Giving Back: A Life’s Journey at the Gateway Region Y

Mark Schuette has seen firsthand the difference the YMCA can make in a person's life. Now he's helping pass on some of the lessons he learned.

"I was a troubled youth," says Mark, 30, of Troy, Ill. who first came to the YMCA to scrub floors as part of a community service assignment. "It feels good to look back and see the person I've become."

He now holds key leadership positions at the Y, which give him the chance to see how the Y serves as a force for good.

"There's no way a lot of parents could find someone to take care of their kids with the enthusiasm the staff shows at the Y," says Mark. "They are truly dedicated to their local communities."

Having seen the power of giving through the efforts of his father and grandfather, Mark is now firmly committed to giving back through the Gateway Region YMCA.

"Whenever you make a charitable gift to the YMCA, everything you give goes to programs the Y runs itself," says Mark.

In addition to serving as a board member at the CMT YMCA, he also serves on the executive board, where he oversees fundraising. A financial advisor for Prudential Insurance Company, Mark and his wife, Waynie, are new members of the Lamplighter Society and have included the Y in their estate planning, providing a gift that will benefit the Y for years to come.

"I also try to work out at the Y in the mornings," says Mark with a laugh.

No doubt many families will continue to benefit from the Gateway Region YMCA as a result of his efforts and contributions.

Numerous options are available for those who wish to leave a gift to the YMCA to enable us to continue to serve our communities. For more information, contact Wendy Cornett-Marquitz, CFRE at 314 436 1177 ext. 21640 or wendy.cornett-marquitz@gwrymca.org.