How One Family Shares Their Blessings
Growing up, Christine (Chris) Gibson fondly recalls her mother as a “super woman.” She raised two children, sewed clothes for Chris and her Barbie doll, gardened, encouraged her kids to work hard in school and to always pursue education — all while working a full-time job. Even with these responsibilities, Chris’s mom still made time to support her local church and hospital. This charitable philosophy stayed with Chris throughout adulthood, guiding her and husband Richard toward establishing a named endowment fund at the YMCA.
This Y story begins during an Iowan winter, when 10-year-old Chris discovered she could still swim at her local YMCA’s indoor pool. As a young adult she stayed tied to the Y, joining her friends to exercise whenever she had a free weekend. Later, in 1985, Chris and Richard married and started building a life together. Their interest in the Y soon increased when their granddaughter began working at the Southdale YMCA in membership. Through their granddaughter’s involvement, the couple learned more about the Y’s mission.
After retiring from a robust career in healthcare, Chris decided to invest in her health and joined the New Hope Y. During a workout visit, she noticed a flyer seeking members to join the community board — Chris felt a calling and signed up that same day. She shared, “We have a strong family, we’re healthy, and we’ve been blessed. Now we want to share and give back to others.”
As a board member, her relationship and understanding of the Y’s community impact blossomed. She saw firsthand how families were supported through childcare, older adults engaged with ForeverWell programming, and children transformed at YMCA camps. The more Chris saw the Y serving the community, the more she wanted to support the future of its mission.
Calling back to Chris’s beginnings and reflecting on her mother’s natural ability to help others, the couple established the Gibson Family Endowment Fund to support the New Hope YMCA. This gift enables the location to provide more opportunities for its community. From Y scholarships to facility upgrades, capital improvements, staff development, and more, the Gibson Fund provides the vital resources needed to keep their community vibrant year after year.