By Tom Ragan From Standard Speaker

An area man is making his mark with the Young Men’s Christian Association in the Cayman Islands.

Gregory J. Smith, 42, graduated from West Hazleton High School and like many graduates wasn’t sure what he wanted to do in his life. While he was making up his mind, he joined the U.S. Army and found himself stationed in Germany, and then Saudi Arabia and Kuwait during the Desert Storm War. Thanks to the G.I. Bill he was able to go to college.

Eventually he received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Central Florida University and a master’s degree from University of South Florida. Over the past 19 years he has worked for the YMCA in various capacities from camp director to his latest position as chief executive officer assigned to the Cayman Islands to establish a YMCA.

The mission statement is simple: “To help people reach their God-Given potential by putting Christian Principles into practice through programs that build spirit, mind and body.”

Grand Cayman is the largest of the three islands that make up the Cayman Islands, the other two are Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. Smith is charged with establishing a new YMCA in the most populated island, Grand Cayman.

Smith brings a wealth of diverse community and business knowledge and has accepted the position of CEO with “humility and gratitude.”

“I have been granted one of the rarest experiences a YMCA professional can have.” Smith said by phone from the Cayman islands on Friday.

In 2008, Smith orchestrated the opening and promotion of a 500-member YMCA in Parkland, Fla. He also was instrumental in the operation of a Texas YMCA for a number of years.

The YMCA is a powerful association of men, women and children of all ages from all walks of life joined by a shared passion to strengthen the foundations of the community, according to Smith.

Smith described growing up in a blue-collar family with his sister Michelle and brothers Patrick and Chris in the McAdoo and Tresckow areas. He is the son of Patricia Smith of Hazleton and Gerald Smith of Tresckow.

Gregory Smith said he is committed to the YMCA because it is a charitable, cause-driven, nonprofit organization that strengthens the community through a focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.

So, what are his plans and vision for the YMCA of the Cayman Islands?

“Over the next few years, we hope to operate as a ‘Y without walls,’ he explained, “We begin by building programs in communities through family initatives, not just building a building, but by seeing the growing needs in technology and educating a community.”

Smith pointed out they are a couple years away but they are chipping away.

“By partnering with, for example, the local Little League as team leaders and developing leadership skills with the people who live here on the Cayman Islands to show trust, honesty, caring, responsibilities that are family oriented values, getting involved with local school sports teams that teach teamwork,” Smith said.

The YMCA plans to offer a minimum of one full-service, traditional YMCA facility that will offer a wide range of programs for youth, adults, families and seniors. Programs offered will be rooted in Christian principles and designed to address issues based on specific needs in the community.

“We have a number of fund-raising events scheduled in April involving community leaders toward raising a minimum of $500,000 that will be used toward ramping the programs,” Smith said.

Smith maintains a condo in St. Petersburg, Fla., and visits his family locally from time-to-time whenever he has free time. He follows local Major League Manager Joe Madden and is a Tampa Bay Ray fan in baseball.

“Local people of the Cayman Islands prefer soccer and cricket as their favorite sports but they also like baseball and basketball,” Smith said. He played football for the West Hazleton Wildcats and was a walk-on player in college. While talking by phone from the Cayman Islands he mentioned that it was 88 degrees and sunny but promised he would not rub it in.

For more on this story go to:

http://standardspeaker.com/news/west-hazleton-native-making-worldwide-impact-through-ymca-1.1659758