Fueling the Y’s Impact: When Companies Listen to What Communities Need
Release Date: 10/29/2025
Turning Retirement into a Mission: Expanding Access to Camp
(Y) Connect
Today, we’re joined by Darrell Edquist, a member of the Community Engagement Board at the Isakson/Alpharetta Family YMCA, who has turned his retirement into something incredibly meaningful. Darrell set a personal goal to help 4,000 children—kids who might not otherwise have the opportunity—experience summer camp at the Y. And he didn’t just set the goal—he got to work. As of last week, he’s already raised enough support to send 74 kids to camp this summer. It’s a powerful reminder of what’s possible when someone decides to use their time, their relationships, and their energy...
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Fan Favorite: Dr. Lori Duckett on Inclusion & Impact at the Y
(Y) Connect
Today on (Y) Connect, we’re honored to welcome Dr. Lori Duckett—physician, advocate, and proud member of the Andrew & Walter Young Family YMCA. Dr. Duckett is a passionate supporter of inclusive sports and has been instrumental in introducing Special Olympics programming to the Y. Her leadership is helping to ensure that athletes of all abilities feel seen, supported, and celebrated. In today’s episode, we’ll hear how Dr. Duckett’s medical background, personal experiences, and unwavering belief in equity have shaped her journey—and how the Y community is growing stronger and...
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Y Member Trinity Smith Helps Teen Girls Thrive
(Y) Connect
Today, we’re joined by Trinity Smith, a high school senior and member of the East Lake Family YMCA who is already making an incredible impact in her community. Through her nonprofit Roots In Her Health, Trinity leads weekly wellness sessions for middle school girls at the Y, creating a space where they can slow down, talk openly, learn about their health and well-being, and build confidence in who they are. Her work was inspired by her own experience growing up with a chronic illness and learning how important it is for young people to understand their bodies and advocate for...
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Y Summer Camp Turns Into a Lifetime Together
(Y) Connect
Every now and then, we get to share a story that just makes you smile from the very beginning. And this is one of those. Back in the summer of 1989, at YMCA Camp High Harbour, two teenagers met on the shores of Lake Burton. Think mix tapes, handwritten notes in camp mailboxes, long days on the dock, and campfire songs under the North Georgia sky. They spent that summer leading, laughing, and becoming friends in the way only camp can create. Then life took over. They went their separate ways. College. Careers. Marriage. Children. Health challenges: big milestones and hard seasons. Nearly thirty...
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You Belong Here
(Y) Connect
Today we’re talking about something that sits at the heart of our new Strategic Plan’s PEOPLE goal: building community within the YMCA. We’re joined by three leaders who live this work every day: Timika Tucker from the Robert D. Fowler Y, Keeley Chester from the Forsyth County Family Y, and Shirene Sethi from the Carl E. Sanders at Buckhead Family Y. Each of them leads the membership experience at their YMCA. They’re the people thinking deeply about what it feels like when someone walks through our doors for the first time, when a member is struggling, when a family is trying to find...
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A Living Legacy
(Y) Connect
This February, as we recognize Black History Month and its 100th anniversary, we’re honored to be joined by brothers Andrew Young and Walter Young, namesakes of the Andrew & Walter Young Family YMCA. Ambassador Andrew Young’s life of service spans the civil rights movement, Congress, the United Nations, and the Mayor’s Office here in Atlanta. Throughout it all, his leadership has been grounded in dignity, justice, and a deep belief in the power of people and community. Dr. Walter Young has led with that same spirit through healthcare, education, and civic life, showing what...
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Lauren Koontz on the Next Chapter of the Y
(Y) Connect
When we launched Y Connect in November 2022, one of our very first guests was our President and CEO, Lauren Koontz. At the time, we were just beginning this storytelling journey, and the Y was navigating a world still finding its footing after the pandemic. Fast forward to today. Lauren has now served as President and CEO of the YMCA of Metro Atlanta for more than six years, leading the organization through moments of challenge, growth, and transformation. This month, the Y officially launches its new three-year strategic plan, a plan shaped by deep listening, data, and a clear belief in the...
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Fan Favorite: The Legacy of South Fulton Running Partners and the YMCA
(Y) Connect
Today on (Y) Connect, we're thrilled to highlight the story of a community rooted in strength, endurance, and an unwavering commitment to health and wellness. Joining us is Monte Fowler, a veteran member of the South Fulton Running Partners—the nation's oldest Black recreation running group. For decades, this remarkable group has shared a deep connection with the Andrew & Walter Young Family YMCA, fostering a space where individuals unite to run and uplift one another. Monte brings a unique perspective as someone who grew up at the Y served on the YMCA board, and has dedicated years to...
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YMCA’s New National Campaign: No Place Like This Place
(Y) Connect
The YMCA has launched a new national brand campaign titled No Place Like This Place. At its heart, the campaign captures something many of us instinctively know to be true: the Y is more than a building, a workout, or a program. It’s a place where connection happens, where people belong, and where lives are shaped in quiet and meaningful ways every single day. To help us tell the story behind the campaign, we’re joined by two leaders who play an important role in bringing it to life. James Reynolds, our Chief Marketing Officer, and Kristin McEwen, our Chief Experience Officer. Together,...
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What 2025 Taught Us at (Y) Connect
(Y) Connect
Before we jump into another year of Y Connect, we wanted to pause and look back. 2025 was a meaningful year for this podcast. We sat down with members, staff, partners, and community leaders who reminded us why the YMCA matters and how deeply it shows up in people’s lives. We heard stories of belonging, resilience, leadership, and impact that stayed with us long after the microphones were turned off. Today, we are reflecting on our favorite moments from this past year, the conversations that surprised us, what we learned about the YMCA that we didn’t fully understand before, and what...
info_outlineToday on Y Connect, we’re joined by a powerhouse leader whose commitment to purpose and community is shaping what corporate social responsibility looks like in Metro Atlanta and beyond, Carley Stephens, Director of Corporate Giving at Gas South and Executive Director of the Cobb EMC Foundation. Gas South, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cobb EMC, is one of the YMCA of Metro Atlanta’s most generous corporate partners, giving not only through financial support but also through the countless volunteer hours employees dedicate to helping others. Carley is known for leading with heart and innovation, always focused on where actual impact happens: in the lives of children and families. Under her guidance, Gas South continues to expand its “Fuel for Good” philosophy, a purpose that’s about caring for customers and employees while elevating communities. In addition to her leadership role, Carley serves on the board of the Carl E. Sanders Family YMCA at Buckhead and is helping shape the Y’s 2026–2028 Strategic Plan as part of our Board Task Force.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✅ How purpose-driven companies like Gas South bring their values to life by empowering employee volunteerism and listening to what matters most to their teams and communities
✅ Why authentic leadership matters in corporate social responsibility—and how asking more profound questions leads to more meaningful nonprofit partnerships that address real needs beyond surface-level solutions
✅ The difference between traditional charity and systemic change, including why companies must invest in living wage and employee benefits for their own workforce before expecting nonprofits to solve community challenges
✅ Practical strategies for community investment and strategic planning that move corporate giving programs from transactional donations to transformational impact through collaboration and innovation
Join the Y Connect Podcast to discover inspiring stories of transformation and wellness. Tune in for practical tips and community-driven insights on fitness transformation. Subscribe now to elevate your fitness journey!
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Zarinah, Robert, and Allison discussing early educator conferences and leadership development and introducing Carley Stephens of Gas South and Cobb EMC Foundation
05:50 Gas South's "fuel for good" philosophy and how purpose-driven corporate social responsibility evolves through employee empowerment and listening to community needs
08:22 How Gas South and Cobb EMC Foundation work together to create community impact through member-based engagement and hands-on nonprofit partnerships
11:02 The power of asking more profound questions in corporate giving programs and moving beyond surface-level sponsorships to address challenges
18:46 Car seat safety story: How observing families during COVID food distribution led to immediate community investment and mental health support initiatives
23:12 Employee volunteerism through team grants that empower staff to support causes they care about beyond children's programs
26:53 CEO Kevin Griner's authentic leadership and how Gas South's pricing model reflects corporate social responsibility values in daily business decisions
34:04 Gas South's $1.3 million investment in YMCA programs, including Adaptive Swim, and nonprofit funding for inclusive education initiatives
37:44 Strategic planning insights from the YMCA task force and the importance of pressure-testing ideas for systemic change
43:55 Moving from charity to systemic change: Why companies must address a living wage and employee benefits for their own workforce first
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
💎 Corporate social responsibility starts at home. Companies must invest in a living wage and employee benefits for their own workforce before expecting nonprofit partnerships to solve community challenges, creating systemic change from within
💎 Employee volunteerism becomes more powerful when workers have autonomy. Gas South provides team grants allowing employees to support causes they're passionate about, from veterans to animals, beyond the company's core focus on children in need
💎 Authentic leadership means showing up and doing the work. CEO Kevin Griner demonstrates purpose-driven values by volunteering alongside employees, pulling weeds with his own tools, and ensuring corporate giving decisions reflect fairness in everyday business practices like pricing
ABOUT THE GUEST:
Carley Stephens is Director of Corporate Giving at Gas South and Executive Director of the Cobb EMC Foundation. With over a decade of CSR experience, she's expanded Gas South's philanthropic reach across multiple states, increasing giving by over 300%. Recognized as an Atlanta Business Chronicle 'Leaders in Corporate Citizenship Top Practitioner' and Atlanta 40 Under 40 honoree, she drives impact through connection, collaboration, and mentorship.
A Kalamazoo, Michigan native with a philosophy degree from Calvin College, Carley is a dedicated wife and mom who loves books, cooking, and coffee.
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