Issue link: http://southshoremagazine.uberflip.com/i/1540543
Paul Gorman, President and CEO of the South Shore YMCA since 2009, will retire in 2026, leaving behind a legacy that has reshaped both the Y and the communities it serves. Under his guidance, membership grew by 30 percent, program participation surged and annual revenue more than doubled. Today, the South Shore Y serves over 42,000 members and thousands more program and activity participants each year and is regarded as one of the strongest associations in the country. During his tenure, Gorman oversaw more than $70M in capital projects, expanded childcare capacity, launched two Early Learning Centers, opened state-of-the-art aquatics and gymnastics facilities, revitalized preschools and strengthened the Y's century-old camp traditions. His fundraising record is equally remarkable: more than $25M raised in capital funds and an Annual Campaign that nearly quintupled, growing from $1.3M to $6M. The numbers tell one story. The deeper story lies in how Gorman accomplished it all—through vision, strategy and an unwavering focus on people. Arriving on the South Shore with two decades of YMCA and professional leadership already behind him, Gorman was recognized as a bold thinker and consensus builder. He quickly set his sights not only on sustaining tradition, but on reimagining the Y as a national model of innovation and impact. That vision took visible shape in the buildings that rose during his tenure. In Quincy, he led the creation of the Hale Family YMCA, a modern hub for one of the region's most diverse communities. In Hanover, he transformed the Mill Pond YMCA into the Emilson YMCA, creating a 30-acre destination campus, complete with the Laura's Center for the Arts, the Outdoor Aquatics Center, Early Learning Center and the Family Farm. These projects were not simply about construction. They were statements of confidence in the South Shore's future. Daniel DeMarco, partner at Campanelli Companies and member of the Y's Executive Board, worked closely with Gorman on the Quincy project and has served as the Y's Chief Volunteer Officer. He credits Gorman with galvanizing both volunteers and the broader community. "Paul is a visionary," DeMarco says. "He is always looking past the present, with this uncanny ability to rally a team, build relationships and care deeply about the community all at once. When he stands in the dust of a construction site, he describes the people who will walk through those doors. He doesn't talk about bricks. He sees a community coming together. Paul always sees people first." This philosophy has extended to the Y's camps, which Gorman regards as a cornerstone of its mission. At Camp Burgess & Hayward, he led the construction of Pam's Place, a new girls' dining hall, health center, Makers Barn and new cabins. Day camps flourished as well, from Camp Quirk to Camp Gordon Clark to the Nature Adventures Camp, each upgraded and expanded to welcome thousands of children every summer. For Gorman, camps were never simply about summer fun, but about resilience, independence,and friendships that last a lifetime. He believed that a child's camp experience could shape confidence and character for years to come, and he invested in that future. His leadership has also expanded the Y's role in early education and childcare at a moment when working families most needed it. Capacity grew dramatically, two new Early Learning Centers opened, and Gymnastics Centers offered children new opportunities for growth and play. These initiatives reflected his conviction that the Y must evolve alongside the community it serves, offering solutions for families at every stage of life. "Paul never let us get comfortable," says Chief Development Officer Mary Orne, who has known him since their teenage years at the Y in Marblehead. "He was always thinking three to five years ahead, asking the hard questions: How do we remain relevant? How do we reach families who haven't felt welcomed before? How do we build a Y that continually meets the changing needs of communities?" Orne, who partnered with Gorman on fundraising campaigns and early education planning and design, admits she still gets emotional when speaking about his impact. His encouragement and support, she says, have been as personal as they have been organizational as he is an amazing mentor for staff, encouraging growth of one's career. Gorman's clarity of vision has been his defining force. As he prepares to pass the reins to new President Trevor Williams, he works with staff and the board to establish a forward-looking framework of five strategic pillars: youth and family programming, medical wellness 23 TheSouthShoreMagazine.com Dan DeMarco and Paul Gorman Dan Quirk, Paul Gorman and Y campers