neighbors
A Career of Caring
Laura Tiedge’s life of service has led her to the Wayne YMCA
WRITTEN BY DEIRDRE FLANAGAN WARD
BUILDING
COMMUNITY
Tiedge meets
with colleagues
Jonathan
Adewumi and
Gina DiFiore.
14
FALL 2017 WAYNE MAGAZINE
She began her new job in early
January.
“Each of us has an obligation to
help others in some way, big or
small,” she says.
Her commitment to strengthening
the community through youth devel-
opment, healthy living and social
responsibility is a priority to her.
“Every day, I have the opportunity
through the work of the Y to have an
impact on the lives of individuals,
families and the community-at-large,”
she says. “From adult cancer sur-
vivors trying to reclaim their lives
through physical activity to children
learning to swim, and seniors finding
better health and social connection
to others, each day is an opportunity
to make a difference.”
Her own day begins in early morn-
ing with training prior to work, so
she can keep focused on her responsi-
bilities. “My typical day can be a real
whirlwind of meetings, email
correspondence, community
outreach, and interacting with our
members,” she says. “I enjoy the time
I have with my staff, creating and
executing plans that ultimately
impact the well-being of our
members. While meetings can be
overwhelming, often that is where
the magic happens.”
Whether the cause is magic or
good management, Tiedge is growing
her organization’s membership, as
well as its
Submit your ideas for
programs.
Committing
an entire
to [email protected]
career to
nonprofits is admirable, and uncom-
mon. She advises others to “find
something that you are truly passion-
ate about, and combine it with
your personal strengths to make a
difference in the lives of others.” ■
neighbors
L
aura Tiedge, 55, may
be new to her position
as executive director
of the Wayne YMCA,
but her experience in
the nonprofit sector
spans her entire career.
“In 1988, I moved with my hus-
band and daughter to Pittsburgh
from Southern California,” Tiedge
says. “During the 13 years we lived in
Pittsburgh, I worked for the United
Way of Allegheny County and the
Camp Fire Boys and Girls. I started a
consulting firm to assist nonprofits
with capacity building. In addition,
I served as an elected member of
our local board of school directors.”
In 2001, Tiedge moved with her
family to Westchester County and
worked at the YMCA branches in
New Rochelle and Rye. After nine
years working at the Rye Y, she
learned about her current position.