Throughout Mary-Jo’s extensive career she has enriched the lives of over 10,000 children in 31 years at the Meriden YMCA; through her work in early childhood programs, summer camp, kindergarten, before and after school programs, middle school and volunteer work.

She started as an aide to the Director of the Tee Pee Village for children ages 3-5 years old at our summer camp and worked her way up to Child Care Director. Mary-Jo was quickly recognized as a positive influence and was asked to serve as the Child Care Director for the Meriden YMCA Martin A. Gaffey Child Care Center and the Little Panthers Collaborative Preschool Program.

Mary-Jo is currently responsible for the yearly education and care of 153 students, 33 staff and an annual budget of $1 million.

Since becoming the Child Care Director she has collaborated with the Meriden Board of Education and supervises over 100 middle school students each year in the REACH after school program. She has overseen two Meriden YMCA programs which went on to earn national accreditation, and maintain accreditation for our programs.

Mary-Jo set up a successful preschool classroom in 6 weeks at Platt High School in collaboration with the Meriden Board of Education, Middlesex Community College, and the City of Meriden School Readiness program. The high school is currently offering college credits in early childhood education to juniors and seniors and the classroom is a lab site for students to observe and gain experience.

She loves to work as a role model and mentor. Through her affiliation with the Platt High school Preschool Program she has mentored over 25 individuals who have gone on to successful teaching careers and become organizational leaders

One of the most important things Mary-Jo has brought to the Meriden Y is the way she provides support and resources to assist families with a variety of needs (adult education, job services, energy assistance, educational services for children, and more). She has played a key role in the planning and implementation of family events to bring together in the community. (Family Festival, Fall Fun, Healthy Kids Day and more)

Mary-Jo not only helps her community and the children in it professionally, she also dedicates her time to multiple projects. Below is just a sample of the volunteer work that she participates in:
o Member of local and state level committees for the Accreditation Facilitation Project
o Children’s First Initiative board member
o Advisory committee member for the Meriden Blueprint and Meriden Family Zone (patterned after the Harlem Family Zone)
o Planned and organized fundraising events for camp scholarships (precursor to the current Campership Program)
o A-Positive Plus Youth Development Board
o City of Meriden Christmas in the Park and Halloween events