(Batesville, IN) – The Southeastern Indiana YMCA May meeting of its Board of Directors opened with the honoring of an exceptional staff member, Alyssa Krekeler, and a special mission moment presentation from Debbie Riley, Y member and mother of Eli, who passed away in November 2022.
Riley shared Eli’s story and the impact the Y had on him.
“Eli was not just a boy, just like the Y is not just a place,” Riley shared. “Eli was helpful, kind, generous, funny, loving, brave, persistent, dedicated, smart and adorable. He put everyone else’s needs in front of his own. Many of these characteristics he learned from being a Y member. As parents, we want to instill certain values in our children, and we can thank the Y for helping us do so,” added Riley. “At the Y, Eli learned to swim and to become a ‘ninja master.’ Eli took pride in his lessons and used the moves he learned in Ninja each and every day.”
Riley continued, “Passion is generated, character is built, and trust is learned here (the Y). The outreach you (the Y) offer so generously changes the outlook of this community. You are beyond committed with offerings of support, appreciation and growth. Programs are strong on their own, however the instructors make all the difference. Thank you for being such a big part of Eli’s even bigger life. Eli was also about love and paying it forward. He would want to pass his love of ninja on to the next ninja master,” says Riley. In an effort to continue the activities that Eli was passionate about, Riley is gifting two kiddos with the opportunity to take ninja at the Y. One child is currently benefitting from Riley’s donation. “I am on a good deeds mission for the boy who was on a mission.”
A Y staff member who exemplifies the values Riley highlighted was honored at the same meeting with the S.O.A.R. Award (Service and Outstanding Achievement Recognition).
When presenting the award, Jenny Salyer, Southeastern Indiana YMCA Director of Youth Services said, “Krekeler is a huge asset to our gymnastics program. Not only does she teach half of our school age gymnastics students, she also trains new coaches and develops lesson plans. She held an in-house talent show for parents featuring all the skills her gymnastics students had learned. We get amazing feedback from the parents of the kiddos she teaches.”
Southeastern Indiana YMCA Chief Executive Officer, Tara Britton, followed Salyer to say, “Alyssa’s students flood into her class. We thank her for the great culture she has built around our gymnastics program.”
Britton also thanked Riley for coming in to share with the board the kind of impact the Y can have on one child.
“When we open our hearts, we can open doors for more children to have access to the same resources, relationships and opportunities that Eli found at the Y. We can do this through donating to the Annual Campaign,” she said.
(Southeastern Indiana YMCA press release)
