Giving Rye: Meet the Rye YMCA
Giving Rye is a new occasional feature highlighting non-profits and community groups in and around the City of Rye. Today meet Randal Ikeda of the Rye YMCA.
Your Name: Randal Ikeda
Organization: Rye YMCA
Your role: Chief Operating Officer
MyRye.com: Tell us your organization’s mission.
Ikeda: The Rye YMCA is a family-oriented community service organization which welcomes all people and promotes positive values through programs that build spirit, mind and body.
How long have you operated in Rye?
Ikeda: Over 100 years
What programming or work in Rye is the organization best known for?
Ikeda:
- The YMCA is best known for physical fitness and youth programming.
- The Y is also a leading provider of Childcare in the nation.
- And we have several evidence-based, community health programs with a proven track record of success.
Looking forward to 2025, what will be your top initiatives?
Ikeda:
- We hope to continue to offer high quality adult fitness and youth programming.
- And we hope to expand affordable childcare outside of Rye, to Port Chester and Mamaroneck.
Tell us about the population you serve and how they can get involved with your programming and services.
Ikeda:
Fitness: primarily teens, adults and seniors
Youth Programming: families with children between ages 2-12
Childcare: families with children in Rye
Are you a 501(c)(3) non-profit with tax exempt status?
Ikeda: Yes
Looking back across 2024, what were your organization’s top achievements?
Ikeda:
- Fitness and youth programming back to pre-pandemic levels of attendance.
- Continued growth of full-day, licensed Childcare.
- Continued outreach into our service area (Port Chester, Mamaroneck, Larchmont & Harrison).
How can local residents support your organization?
Ikeda: Local residents can support the Rye Y by becoming a member or by making a donation to support others in their community.
Tell us about you:
How long have you been in your current role?
Ikeda: I have been the Chief Operating Office at the Rye Y for 6 years.
Is the role full time or part time? Paid or volunteer?
Ikeda: Full time paid staff.
How would your friends and family describe you in one word?
Ikeda: Focused
Where did you grow up?
Ikeda: I grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii. 3rd generation, Japanese American. My grandfather’s family immigrated from Japan in 1902, when he was 2 years old. Both my parents grew up on sugar plantations on Maui.
What is your favorite unimportant thing about you?
Ikeda: Because I am very focused, I tend not to be very chatty. I try to smile and make eye contact so as not to appear too standoff-ish.
If the next five years is a chapter in your life, what is this chapter about?
Ikeda: Having the grace to let others be successful in my life. Discovering what might be important to me 20 years from now and cultivating that now.
What would you do if you were not afraid?
Ikeda: If I were not afraid (really, if I were more courageous), I would add more color in my wardrobe; I would wear a costume at Halloween. Wear things that would have me stand out versus blending in.
Where do you live in Rye and how many years have you lived in the City?
Ikeda: I live in Mamaroneck.
Thanks Randall!
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