Summit Area Ymca

THE SUMMIT AREA YMCA CHAMPIONS POSITIVE VALUES IN YOUTH, STRENGTHENS FAMILIES AND BUILDS HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY FOR ALL.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT - - CHILDCARE, ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS AND CAMP. WE BELIEVE THAT ALL KIDS DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCOVER WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY CAN ACHIEVE. IN ADDITION, WE BELIEVE THAT KIDS NEED A SAFE, NURTURING ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH TO LEARN, GROW AND DEVELOP SOCIAL SKILLS AND OUR CHILDCARE PROGRAMS, WHICH CARE FOR 600+ CHILDREN AGES SIX WEEKS TO 12 YEARS EVERY DAY, PROVIDE JUST SUCH AN ENVIRONMENT. AT OUR BERKELEY HEIGHTS YMCA, SUMMIT YMCA, AND THE LEARNING CIRCLE YMCA, KIDS GOT TO BE KIDS AGAIN AFTER A YEAR THAT SHIFTED SO MUCH IN THEIR ROUTINES. IN OUR CHILDCARE CENTERS, AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS, AND CAMPS, CHILDREN STRETCHED THEIR MINDS AND BODIES THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PLAY AND WELLNESS ACTIVITIES. THE SUMMIT AREA YMCA'S DAY CAMPS ARE SAFE, EXCITING PLACES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO EXPLORE THE OUTDOORS, BUILD SELF-ESTEEM, DEVELOP INTERPERSONAL SKILLS, AND MAKE LASTING FRIENDSHIPS AND MEMORIES. A RECORD 764 CAMPERS CAME TOGETHER FOR EXERCISE, OUTDOOR PLAY, FIELD TRIPS, AND STEM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH). OUR FREE 7TH GRADE INITIATIVE PROGRAM ALSO BOOMED, AS 350+ TEENS WERE EAGER TO GET BACK TO NORMAL, LEARN HEALTHY HABITS, AND SOCIALIZE. IN 2021, THE Y PROVIDED $552K IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TOWARDS CHILDCARE, CAMP, AND TEEN PROGRAMS, TO ENSURE ALL CHILDREN COULD BENEFIT FROM THE NURTURING DEVELOPMENT THAT HAPPENS EVERY DAY AT THE Y AND ENABLING PARENTS TO GO TO WORK AND TRUST THEIR CHILDREN (INFANTS, TODDLERS, PRE-SCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY AGE SCHOOL CHILDREN AND TEENS) WERE BEING NURTURED, DEVELOPED, AND WELL CARED FOR. AKILAH, MOTHER OF CHELSEY, WAS THRILLED TO SHARE HER THOUGHTS ON SUMMIT AREA YMCA CAMPS. THE Y'S THOUGHTFULNESS IN SOCIAL, ENGAGING ACTIVITIES THAT FOSTERED NEW FRIENDSHIPS AND CREATIVITY, AND A FOCUS ON INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY WHERE SHE MET NEW FRIENDS AND FELT WELCOMED AND INCLUDED FROM DAY ONE MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN HER DAUGHTER'S SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCE. "I HAVE TO BE HONEST. WE WENT TO OTHER CAMPS, AND SHE WAS BORED. SO BORED. AT THE Y, EVERY DAY IS A DIFFERENT DAY. FROM THE ARTS AND CRAFTS TO THE THEME DAYS, WACKY THURSDAYS OR FRIDAYS, THE POOL GAMES. SHE SAID THAT THE ACTIVITIES AND GAMES THEY PARTICIPATE IN AT CAMP, THEY DO NOT DO AT HER SCHOOL. SO, IT'S COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE. SHE IS EXCITED TO COME BACK THE NEXT DAY, EXCITED TO DO SOMETHING NEW AND TO EXPLORE. I LIKE THE SOCIAL ASPECT OF IT TOO. THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT TOWNS THAT SURROUND CAMP CANNUNDUS, SO CHELSEA MEETS DIFFERENT FRIENDS ALL OVER. WE HAD A Y IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, AND IT WAS DIVERSE TOO. SHE SAID NO MOMMY, I FEEL COMFORTABLE HERE. I FEEL LIKE I MATTER. I'M INCLUDED IN EVERY ACTIVITY; MY COUNSELORS MAKE SURE THAT I'M OK. IT'S SO COMFORTING THAT SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE COLOR OF HER SKIN. SHE COMES HERE, SHE MAKES NEW FRIENDS, SO IT HELPS HER MEET NEW PEOPLE, SPARK NEW CONVERSATIONS, AND I APPRECIATE THAT."

HEALTHY LIVING. . THE SUMMIT AREA YMCA IS A LEADING VOICE ON HEALTH AND WELLNESS. WITH A MISSION CENTERED ON BALANCE, THE Y BRINGS FAMILIES CLOSER TOGETHER, ENCOURAGES GOOD HEALTH AND FOSTERS CONNECTIONS THROUGH FITNESS, SPORTS, FUN AND SHARED INTERESTS. AS A RESULT, HUNDREDS OF YOUTH, ADULTS AND FAMILIES ARE RECEIVING THE SUPPORT, GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO ACHIEVE GREATER HEALTH AND WELL-BEING FOR THEIR SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY. THE SUMMIT AREA YMCA CONTINUES TO DEMONSTRATE ITS COMMITMENT TO ENSURE ALL PEOPLE FIND COMMUNITY AND CONNECTEDNESS. IN 2021, WE HELPED OUR COMMUNITY HEAL AFTER A YEAR THAT DISRUPTED SO MANY LIVES. AFTER ENDURING THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL STRESSES OF THE PANDEMIC, OUR NEIGHBORS TOOK CONTROL OVER THEIR HEALTH AT THE Y THROUGH YOGA, SWIM, GROUP EXERCISE, AND MUCH-NEEDED SOCIALIZATION. OUR MEMBERS PARTICIPATED IN CLASSES OUTDOORS, CYCLED UNDER THE STARS, COMPETED IN MINI TRIATHLONS, GATHERED AT OUR POOLS, AND SIMPLY ENCOURAGED ONE ANOTHER AS THEY REBUILT THEIR HEALTH. IN OUR VIRTUAL LIVESTRONG AT THE YMCA PROGRAM, 38 CANCER SURVIVORS SPENT 12 TRANSFORMATIVE WEEKS EXERCISING, JOURNALING, AND RECEIVING EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. GENIE, A TWO-TIME CANCER SURVIVOR AND LIVESTRONG AT THE YMCA PARTICIPANT, CHARACTERIZES Y PROGRAMMING AS LIFE CHANGING. NOT ONLY HAS SHE GAINED A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON HER OVERALL HEALTH AND FITNESS, BUT SHE HAS ALSO BUILT FRIENDSHIPS WITH STAFF AND MEMBERS THAT'S SPANNED DECADES AND NOW ADVOCATES FOR SUPPORT OF THE Y TO HELP US CONTINUE OUR CAUSE-DRIVEN MISSION IN STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITY. "WHEN YOU FIND OUT YOU HAVE CANCER, YOU FEEL VERY MUCH ALONE. IN MY CASE, I HAD THAT SAME LIFE-ALTERING CONVERSATION TWICE, AND BOTH TIMES THE YMCA WAS THERE FOR ME. LIVESTRONG AT THE YMCA IS A FREE PROGRAM WHICH WAS SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR CANCER PATIENTS AND SURVIVORS LIKE ME. OVER THE COURSE OF 12 WEEKS, OUR GROUP EXERCISED UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF AN EXPERT TRAINER WHO KNOWS HOW TO HELP US REBUILD OUR STRENGTH WHILE LESSENING THE PAINS WE MIGHT BE FEELING AS A RESULT OF OUR CANCER TREATMENTS. EXERCISE IS NO LONGER SOMETHING I SHOULD JUST DO. IT IS A PART OF MY LIFE! MY OUTLOOK IS SO DIFFERENT THANKS TO THE SUPPORT OF MY FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND THE LIVESTRONG PROGRAM. I AM SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE HAD THIS FREE PROGRAM IN MY LIFE. I CAN TRULY SAY THAT BEFORE THE Y, I EXISTED. NOW... I THRIVE!"

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION TO HEALTHY LIVING PROGRAMS, CHILDCARE AND CAMP, THE Y PROVIDES ACCESSIBLE PROGRAMS AND SERVES THE COMMUNITY IN A VARIETY OF WAYS INCLUDING OUR YOUNG STUDENT LEARNERS, TEEN LEADERS, FAMILIES WHO NEED FINANCIAL HELP, MEMBERS WHO ARE TRYING TO IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH DESPITE SETBACKS, ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY, BEING A PLACE FOR ALL WITH DIVERSE ABILITIES TO FEEL SAFE AND INCLUDED, AND MORE. IN 2021, WE OPERATED AS A Y WITHOUT WALLS TO MAINTAIN LIFELINES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, CANCER SURVIVORS, AND THE FOOD INSECURE. 50 TEENS BENEFITED FROM OUR FREE VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON ACHIEVERS PROGRAM, WHICH SET THEM UP FOR SUCCESS IN COLLEGE AND IN LIFE. EVERY WEEK, AN AVERAGE OF 80 LOW-INCOME FAMILIES FROM SUMMIT AND SPRINGFIELD TURNED TO US FOR HEARTY PRODUCE AND STAPLE FOODS THAT ENSURED THEY WOULD NOT GO HUNGRY. TO MAKE THE HOLIDAYS SPECIAL FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN NEED, THE Y COORDINATED WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE TOYS, GIFTS, GIFT CARDS AND CASH FOR 150 FAMILIES STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY. "HONESTLY THANK YOU SO MUCH, YOU GUYS HAVE DONE A REALLY GREAT CAMPAIGN DELIVERING HAPPINESS TO MY CHILDREN. TO ME, IT HAS BEEN AWESOME TO SEE HOW YOU TOOK THE TIME TO LOOK FOR THE GIFT MY CHILDREN WANTED AND ACTUALLY GAVE US WHAT THEY ASKED FOR. IT MEANS A LOT OF GENEROSITY, BUT MOSTLY LOVE," SAID ONE RECIPIENT, A LOCAL SINGLE FATHER OF TWO YOUNG CHILDREN. IN ADDITION TO GIFT AND TOY DONATIONS, FIVE SPECIAL FAMILIES WHO WERE IDENTIFIED AS HAVING EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS HAD A VERY MERRY HOLIDAY, AND RECEIVED HOUSEHOLD SUPPLIES, GROCERIES, CASH AND GIFT CARDS. ONE OF THE FAMILIES IS MULTIGENERATIONAL: TWO SINGLE MOMS, ONE WHOM IS PARAPLEGIC, AND THREE YOUNG CHILDREN. "WE WERE TOLD THEY RENT TWO BEDROOMS IN A SHARED APARTMENT WITH ANOTHER FAMILY," PATTY FACCHINEI, FINANCIAL AID & VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR OF THE SUMMIT AREA YMCA EXPLAINED. "WHEN MY HUSBAND AND I WENT TO DELIVER THEIR GIFTS, WE WERE GREETED BY TWO CHILDREN JUMPING UP AND DOWN AND CLAPPING THEIR HANDS. THEIR MOM WAS WATCHING, SMILING WITH TEARS IN HER EYES AND JUST SO DELIGHTED TO RECEIVE OUR GIFTS. I HAD MY SANTA HAT ON, AND THE KIDS ASKED ME IF THERE WAS A SANTA CLAUS. I TOLD THEM THAT WE WERE HELPING SANTA OUT THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF COVID, AS SOME OF SANTA'S HELPERS WERE STILL RECOVERING. WE GAVE THEM A HIGH-FIVE AND WE LAUGHED. NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT WAS A PRETTY QUIET DRIVE HOME FOR MY HUSBAND AND MYSELF. MOST PEOPLE DON'T SEE THIS OFTEN IN SUMMIT, IT REALLY PUTS THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE." IT IS THE MISSION OF THE Y TO UNITE AND STRENGTHEN ALL IN MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT. THE SUMMIT AREA YMCA PARTNERS WITH OTHER LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS YEAR-ROUND TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO STRUGGLE FINANCIALLY FOR Y PROGRAMS, ESSENTIAL RESOURCES; SUPPLEMENTAL MEALS AND SUPPLIES; AND OTHER FORMS OF ASSISTANCE. IN TOTAL FOR 2021, THE Y PROVIDED OVER $847K IN DIRECT AND INDIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.