The Service to Youth Award recognizes individuals and organizations whose dedication and effort have made a significant and positive difference in the lives of children in our community.

Dr. Jamie Krull, recipient of the YMCA of Greater Brandywine’s Service to Youth Award, has been volunteering as a coach for the Upper Main Line YMCA (UMLY) swim team for more than 30 years. It is his passion, where his heart is. “It is my family,” Dr. Krull says simply.

Dr. Krull’s love for swimming began when he joined the UMLY swim team at the age of 10. A self-proclaimed mediocre swimmer, he believes one of the reasons he became a doctor was because of the skill set he discovered as a swimmer: time management and caring for teammates and others. 

Lou Petto, Competitive Swim Team Director at UMLY, is the eighth head coach with whom Dr. Krull has worked. “He is here six days, 30 hours a week,” says Lou. “It’s like having another head coach, and the kids love him.

We are very fortunate to have him!” “The swimming is the easy part,” says Dr. Krull. “It is teaching the life lessons, like what to do when things don’t go 100% your way, that are more important. And it kind of goes hand-in-hand with my other job,” he adds with a smile.

“The best part of coaching is not when a top swimmer does well,” Dr. Krull continues. “It is when you have coached kids who come back and you can see that they have become successful adults.”

“I am honored to receive this award,” Dr. Krull says humbly. “I believe in the Y mission. I believe everyone should give back to the community. It is important to make a difference in some way.”