South Mountain YMCA’s Gailmarie Green Named Staff Member of the Year

MAPLEWOOD, NJ - Gailmarie Green, Senior Director of Enrichment and Family Programs at South Mountain YMCA, has been named the 2025 Staff Member of the Year by the Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges—the organization's highest individual staff honor. The award was presented during the Metro YMCA’s Annual Campaign Celebration and Awards Dinner on April 27 in East Hanover.

The award recognizes an outstanding employee who demonstrates innovation, initiative, creativity, and leadership while making a meaningful impact on the community.

During her 11 years at the South Mountain Y, Green has grown programs like Creative Theater, Summer Discovery, and enrichment classes into core experiences for members and participants.

“In 2025, she championed some of our most meaningful inclusive initiatives, opening welcoming spaces for neurodivergent children and families — because she believes, deeply, that everyone belongs at the Y,” said James Goodger, District Executive Director at South Mountain YMCA. “At the same time, she has exceeded budget expectations and broken participation and revenue records, proving that mission and fiscal responsibility go hand in hand.”

Green, a resident of Westfield, joined the South Mountain YMCA in 2015 as Director of Enrichment and Family Programs. Prior to that, she spent nearly 10 years at the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA as a Youth and Teen Enrichment Program Coordinator.

Green also oversees a thriving gymnastics program as well as the coordination of the Beyond the Bell after-school enrichment program in Maplewood-South Orange School District, serving 800-1,600 children per session, three times a year.

“I am honored to be named Staff Member of the Year,” Green said. “I genuinely love my work, and the families I serve have had a lasting impact on me. It’s often hard work, but it’s incredibly rewarding,” Green said.

“James and Eric, our Associate Executive Director, have created a culture of innovation and collaboration that pushes you to be your best. I wouldn't be able to do any of it without my amazing team and my family. I share this honor with all of them."

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ABOUT THE Y

Established in 1885, the Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges invests in its diverse communities to promote wellness, safety and quality of life for children, adults and seniors. Its six branches in East Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, New Milford, Hardyston and Stillwater are committed to nurturing the potential of kids, promoting healthy living and fostering a sense of social responsibility through an array of programs. Some 35,000 people belong to the Metro Y, which awards more than $2 million annually in direct and indirect financial assistance.