When Jennifer Felice steps into the Jamestown YMCA, she finds a place of happiness, safety and friendships.
Ms. Felice, a 38-year-old Frewsburg resident, is the daughter of Mike and Laura Felice of Jamestown. She lives in an individual residential alternative through The Resource Center since 2001 and works during the day at their Jones and Gifford site.
Being born with Down syndrome, a survivor of leukemia since age 14 and diagnosed with Tourette syndrome, Ms. Felice doesn't let this get in the way of her active lifestyle at the Y.
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Jennifer Felice demonstrates the use of the resistance bands to increase strength in her group exercise class at the Jamestown YMCA.
She started coming to the Jamestown YMCA in 1995 after graduating from BOCES. Ms. Felice helped staff member Joyce Ball with housekeeping in order to earn a Y membership.
When asked what she likes most about coming to the Y, Ms. Felice took no time at all to list three reasons: the exercise, swimming and friends.
She is a member of Cindy Kay's group exercise class, participates in the adaptive aquatics program on Monday evenings and is also a member of the Special Olympics swim team that practices at the Y in March.
"The YMCA has been very beneficial for my daughter," said Laura Felice.
"Besides staying in shape, she has met so many wonderful people here, and the social interaction has been great for her. She has learned the importance of exercise as a result of attending the Y and looks forward to walking on weekends with me."
When Jennifer Felice steps into the Jamestown YMCA, she finds a place of happiness, safety and friendships.
Ms. Felice, a 38-year-old Frewsburg resident, is the daughter of Mike and Laura Felice of Jamestown. She lives in an individual residential alternative through The Resource Center since 2001 and works during the day at their Jones and Gifford site.
Being born with Down syndrome, a survivor of leukemia since age 14 and diagnosed with Tourette syndrome, Ms. Felice doesn't let this get in the way of her active lifestyle at the Y.
She started coming to the Jamestown YMCA in 1995 after graduating from BOCES. Ms. Felice helped staff member Joyce Ball with housekeeping in order to earn a Y membership.
When asked what she likes most about coming to the Y, Ms. Felice took no time at all to list three reasons: the exercise, swimming and friends.
She is a member of Cindy Kay's group exercise class, participates in the adaptive aquatics program on Monday evenings and is also a member of the Special Olympics swim team that practices at the Y in March.
"The YMCA has been very beneficial for my daughter," said Laura Felice.
"Besides staying in shape, she has met so many wonderful people here, and the social interaction has been great for her. She has learned the importance of exercise as a result of attending the Y and looks for
Besides being active at the Y, Ms. Felice also participates and volunteers in several community events through The Resource Center. She enjoys concerts, movies, dances, traveling, grocery shopping, listening to music and walking.
Ms. Felice has five siblings, Michelle Wessendorf, Robert Wheeler, Carol Davidson, Laurie Allen and George Wheeler.