If you were raised in Point Loma after 1970, chances are you learned to swim at the Ryan Family YMCA, previously known as the Peninsula Family YMCA. Today, the Y remains a cornerstone of our community and is currently in the midst of its 2026 Annual Campaign, which ensures that cost is never a barrier to participation.

We sat down with Aquatics Director Andi Keliinoi to talk about her journey, the impact of the Annual Campaign, and how individuals and businesses can get involved.

What’s your personal connection to the Y?

“I was a Y kid,” Andi says. “The Y is where I learned what belonging feels like.”

“It wasn’t just about swimming or sports,” she explains. “It was about having a place where adults knew your name, where you felt supported, and where you learned you mattered.”

Those early experiences stayed with her.

“The Y became a refuge for me. It was where I built confidence and friendships.”

Now, years later, she sees that same transformation happening at the Ryan Family YMCA.

“With each passing day, I witness families and children finding opportunities they never imagined possible. It’s not just a place to exercise. It’s a place where people feel seen.”

She pauses before adding, “It is not just a place to exercise; it is a home. In a world so separated by technology, by social challenges, the Y is a third space where we can ALL be.”

Why is the 2026 Annual Campaign so important?

“To ensure cost is not a barrier to accessing critical programs and services, we raise funds through our Annual Campaign,” Andi explains.

In 2025, more than 3,400 people in Point Loma, Ocean Beach, and Midway benefited from an Annual Campaign scholarship or subsidy.

That includes:

• Children learning lifesaving swim skills
• Youth discovering confidence at camp
• Seniors staying connected through membership
• Families accessing childcare, counseling, and support services

“Each donation provides critical access,” she says. “Through the YMCA, lives are transformed and destinies rewritten.”

What does impact look like up close?

“With each passing day, I witness the transformative magic that unfolds here,” Andi says. “Families and children find opportunities they never imagined possible.”

She adds, “It’s a place where I can make a difference, like helping a child with special needs feel comfortable and safe in the water.” She also shared a short video about Nathan’s journey, which beautifully illustrates the impact of the Annual Campaign in action.

How can individuals contribute to the Annual Campaign?

The Annual Campaign is a community effort, where volunteers and staff participate in teams to reach our collective goal, which is $370,000 for the 2026 Annual Campaign- aptly themed, “Waves of Impact”. This is a volunteer-driven Campaign, centered around sharing stories like Andi’s. Each volunteer and fundraising event has a unique goal and fundraising webpage to support their individual efforts, but all funds support the collective Campaign and provide direct scholarship and subsidies to people in the Point Loma and Ocean Beach communities.

Folks can support the 2026 Annual Campaign by visiting www.ymcasd.org/ryangive and selecting ‘Donate Now’- recurring giving, company matching and deferred giving are all welcomed!

Giving levels are directly tied to tangible outcomes. For instance, $100 provides a child one month of swim lessons, and $1,000 sponsors two campers for a week of camp, who would not otherwise have access.

To support Andi in reaching her goal and in her own mission to ensure everyone in our community has access to lifesaving swim lessons, you can give at give.classy.org/andiymca2026.

“Giving to the Y means more opportunities like these will be available to those who need it most,” Andi says.

Can my business get involved?

Yes. The Y is recognizing business donors on a prominent banner displayed in the pool area, with visibility to more than 300 people daily.

Business donor levels include:

• $250 – 1x1 ft logo
• $400 – 2x2 ft logo
• $1,000 – Individual banner

Those who want to get involved can reach out to Andi at akeliinoi@ymcasd.org.

“We’re grateful for the local businesses that step up,” Andi says. “When we come together as a community, we have the power to build brighter futures.”

In a community like ours, where neighbors and businesses consistently step up for one another, supporting the Ryan Family YMCA is an investment in access, opportunity, and the next generation of families on the Peninsula.

To learn more or participate, stop by the Ryan Family Y or visit www.ymcasd.org/ryan.