(PHOTO: Sabrina Murphy, CEO of the Rye YMCA. Contributed.)
Giving Rye is a feature series highlighting non-profits and community groups in and around the City of Rye. Today meet Sabrina Murphy of the Rye YMCA.
Your Name: Sabrina Murphy
Name of your organization: The Rye YMCA
Your role: CEO
Tell us about the population you serve and how they can get involved with your programming and services.
Murphy: We serve a richly diverse community of individuals and families across all life stages. Our programs are designed to welcome everyone, regardless of background or financial situation, ensuring equity in access and opportunity.
- Youth Sports & Enrichment: Skill-building programs that foster teamwork and confidence.
- Health & Wellness: Group fitness, chronic disease prevention, and wellness coaching.
- Childcare & Camps: Safe, nurturing environments that support working families.
- Aquatics: Lifesaving swim instruction and water safety education.
- Volunteer Opportunities: Support from our community helps sustain and grow our impact.
Looking forward to 2026, what will be your top initiatives?
Murphy: In 2026, we’re deepening our impact through three strategic initiatives that reflect our commitment to the communities we serve: Rye, Harrison, Mamaroneck, Larchmont, Port Chester and Rye Brook:
- Youth Development – We’re addressing the childcare desert in our region by expanding access to affordable, high-quality childcare and out-of-school time programs that support families and help youth thrive.
- Healthy Living – We’re expanding our wellness and chronic disease prevention programs to ensure access for all ages and abilities.
- Social Responsibility – We’re prioritizing water safety for every community member through expanded swim instruction and water safety programs, especially for underserved populations.
Are you a 501(c)(3) non-profit with tax exempt status?
Murphy: Yes.
Looking back across 2025, what were your organization’s top achievements?
Murphy: In 2025, the Rye Y celebrated several key accomplishments in service and innovation:
- Opening New Childcare Classrooms: We expanded our early childhood and after-school programs to better meet the needs of working families. We opened a new full day licensed childcare program at the Westchester Jewish Center in Mamaroneck.
- Combating Social Isolation Through Welcoming Spaces: We renovated our main lobby to become a warm, welcoming space that fosters connection, conversation, and community—helping to reduce isolation and build belonging.
- Expanding the Christopher D. Mello Fitness Center: We expanded our fitness center to provide more room for group workouts, personal training, and social engagement—ensuring every member can pursue their health goals in a supportive, inclusive environment.
How can local residents support your organization?
Murphy: Support comes in many forms: become a member, register for programs, volunteer your time, or contribute financially to help us expand access to critical services. Every act of support helps us strengthen the community we all share.
What local Rye residents and area businesses have been the longest, steadiest supporters of your organization?
Murphy: We are especially grateful to the families and businesses who support our annual campaign year after year, as well as to the local foundations and civic organizations that partner with us. Their steady commitment enables us to provide financial assistance and expand our reach.
Tell us about you:
How long have you been in your current role?
Murphy: I’ve been serving as CEO of the Rye YMCA since July 2022 and have a YMCA leadership career of over 30 years.
Is the role full time or part time? Paid or volunteer?
Murphy: It is a full-time leadership role, dedicated to advancing the mission and vision of the Y every day.
How would your friends and family describe you in one word?
Murphy: Genuine.
Where did you grow up?
Murphy: I grew up in San Francisco, California, South Bend, Indiana and Western New York where I developed a deep appreciation for community and the impact of youth-serving organizations like the Y.
What principles guide you when you have to make a difficult decision?
Murphy: I focus on equity, integrity, and mission alignment. I ask: what’s best for the community, and how can we stay true to our values while adapting to real-world challenges?
Can you share a time when failure taught you more than success ever could?
Murphy: For me, every time a child loses their connection to the Y community, it feels like a failure. The Y should be a place where every child belongs, feels supported, and has the opportunity to thrive. Those moments remind me that our work is never finished and that we must continually remove barriers, expand access, and build programs that reach all youth. While difficult, these lessons strengthen my commitment to equity and inclusion—because reconnecting even one child can have a ripple effect that transforms an entire family and community.
What excites you most about the future—for yourself or for the world?
Murphy: I’m most excited about the growing momentum around equity and the Y’s unique role in helping communities heal, grow, and connect.
Where do you live and how many years have you lived there?
Murphy: I live in Rye and am proud to call this community home.
Thanks Sabrina!
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