Patrick O’Brien is the Wilmington Family YMCA’s new membership director, the organization announced recently. O’Brien, who was promoted from his former position as building manager, has been with the organization since November 2013.
 
Prior to coming to Wilmington, O’Brien was an assistant general manager at the New York Health and Racquet Club in New York City, a membership manager with the Turner Athletic Club in Atlanta and food and beverage manager at Druid Hills Golf Club in Atlanta. He has a bachelor’s degree in sports management from the University of Massachusetts. 
 
In a separate news release, the YMCA announced that it has received a $50,000 grant from the Cape Fear Memorial Foundation to expand its Diabetes Prevention Program and to increase awareness of type 2 diabetes.

“The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program is an evidence-based lifestyle intervention for adults at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes, and has been shown to reduce the number of new cases of diabetes by 58 percent overall and by 71 percent in adults over 60,” the release stated.

The program is a yearlong initiative with 16 weekly sessions followed by eight monthly sessions, the release stated. Working with a trained coach, participants learn how to “incorporate healthy eating, moderate physical activity, and problem-solving and coping skills into their daily lives.” Y membership is not required for participation.