Issue link: http://southshoremagazine.uberflip.com/i/1540543
24 "Paul built relationships with major donors," Orne says, "but he was just as passionate thanking someone for a modest gift. He valued every act of generosity because he knew it all built the mission." His approach not only created financial stability but instilled a culture of philanthropy that will sustain the Y for decades. For all his accomplishments, colleagues most often mention his humility. He greets staff by name, stops for conversations with camp counselors and parents, and celebrates his team's achievements while quietly carrying the pressure himself. "The numbers are impressive, the buildings are beautiful," Gorman says, "but what matters most are the people—the staff, the donors, the volunteers, the families whose lives are changed. My job has always been to make sure they had the support they needed." Today, as he prepares to step down, the South Shore YMCA is financially stable, programmatically innovative and deeply rooted in its community. Its facilities, programs and culture bear his imprint. More importantly, it carries the confidence to keep moving boldly forward. "Paul has led the charge and showed us how to think long-term and dream boldly," DeMarco says. "His fingerprints are everywhere. But more importantly, he's given us the courage to keep writing the next chapters." Asked to reflect on his tenure, Gorman keeps the focus on the mission. "The Y was here long before me, and it will be here long after," he says. "My hope is that we've built something strong enough to keep growing, keep serving and keep inspiring for generations." His legacy is written not only in capital projects, membership growth and record-breaking campaigns, but in the children who found resilience at camp, the families who discovered belonging, the seniors who regained health and the neighbors who found support in their hardest moments. For Paul Gorman, that will always be the greatest achievement of all. In retirement, his focus will shift but not disappear. With the recent arrival of his son's twins, Gorman looks forward to trading the title of CEO for "Papa"—still leading, still giving, still volunteering and still nurturing the legacy he has built. To learn more about Paul's legacy with the South Shore YMCA and share a memory or note, visit ssymca.org/paul-gorman-legacy. partnerships, member experience, employee development and facility optimization. These will serve as the compass for every decision moving forward. Williams, a veteran of more than two decades in the YMCA movement, brings a deep passion for health and wellness to the role. "I know I have big shoes to fill," he says, having spent the last six years working alongside Gorman. "Paul has always had high expectations, and he inspires greatness. He brings out the best in all of us, and I look forward to continuing that legacy." Gorman is confident in his successor, noting that in the past 130 years, the South Shore Y has had only five CEOs. "Trevor will lead the way to significant improvements and change," he says. "I trust he'll build boldly on what we've started." Gorman's leadership has ensured that the Y's mission touched every dimension of community life. Youth Development drove childcare, camp and education initiatives. Healthy Living expanded through wellness programs, aquatics, chronic disease prevention and the Y's Staystrong program for cancer survivors. Social responsibility came alive most vividly during the pandemic, when the Y mobilized as an emergency childcare provider, food distribution hub and lifeline for seniors and vulnerable families. While many organizations retrenched, Gorman insisted the Y rise to the occasion. "We didn't wait to be told what to do," he recalls. "We asked what our community needed, and we mobilized. That's who we are." Those months underscored the Y's essential role and demonstrated the resilience he had spent years building. Inclusion has informed every program, from scholarships that made participation affordable to facilities designed to welcome all. And sustainability—financial, environmental and organizational–has ensured that the Y's growth is not only ambitious but enduring. "We are all so grateful to Paul for his commitment and dedication," Orne says. "His vision is always for the people and the community, and every decision has been measured against that." Fundraising was another cornerstone of Gorman's success. He inspired confidence in donors by linking every gift directly to impact. More than $25M was raised for capital projects, and the Annual Campaign grew nearly five-fold. Paul Gorman and Karen & Rob Hale