Anna Marie Ettel is a well-tuned philanthropist who has dedicated her time, talent, and treasure to give back to the organizations that matter most to her. For over 50 years, Anna Marie has been supporting the YMCA of the North, and recently she included an estate gift to benefit the youth and families at the St. Paul Eastside YMCA.
As a former attorney at Securian Financial in St. Paul, Anna Marie values the financial flexibility that her estate gift will provide to the Y. By investing in the endowment fund, the St. Paul Eastside YMCA will have a stable and sustainable revenue stream to devote to revitalizing the community.
“After I’m gone, I won’t need these resources. Having them flow into the community organizations that have been important to me, and to so many others, is one of the best investments I can make,” Anna Marie humbly shared.
Strengthening Her Values through Experiences
As a long-time St. Paul resident, Anna Marie has deep connections with the community. Growing up, she did not have ties to the YMCA, but credits her Catholic elementary education, local youth center, and high school experiences at the Visitation School for instilling the value of service to others – a love for humankind that she carried with her to other community organizations.
The Start of a Y Story
Encouraged by a colleague and fellow Y supporter, Anna Marie joined the community board of YMCA Camp St. Croix in the 1970s – a camp operated under the YMCA of Greater St. Paul. While serving on the board, she saw the profound impact that outdoor opportunities had on young people. Anna Marie’s appreciation for camp programming grew as her niece and nephew traveled from Montana to attend overnight camp at YMCA Camp Widjiwagan. They later served as counselors and went on to support the camp’s advanced Voyageurs trips as leaders. Their outdoor adventure experiences were life changing and inspired Anna Marie to further the Y Mission for more families, like hers.
While volunteering for Camp St. Croix, Anna Marie was simultaneously building a professional career at Mutual Life Insurance Company. To escape a highly demanding role, Anna Marie would take her lunch breaks and swim laps at the indoor pool at the downtown St. Paul YMCA. She fondly remembers that the branch was busy during the lunch hour and towards the evening when the business day ended for all the lowertown corporate employees.
Staying Connected to the YMCA and her St. Paul Roots
Anna Marie has stayed tied to her local YMCA to invest in her health. She shared that she visits the branch 5-6 days a week to walk the track, join a group exercise class, or volunteer where needed. Anna Marie also works with Barb, a Y personal trainer at the St. Paul Eastside YMCA, attending Pilates sessions (trainings that promote strength, flexibility, and balance).
Outside of visiting the Eastside YMCA for fitness, Anna Marie has faithfully served on its community board—she has fundraised, volunteered for events, welcomed members with a smile, and so much more. After 19 years of dedicated service, she recently retired from this role. Anna Marie describes her love for the location as, “The membership is incredibly diverse, and it reflects the wide variety of residents who call the Eastside their home.”
She proudly credits Dru Dalton, Eastside’s Associate Executive Director, for fostering collaborations with other key community organizations. These mutually beneficial partnerships strengthen the Y to support East residents of all ages and incomes.
Anna Marie shared, “When people ask me why I’m committed to building a stronger community, my response is simple...I just can’t say no.”