member successes bonita “bonnie” scaglione, joined back in september 2022 and has been a shining start ever since. she started out in “my enhance fitness class” and “chair yoga” in fall and as she got stronger she added on “my stt,” “gentle yoga” class, “maura’s cardio strength,” and “megan’s zumba gold.” she doesn’t miss a class! she also joined the ymca’s dpp program in november 2022, and she has done fabulous in that as well. she is following the program to the t. she has met her 5% weight loss goal within 3 months and continues to lose. she tries new things and keeps pushing forward. an inspiration to all! leda kozakoff, our y’s longest-tenured employee! in september of 2022, we honored our 30-year employee, leda kozakoff! leda is considered an integral part of daily life at the y. she is beloved by children, families, members, and staff. leda enjoys the children and fondly recalls knowing many of the current kids’ parents as youngsters. we celebrated kozakoff’s 30 years of hard work with a pizza party! lung transplant recipient swims a mile at the y diane tucker, ed.d., a pittsgrove resident in her 60s, has been a swimmer throughout her life. tucker has been part of the ymca since 1978, when she worked as an aquatic director, assistant camp director, and swimming coach. she additionally enjoyed a full career in education as an elementary school teacher, vice principal, and principal, the latter two positions at sacred heart high school. what started as a persistent cough in 2015 progressed until her lungs functioned at only 20 percent. soon after, this courageous patient was being treated at the university of pennsylvania, which she credits with providing excellent care. it was eventually determined that transplants were her best option. tucker committed to a rigorous regimen of physical therapy to prepare for it. she swam in a friend’s pool, pulling her oxygen tank in a floating cooler. “to swim made me feel better, both physically and mentally,” she observed. she continued pt after an eight-hour surgery that took place on august 9. “it went well, and my recovery was good,” she recalled. “within three months, i was told i could get back into the water.” her first swim after the transplants was 12 laps at the ymca. tucker achieved her mile swim on march 5. ymca senior program director jennifer helm enthused, “diane is a real role model for us. we all congratulate her.” tucker’s reaction was one of joy. she said, “swimming a mile is a huge milestone for me. “i can’t thank the y enough,” she continued. “it has been a big part of our family for a long, long time.” her husband, steve, was a y camp counselor for many years. their son, steve, progressed from being a y preschooler to helping with aquatics and coaching at the ymca. he and his wife, courtney, have a son, reece. “reece is my inspiration,” noted his grandmother as her miraculous recovery continues. “i thank the good lord, my lung donor, and my family every day.” tucker concluded, “i am so grateful to have another chance at life.” 4 2 0 2 2 a n n u a l r e p o r t