Member Highlight: Jenny Byxbee
Jenny Byxbee, a Fairfield County native, has been a dedicated member of our Y for around a decade. She enjoys attending whatever group fitness classes fit her busy schedule- TRX, Spin, and Cardio Drumming are among some of her favorites. She appreciates the Y’s inclusive environment, noting, “It is one of the few places in town that embraces the very young, to the much older, all genders, abilities, and incomes.”
Wherever Jenny has called home, she has been a member of the Y. Her earliest memories of the Y date back to her participation in the Adventure Guides program at the Lakewood-Trumbull YMCA with her father. Originally known as Indian Guides and Indian Princesses, the program has since rebranded into Adventure Guides, reflecting the Y's commitment to inclusivity while preserving its core mission: to cultivate and strengthen the bond between parent and child. Now, as a parent herself, Jenny treasures creating similar memories with her children.
She and her husband, Rich, are the proud parents of two daughters, Katie and Libby. As a family, they find the Y to be a place for all of them, at every age and stage of life. "When my daughters were little, we did everything from baby and me swim, their birthday parties to family swim time. Now that our girls are teenagers, they can be found in the pool for water polo," Jenny shared. Katie and Libby both thrive in our Greenwich Aquatics water polo program having recently participated in the Junior Olympics. Katie also co-captains the varsity girls swimming and diving team at Greenwich Country Day.
Jenny is a graduate of Springfield College. Established by visionary minister David Allen Reed in 1885, the institution began as the School for Christian Workers, a training ground for lay workers in churches and YMCAs. By 1890, in response to the Y's rapid growth, supporters decided to separate the Y's departments from the school and establish a dedicated educational institution: the International Young Men's Christian Association Training School. This move laid the foundation for what we now know as Springfield College. On April 7, 2004, Y-USA formally recognized Springfield College as the premier institution of higher education for Y leaders. This designation makes Springfield College the only institution to hold such a partnership with Y-USA.
After earning a degree in Sports and Recreation Management, Jenny began her career at Ys across the Northeast, including roles as the School-Aged Programming Director at the Newport County YMCA and the Director of Camp Mahackeno at the Westport Weston Family YMCA. This early work in nonprofit and youth services continues to influence her professional journey today.
Jenny currently serves as the Minister of Care & Connection at Second Congregational Church, located up the street from our Y on East Putnam Avenue. Over the past few years, the church has collaborated with our Y to create a meaningful Good Friday gathering for local youth. Jenny leads a foot-washing ceremony to underscore our community’s shared humanity. The event also includes a popular open swim followed by a pancake lunch, complete with a special appearance by the Easter Bunny.
The Y's mission began with the goal of uniting young men through their shared Christian faith and encouraging them to promote these ideals through community outreach programs. As the Y movement grew, its mission evolved to address the diverse needs of the broader community. In 1987, Y-USA revised the national mission statement to reflect this shift, encouraging programs that foster a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all, regardless of background. Today, the Y unites people of all abilities, ages, cultural identities, ethnicities, faiths, genders, gender expressions, gender identities, ideologies, income levels, nationalities, races, and sexual orientations.
Some Ys still maintain strong partnerships with local churches, offer chaplain programs, and host pastoral retreats, while others prioritize interfaith programming. At our Y, we hope to continue hosting events like Jenny's Good Friday gathering and explore new opportunities with other faiths. By creating opportunities for our community to explore and appreciate each other's beliefs, we cultivate mutual understanding and respect, ultimately strengthening our community.
At the Y, we believe that strengthening the community starts with empowering everyone to reach their full potential with dignity. With our range of engaging programs and welcoming atmosphere, we bring together people from all walks of life. For more information about how to become a member of our Y community please visit greenwichymca.org/join.