Martha Frickert: Board Chair’s Gift Repays Lifelong Connection to the Y

Spring, 2015

"Faith, family and friends": Those are the key words that Martha Frickert lives by. The Y has served as a cornerstone of her life—which is why she has included the YMCA OF GREATER RICHMOND in her estate plan.

"I learned to swim at the Y when I was 8 years old," recalls Martha of her youth growing up in Hamilton, Ohio. "I was involved in Y Teens in high school, and I was a counselor in training at our local Y camp. It was a huge influence in my life."

Fast forward to the mid 1970s, when Martha moved to Richmond, Virginia, with her family. She immediately became a member of the Midlothian Family YMCA, where her children played soccer, ran the indoor track and attended Camp Thunderbird in the summer.

Don Jones, former chief operating officer of the YMCA OF GREATER RICHMOND, became friends with Martha when she was executive director of Communities In Schools (CIS), a social service organization dedicated to supporting at-risk youth by empowering them to stay in school and achieve more in life. In 1996 Martha was thrilled when Don recruited her to serve on the Midlothian Board, where she served for six years. Recognizing her boundless enthusiasm for the Y, the Board elected her as chair and then asked her to chair the Annual Campaign.

When Martha's husband was diagnosed with a terminal illness, her Y friends provided her with emotional support during a very tough time. "I didn't know what God's plans were for me, so I just pulled myself together and kept going," Martha says.

Martha hopes to impart her own spirit of philanthropy to the next generation—her grandchildren. She created a family grant called the Gran Marti Grant that allows her grandchildren to apply for a $100 grant to buy something special, attend a class or activity, buy sports equipment, or simply do something kind for someone else.

Always eager to serve the Y, Martha is now looking to the future.

"It was time to update my estate plan," says Martha, "and it was natural to include the Y and my church. The Y has made a lasting impression on my life, and I want to extend that opportunity so others can have that joyful experience."