Huntington YMCA's Own Anne Knauer Marks 81st Birthday -- 50+ Years of Service

Anne Knauer, known affectionately as the face of the Huntington YMCA for more than 50 years, celebrated her 81st birthday, fittingly, at the YMCAs Fitness Center at the Village Green in Huntington. Surrounded by family and friends, long-time Y members and administrators, 'Annie cut a huge sheet cake and accepted good wishes all around.

Huntington, NY (PRWEB) April 4, 2004 --Anne Knauer, known affectionately as the face of the Huntington YMCA for more than 50 years, celebrated her 81st birthday, fittingly, at the YMCAs Fitness Center at the Village Green in Huntington. Surrounded by family and friends, long-time Y members and administrators, 'Annie cut a huge sheet cake and accepted good wishes all around.
   
Aside from the time-out for her birthday celebration, Anne was back at her desk as Huntington YMCA Member Services Coordinator, continuing to provide daily advice and up-to-the-minute information on healthy exercise to any members with questions and concerns.
   
In the early 1950s, Anne and her late husband Harold Babe" Knauer became active in fund-raising to build the Norton Pool, named for their good friend, Ed Norton. Babe coached basketball for the Y and eventually baseball as well. Anne continued to work for the Y, helping with fund-raising activities and supporting the athletic programs. When Mickey Norton was named executive director of the Huntington YMCA, he asked Anne if she would start some fitness classes for Y members.
That was certainly the start of something big," said Ed Moffett, YMCA Executive Director. Anne was our first fitness director and the only one for awhile. She started at 6:30 a.m. and worked continually until 8 p.m., averaging six classes a day without a break. After about a year, the YMCA hired another instructor, and Anne had time to schedule a quick lunch in between classes."
   
Today, the Huntington YMCA has 30 group exercise instructors and offers more than 100 classes each week. Anne led classes full-time until 1986, when she became a consultant to the fitness program. She has overseen an extraordinary growth in the range and depth of health and fitness programs now available. The Huntington YMCA offers Aerobics, Yoga, Pilates, Step programs and Group Cycle programs, water fitness, special classes for seniors, children, youth, arthritis patients, heart-healthy programs, as well as many more state-of-the art fitness classes. There are kid fitness programs, kickboxing, and brand new to the program -- Bosu training.
   
There is something here for everyone," said Ms. Knauer, more choices, more excitement and more important - a wonderful sense of family. You can never be bored." After almost 60 years, Anne Knauer does think of the Huntington YMCA as part of her family. Many women who started exercising at the Y when Anne was the Instructor of Choice" remain steadfast participants, still sharing their lives with her, through the arrival of children and grandchildren and into retirement.
   
At 81, Ms. Knauer doesnt show any signs of slowing down. At 4:30 a.m. she is on the treadmill before coming to work and she says she works with weights while she watches television in the evening. It is obvious that Ms. Knauer is committed to the Huntington YMCA.

She speaks glowingly of the Ys services to the community. Think about the Teen Center. What an extraordinary opportunity. The Y is open only for teens every Saturday evening from 8 to 11 p.m., free of charge. They can use any and all of our facilities, including basketball, games, and the pool in an alcohol-free environment."

She also points out that no one is ever turned away. We give about $200,000 each year in scholarships to people who need services but cant afford it," she added. The Huntington YMCA is a magnet for people. I know members who have moved to Huntington just to be near the Y. Moms with new babies, seniors, sport enthusiasts, all form important bonds when they meet here two or three times a week. They are an important support group for each other."

Anne Knauer looks forward to each day she comes to work. Greeting each person who walks through the door from her front desk at the YMCA Fitness Center, she feels she is home. We are improving the quality of life in our community," she notes. We are making a difference."
The Huntington YMCA, a branch of the YMCA of Long Island, is a charitable, not-for-profit, community service based organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of children, adults and families through programs that build spirit, mind and body.