Meet Margaret Riley, a New Canaan mom of three and Executive Director of the YMCA. She and her family are long-time residents who moved to town in 1998, and their most memorable town events include: summer concerts at Waveny, the Fourth of July fireworks and caroling at God’s Acre. According to Margaret, “The best part of my job is getting to see firsthand the impact that the YMCA has on our community.” Learn more about Margaret and what else she loves about New Canaan!
Tell us about your family—how many kids do you have and what are their ages?
I am married and have three children. My husband, Jim, is a partner at a law firm in Greenwich. My oldest child, Matthew, is 25 and currently working as an associate news producer in New York. My daughter, Grace, is 22, a recent graduate of Providence College, and currently working as a writer for an online magazine. My youngest child, Luke, is 20 and a sophomore at Clemson University.
As a long-time resident of New Canaan, when did you move here and what led you to settle in town?
Jim and I moved to New Canaan in 1998, when Matthew was only a few months old. We were attracted to New Canaan for its beautiful downtown and open spaces.
What are your favorite activities to do in town?
Of course I love all of the friends and memories my family has made over the years coming to the Y. I also love our town traditions – summer concerts at Waveny, Fourth of July fireworks, and caroling at God’s Acre, are among my top three.
Tell us about your role as Executive Director of the YMCA.
As Executive Director, I lead a talented and highly dedicated team in serving our community through programs and services that support healthy living, youth development, charitable service, and connectivity. My days at the Y are exciting and varied. A typical day can include: discussions regarding our strategic plan, enjoying the latest theatrical performance by our young adults with special needs, building partnerships with fellow community organizations, reading to our toddler classroom, congratulating our latest LIVESTRONG at the YMCA cancer survivor program graduates, and even trips up to the Y’s roof to discuss facility improvements.
Best part about your job?
The best part of my job is getting to see firsthand the impact that the YMCA has on our community. Every day, I watch community members ranging in age from 2 months to 100 years, with all different backgrounds and abilities, come through our doors to connect with their community and thrive, thanks to all that our YMCA has to offer.
What surprises people most when they come to the Y for the first time?
The beauty and offerings of our facility always surprise people when they visit the Y for the first time. Almost without exception, people who are touring the Y comment that they’ve never before seen a YMCA like ours! The biggest surprise though is often the charitable mission and work of the Y. We are one of New Canaan’s largest charities and for 65 years, we have been dedicated to serving our community’s needs. Everything we do is in service of our community and its members. Thanks to the support of our donors, our Y awards about $250,000 in financial assistance each year, offers life-changing programs for seniors, teens, cancer survivors, and those with chronic disease, provides support to our partner school in Kibera, Kenya, and is home to one of the most robust special needs departments among Y’s across the country. When you belong to the New Canaan YMCA—either as a member, employee, volunteer, or donor—you really are a part of something special.
What are some new initiatives taking place at the Y?
In our most recent strategic planning process, we heard the community need for mental health support and opportunities to come together with others. Our Y is both eager and well-positioned to support our community in each of these areas. The Y serves as one of the best places in town to connect with others; you’ll aways see someone you know here, and new friends are made each day. We’ll also be hosting some exciting community events for all ages and families throughout the year.
We are also proudly partnering with our community’s mental health experts to increase awareness of the remarkable impact that coming to the Y to both socialize and exercise has on supporting our daily mental health. Together, we’re also collaborating on new opportunities for community mental health support, as well as the tools and information to empower us all when you or a loved one needs help.
Finally, the Y is embarking on an energy project to make our facility more efficient, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective to operate. With the Town’s support, the Y will install the infrastructure necessary to allow it to operate as a Town emergency shelter. We are very proud of this project and to have the opportunity to support our community in this important way.
What’s your favorite work out there?
I’m a huge fan of our Group Fight class. It combines kickboxing and martial arts and is so much fun that you don’t even feel like you’re working out.
Name your top band, TV show, book…
Seinfeld, the Office, and anything that makes me laugh.
Can you share the best advice you’ve ever received from a fellow mom?
The best advice I ever received is “no one can do it alone.” Especially when your kids are young, it truly does take a village. In a community like ours, we’re fortunate to be surrounded by friends, neighbors, and to have amazing town resources
Feel free to add anything you’d like to share…
I encourage anyone who hasn’t visited our Y for a while to stop by. Upon walking through our doors, you’ll experience something that you might not have realized is missing in your life – it’s called “collective effervescence.” It’s that feeling of joy people experience when they come together in a shared purpose, and it’s exactly what the Y provides. When you belong to the Y, whether as a member, employee, donor, or volunteer—you’re coming together with others in a way that delivers joy. And if you’re thinking about joining, be sure to join by October 31 to take advantage of our fall promotion where you can earn a free month!