On Thursday, April 24, YMCA members from across the region gathered at historic Fenway Park for the second annual YMCA Day at Fenway — a celebration of youth, community, and the impact of the Y. Among the crowd of more than 1,000 YMCA staff, volunteers, and youth, one local member from the Torigian Family YMCA stole the spotlight: Cooper Hetherington (Age 11), a young athlete from Peabody.
Cooper, who plays basketball at the Y and just kicked off his Little League season, was one of a select few invited onto the field during pregame ceremonies. “It was so fun! It was great seeing the players warm up. I felt like I was one of the players on the field,” Cooper said, beaming with excitement after the experience.
The Torigian Family YMCA, part of the YMCA of Metro North, has long emphasized creating spaces where kids like Cooper can grow, thrive, and have memorable experiences.
“At the Y, we’re always finding fun and meaningful ways to engage youth in our community, and Cooper’s YMCA Day at Fenway is a perfect example of that,” said Cara Green, Executive Director of the Torigian Family YMCA. “To see the joy on the kids’ faces when unforgettable memories are made on the field at Fenway is priceless. Events like this highlight our commitment to youth development—especially through summer camps, swim lessons, and youth sports. That’s what the YMCA is all about.”
The event, made possible through a growing partnership between the Boston Red Sox and regional YMCA Alliances, showcased the Y’s commitment to Positive Youth Development (PYD), an approach that empowers youth through mentorship, connection, and skill-building experiences.
“The Y is like the anchor in most communities … we are doing social isolation work, connecting seniors, making sure people are fed. We are trying to fill in all the gaps,” said Kate-Marie Roycroft, CEO of the Alliance of Massachusetts YMCAs. “We know that people are in need, and we are here to help serve.”
YMCA Day at Fenway is more than a day at the ballpark—it’s a celebration of the people and programs that make the YMCA a cornerstone of the community, and for the Torigian Family YMCA, it was a chance to cheer on one of their own from the stands of America’s most beloved ballpark.
