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Member Spotlight: Brenda

Brenda is standing in front of the McGaw YMCA with sunglasses, black pants, and a long-sleeve YMCA t-shirt on.

Member Spotlight: Meet Brenda! She’s been a member of the McGaw YMCA for the last year or so and has been loving our Fitness Challenges, trying new things and staying motivated every step of the way! She enjoys the Y because it’s a warm, supportive community where people can reach their fitness goals. “All of my instructors have been amazing and very encouraging. The Y has made a difference in my fitness and health journey,” Brenda shares. Fun fact: Her kids and extended family have been attending Camp Echo for over 20 years, inspiring her to join the Y, too! Thanks for being such a valued part of our Y family, Brenda!

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Staff Spotlight: Liette

Liette is wearing a blue short sleeved Y staff shirt while holding a pickleball paddle in her hand.

Staff Spotlight: Meet Liette, a Pickleball Ambassador at McGaw YMCA! Liette sets up the courts, welcomes players, and teaches beginners. As a natural connector, she ensures everyone feels included and has fun on the court. A longtime member, Liette’s family has deep roots at the Y. After losing her husband during the pandemic, she found healing through a Y pickleball clinic. “Simply said, pickleball at our McGaw Y saved my life.” Fun fact: Liette volunteers as a River Ranger on Chicago’s Wild Mile—picking up trash while kayaking along the river! Whether you catch her in the Sebring-Lewis Center or at a group fitness class, be sure to say hi!

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Miles that Matter: A Cross-Country Bike Ride to Support YMCA Men’s Residence

Mark Metz and Noreen Edwards are riding 4,100 Miles to build support for the McGaw YMCA’s Men’s Residence housing program and upcoming renovation project. Evanston, IL — This summer, four wheels will carry a mission across the country. From August 24 through mid-November 2025, McGaw YMCA Board Chair Mark Metz and his wife, Noreen Edwards, will embark on a 4,100-mile self-supported ride along the TransAmerica Trail from the Pacific to the Atlantic on their recumbent bicycles. Their purpose? To raise awareness and vital funds for the McGaw YMCA Men’s Residence, one of the last remaining YMCA Single Room Occupancy (SRO) housing programs in the United States. For more than a century, the Men’s Residence has been a beacon of hope, offering safe, affordable housing to men in Evanston, Illinois. At a time when affordable housing is becoming increasingly scarce, Metz and Edwards are taking bold action to help preserve and

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