INCLUSIVENESS
648 South Wayne Ave. Waynesboro, VA 22980
DECEMBER 2025
CARING
RESPECT
Waynesboro Family YMCA
Preschool Halloween fun!
The Waynesboro Family YMCA Newsletter
(540) 943 - 9622
TOGETHER AT THE Y
INTEGRITY
www.ymcawaynesboro.org
RESPONSIBILITY
MEMBERSHIP NEWS
January Membership Promotion New Year, New You! Start Strong This January and Make 2026 Your Fittest Year Yet. No Joining Fee All Month! Looking to get a jump start on your 2026 Fittest Year Yet? Join between December 26th and December 31st, and we will waive the prorate AND the Joiner’s Fee – You will have NO PAYMENT until January 15th! Visit the Welcome Desk or call (540) 943-9622.
STOCKING STUFFERS! We have the perfect gifts for everyone on your list! Give the gift of health this Holiday season! We have YMCA gift cards available for membership or any of our programs in any denomination. Have your family and friends join you for a class on you! What a great way to start the New Year together! We’ve partnered with Tidal Wave Auto Spa to bring you a great car wash deal! Purchase a $10 gift card valued at $30 for a Graph-X4 Car Wash, complete with free vacuum use after your wash. It’s the perfect stocking stuffer everyone will love!
NO JOINING FEE All month!
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
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COUNT ME IN!
Dear Waynesboro Family YMCA Members and Friends, As we close out 2025, I extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has contributed to another year of growth, resilience, and meaningful impact. This December, we not only celebrate our accomplishments but also look ahead with optimism and renewed purpose. Your dedication, whether through volunteering, partnership, or daily hard work, continues to strengthen our community and move our mission forward. Thank you for standing with us this year. We're excited for what we will create together in 2026. Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season and a bright start to the New Year! With gratitude, Anne Hudlow
Did you recieve our latest mailer? Please email us to request a copy: info@ymcawaynesboro. org!
Giving Tree Please stop by the Waynesboro Y, take a card off our Giving Tree and help us make someone's Christmas extra special this year!
FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Need more information about our Y’s giving opportunities?
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MEMBER WINS BIG FOR WFYMCA
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Working with technology comes naturally to Pat Cuomo. Currently he works in the Department of Technology with Charlottesville City Schools. When news about a national competition that married the worlds of tech with exercise Cuomo saw an opportunity to win not only for his local YMCA, but it was a great way to get motivated to exercise. The Goji Games is an annual competition hosted by cardiogaming tech company Blue Goji. Every year the wellness tech-mogul awards prizes totaling up to $210,000 to participating organizations. Cuomo signed up to support The Waynesboro Family YMCA. He took some time to answer questions about his experience in the competition. What did you think of your experience with the Goji Games? What made you want to participate? My wife has been encouraging me to check out the Goji bikes for quite some time now. In June 2025 I finally made it to the gym with the intention of getting on one of those bikes! Riding the Expresso trails was a great way to simulate an outdoor ride when sunlight and time were limited. I was encouraged by a staff member to register for Goji Games. I had zero idea about what they were or how they worked but I signed up with an open mind and figured I could do some research on what these games were all about. I was told I could help win some money for our Y and that was an added incentive to participate. What was your strategy heading into the competition? Were you confident or nervous about succeeding? Honestly, I was enjoying the Expresso trails, goals, and challenges so much that I didn't really have a specific strategy. My overall goal was to get on the bike a few days a week and try to increase my fitness level. With Blue Goji, it's really easy and quite motivating to track your ride history and stats. I had zero strategy. As a rookie participant I went online one day to see what events I was able to participate in. I settled on the GoBikes event based on my age and interest. This event was a relatively short race with some fun gaming features. I figured that I knew how to steer, switch gears, and race so why not! In a twist of irony, I did one qualifying race and then got sick for the remainder of the qualifying window. My daughter, who works at the Y kept telling me that my qualifying time was in one of the top spots. How much did you "win" in your division? My second place finish was a $5,000 prize. And the GoBike competition was the only event I entered. Participating in the Goji games was a lot of fun. The more recent Y Madness Challenge has been a great way to pedal alongside members and get to know people I would otherwise never meet. I look forward to continuing on the Goji bikes and am hopeful to see some additional or updated Goji bikes so we can expand our ability to compete in these events and games.
Many thanks to Pat Cuomo!
Can't wait until next year! Mark your calendars for November 26, 2026!
Fun Facts About the Event! The Turkey Trot grew 20+% 30% of participants were18 and under 54% of registrations were female 17 states were represented including California, Maine, and Michigan
HUGE CROWDS TURN OUT FOR TURKEY TROT
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our 27th Annual Turkey Trot! We had a record setting SIX HUNDRED SIXTY-SEVEN (667) registrants this year! The support and enthusiasm of our community and our sponsors for this event, year after year, has been absolutely incredible! We also want to give a huge shout out to our event sponsors: This event, and the positive impact we create in our community, would not be possible without your support. We extend our sincere thanks to all the staff and volunteers who assisted with the event, as well as the Riverside Runners who helped make the run possible. We are also grateful to the City of Waynesboro, the Waynesboro Police Department, Waynesboro Rescue Squad, and Waynesboro Public Works for their essential role in ensuring the safety and security of our participants and volunteers.
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During the month of November, we were able to provide weekend food bags and Thanksgiving boxes for childcare families. We packed and distributed 174 breakfasts, 174 lunches, 51 dinners, multiple snacks, 7 complete Thanksgiving meals with turkeys and 2 bags of Thanksgiving sides. This assisted 26 children from 15 different families. We are grateful to be part of an organization that allows us to step up and fill the gaps when needed. We couldn’t do projects such as this without the generous support of our community sponsors. Every contribution, big or small, helped us make a difference for our families and children. Thank you for being part of this caring community! On November 21, Preschool hosted their annual Thanksgiving Luncheon for their families. We had 40 plus guests come and celebrate with us. The children were dressed in their handmade turkey shirts and cute turkey headbands. We had a wonderful time enjoying a meal with our families. Rebecca Patton Childcare Director Waynesboro Family YMCA Childcare
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WFYMCA CHILDCARE PROGRAM UPDATES Holidays Full of Love for our Families
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WFYMCA Information 648 S. Wayne Ave. Waynesboro, VA 22980 (540) 943-9622 info@ymcawaynesboro.org www.ymcawaynesboro.org Facility Hours Monday – Friday 5 a.m. – 9 p.m. Saturday 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
The WFYMCA Childcare holiday party was filled with warmth, laughter, and the true spirit of the season. Thanks to the generous donations from Correy and Kelly Smith, Merv Wooten, and Lynn Anderson, holiday cheer reached far and wide. Their contributions made it possible to purchase gifts for 92 children, each one wrapped and given with care. The room was full of energy as Alex Stevens Photo Booth captured smiles, silly poses, and memories that will last. Jeff Fife kept the party lively with music that had children dancing, while Chris Lancaster stepped in wherever an extra hand was needed. Volunteers, Eleanor Graves, Derek Patton, and Taylor Fahrni helped tirelessly to distribute gifts, guiding activities, and kept the event running smoothly. By the end of the day, the kiddos had grateful hearts - a shared reminder that the holidays shine brightest when a community comes together.
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Movement Agility Strength Class
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Kristin Schroeder shared about her experience working with Personal Trainer Tre Woodson: “I started working with Tre when I was about 14 months postpartum and had very little experience with resistance training. Since yoga had been my comfort zone for decades, I was intimidated to start the process, but Tre quickly made it both very accessible and personalized. My favorite part of training with Tre has been working collaboratively to target muscle activation patterns that are different from those dominant in my yoga practice. I feel so much stronger already!"
Meet Natalie Hall -one of our most inspiring and versatile Group Fitness instructors at the Waynesboro Family YMCA! Natalie brings uplifting energy, expertise, and variety to every class she teaches, offering Barre, Spin, Muscle Mania, and Cardiosculpt classes on the Group Fit Schedule. Her classes are designed to help members feel strong, confident, and challenged at any fitness level. Don’t miss her once-a-month, metabolism-boosting cycle pop-up: 90 Minute Ride - a fun cardio-building experience that leaves you feeling accomplished and energized. In addition to her teaching expertise, Natalie is an outstanding and proactive team member, always ready to lend a hand or offer insightful ideas for Y improvements and initiatives. "Working out with Natalie is so much fun! She puts so much thought into her classes and we get a great workout! I've been taking Spin Class with Natalie for 5 years. She does an amazing job. She lets us chat but somehow still makes sure we stay on task to get our workout complete. We all love her!!!!" - From Wonderful Member, Kara Redifer
FITNESS UPDATES
PERSONAL TRAINING: Tre Woodson
Scan to Register
Instructor Highlight: Natalie Hall
Join instructor Daniel Linkins for MAS class to achieve your personal best with great coaching and fantastic group energy! Wednesdays and Fridays at 6:00 AM Sign up 24 hours in advance to reserve your spot and get class info. Drop in welcome!
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A Fun Place to be Healthy!
Corner
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Join us and try Gentle Conditioning, held in our Fitness Studio on Mondays and Fridays at 11:45 AM! Instructor Kristi Alger will inspire you with a full-body strength workout, guiding you with expert cueing for form AND showing modifications as needed. Kristi creates a community of strength and optimism with her natural warmth and great sense of humor. Motivating music is the cherry on top of this great exercise opportunity!
DIVE IN TO AQUATIC GROUP FITNESS!
AQUATICS UPDATES
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SPORTS NEWS
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Remembering a Great Season
By Eleanor Rixey
The Waynesboro Family YMCA Adult Men’s Basketball League wrapped up with an exhilarating showdown between Crozet Crazy and Hoosier Daddy during the championship game. From the moment the game started both teams put forth an impressive display of skills and teamwork. Crozet Crazy took the lead but Hoosier Daddy did not make it easy for them to stay ahead. Ultimately Crozet Crazy won the championship with a final score of 66 to 50. The real winners, though, were Chris Lancaster and WFYMCA Executive Director, Anne Hudlow. Lancaster began leading the sports program in February of 2025. Hudlow saw the potential in him before he did. When the position opened, Hudlow knew immediately that Lancaster was the perfect candidate. Lancaster said, “Anne had seen me. She knows that I know all about the program. She was like, ‘You'd be the perfect fit for the program. You want to try it out?’ I was like, ‘yes.’” Lancaster started on the maintenance crew seventeen years ago. Currently, he oversees that department. During that time he has worked closely with the other Sports Program Directors, as a coach and referee. After seventeen years you could easily lose passion and interest. But, not for Lancaster. At the WFYMCA he keeps finding ways to grow and develop. Stepping into this new role was natural for him. For Lancaster it’s all about making connections and giving back. “All the kids love me,” he said. “That’s a very good feeling.” Lancaster understands that sports programming is important no matter what age you are. He can help create that safe space where children and adults can have positive experiences. Adults are carrying things with them and they need a healthy outlet just as much as the children do. In the nearly two decades of his experience he’s seen how programs like this impact a person’s lifetime. “I’ve seen how it’s changed… Actually there’s people that are younger than me [now]. I've watched them grow into the game.” Waynesboro hasn’t always been his home. He moved here from Washington D.C. when he was 17. He has chosen to stay, lay down roots and make sure he does his best to cultivate a passion for sports in his adopted community. It’s not something that just anyone can do. Why does he do it? For Lancaster the answer is simple, “Because I love to do it.” The WFYMCA has provided a place where he can evolve in his purpose and passion. It’s all about “Trying to make a difference.” His commitment and consistency reflected that dedication.
ADULT BASKETBALL LEAGUE
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The Waynesboro YMCA provided $8,275 in Membership Scholarships in 2025. With a YMCA membership, you receive discounted rates on programs and early access to registration. You gain access to YMCA locations across the country. Your membership fees help support our local initiatives which strengthens the community. We offer Kid's Place - this is a safe, convenient, and engaging environment for your children allowing you to prioritize your own health and well-being with peace of mind.
DID YOU KNOW?
Looking back on our membership through 2025...
