athlete: Many people dream of standing atop an Olympic podium, gold medal in hand. Few people put in the hard work, long hours, and training to achieve that dream. Guiliana “Gigi” Pisano is one of those people…

Darien YMCA member Elijah Trofort loves people and can often be found in the halls of the Darien YMCA, greeting and meeting friends, both new and old…

Darien YMCA Aquatic Director Amy D’Andrea isn’t just a Y employee – she’s a product of it. The Massachusetts native considers herself a “Y brat,” as she grew up as a child of an Andover YMCA employee. Her mother was…

Our family’s roots originated at a YMCA. Without the Y, our family of five’s journey to the Darien YMCA may never have happened. My wife, Erica, and I first met…

My family and I moved to Darien in December of 2022. One of the first tasks once we found our home was to find a preschool program for our oldest son. My background is in Special Education and in Educational Leadership, so I look at school programs through the lens of a parent as well as an educator. We had heard many positive things about…

Having grown up in Darien, the YMCA played a significant role in my development as a student-athlete, from recreational hoops starting in elementary school to strength training programs while competing at a D1 university. Now working full-time locally, the Darien Y has become an irreplaceable component of my daily routine. Fortunately,…

If you’ve been involved at the Darien Y at any time in the last 7 years, you’ve likely seen member Erin Lumpkin and her family around the building. Erin initially joined the Darien Y when she had a toddler and an infant. She was new to town and looking for an activity she could do with both of her kids, and that’s when she found…

Fifteen years ago, I turned a “certain age” and decided it was time to get myself in shape and change my way of living to a much healthier lifestyle. Fast forward to 2022, I am 30 lbs. lighter and in pretty good shape for a guy “my age”.

My name is Marissa Herbers and I am a CA native who now lives in Darien with my husband and 2 beautiful children. To give you some background, 10 years ago I was pregnant with my daughter Reagan and in excellent health. I was someone who was involved in sports my whole life, was in good shape, and enjoyed my 7am fitness classes.

Here at the Y, we like to,say that we strengthen the community through programs and relationships that build a healthy spirit, body and mind. However, this is not just something we just say – our staff and members are doing it! ”

Familiar faces help make the Darien YMCA feel like a home away from home. Membership services representative, Lisa Ienner and pre-school teacher, Kelly Laccona have been a part of the Y family for over 17 and 25 years.

Jane Marrone joined the Darien YMCA over 20 years ago when her family returned to Connecticut after living abroad in England. First training with Andrea in the wellness center and more recently finding community and health during retirement by participating in water aerobics. As Jane tells it, her water aerobics group receives safe and robust work-outs in the pool and has formed friendship that they count on both in and outside of class.

We are waiting to hear your story, every impact story is an inspiration to others and a motivation for us to keep working diligently for our members!