PARTNERS IN GIVING
NEW CANAAN YMCA Volume 3, Issue 2
Fall/Winter 2010
www.newcanaanymca.org News from the New Canaan YMCA’s Office of Financial Development
SPECIAL YEAR-END ISSUE
POINTS OF PRIDE Positively impacting 12,000 people each year through our programs and facilities. Creating time away from the chaos to be together as a family—serving over 2,000 families. Serving the needs of kids and families: 62% of members are youth or family members; 40% of the New Canaan community are Y members. Providing for the healthy development of nearly 200 children in Y childcare and nursery school programs.
STRENGTHENING THE FOUNDATIONS OF COMMUNITY At the New Canaan YMCA, strengthening community is our cause. Every day, we work side by side with our members, volunteers, and other community organizations to ensure that everyone— regardless of age, income, or background—has the opportunity to learn, grow, thrive, and connect. The Y is, and always will be, dedicated to building healthy, confident, connected, and secure children, adults, families, and communities. Every day, our impact is felt when an individual makes a healthy choice, when a mentor inspires a child, and when a community comes together for the common good.
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New Canaan is so very lucky to have such a wonderful YMCA. You all do so much for the whole community every day. I am proud to be a member!” -Melanie Barnard
Helping nearly 2,600 active older adults maintain health, wellness, and independence through specialized programs and community collaborations. Our Promise to Not Turn Anyone Away: Direct Assistance Fund Allocation
Our Y gives away nearly $340,000 annually to ensure no one is turned away due to an inability to pay.
PARTNERS IN GIVING
Vol. 3, Issue 2
CELEBRATING ABILITIES: THE Y’S SPECIAL NEEDS INITIATIVE Now entering its second year, the New Canaan YMCA’s Special Needs Initiative (YSN) has been growing by leaps and bounds—and far beyond our expectations. The number of recreational and social programs offered to children, teens, young adults, and their families has grown by 600%, and the involvement of families in our community who have a child or young adult with special needs at our Y has more than doubled. In just the past year, we have seen a 60% increase in the number of people we serve, from 115 a year ago to well over 200 today. In addition, we have seen a dramatic increase in the complexity of needs faced by our program participants. The YSN takes an integrated approach to program delivery, so that our efforts complement those of the schools and other agencies serving the special needs community. Among our new program offerings: Friday Night Out: A parent respite program for families who have children with special needs. These young people and their siblings have a night of fun at the Y, while Mom and Dad enjoy an evening out in town—alone or with other families in the program. Teen Scene: Dinners in town, activities at the Outback Teen Center, and special events at the Y for teens and postgrads provide an ideal opportunity for socialization. YSN Family Camp: An action-packed day camp adventure for the whole family held at the Y during public school breaks. Through our work, we are proud to have accomplished something incredible: giving a home and a purpose to so many children and young adults who previously did not have a place of their own.
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If I could only put into words what the YSN means to our family. You gave our child the opportunity to just be a boy. He is a child used to doctor’s visits, separate classrooms, therapy sessions, and hospital stays. Camp gave him back the gift of his childhood, and we can never thank you enough.” -Parent email
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This past year, the Y hosted and sponsored “Hoops for Haiti,” a 3-on-3 basketball tournament for kids, which raised more than $20,000 for Haitian earthquake relief efforts conducted by AmeriCares and The Red Cross.
PARTNERS IN GIVING
Vol. 3, Issue 2
CHANGING LIVES A WORLD AWAY: THE Y’S KIBERA PROJECT As part of our international service initiative, since 2007 the New Canaan YMCA has partnered with Facing the Future, a nonprofit child development center located in Kibera, Kenya. The center currently provides feeding and education to 100 preschool and young school-age children. Kibera is Africa’s largest slum, and the second-largest slum in the world. There, nearly one million people live in an area the size of Central Park without clean drinking water, electricity, plumbing, trash removal, adequate food, or medical care. 70% of the population is under 14. A global perspective, responsibility, and response are the key drivers of our International Initiatives, and the New Canaan YMCA is proud to be a sponsor of the feeding program at Facing the Future. Many of these children come from single-parent homes, or are orphans, and receive their only daily meal while at the center. Says YMCA Executive Director Craig Panzano, “This is a great opportunity for members of our community to change lives through one small act of reaching out to help a single child a world away.”
The Y is a community leader in recreational characterbuilding programs for young people. Among our new offerings this past year is Young Adventurers, a recreation program that encourages 5th and 6th graders to challenge themselves through adventure while learning about our ecosystem and area habitats.
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I love the Y’s new Girls on the Run program. I never really felt confident about myself, but this has helped me and makes me feel happy and like I can make my own decisions.” -Note from a 5th-grade girl
$200 feeds one child in Kibera for an entire year, and through generous support of the Y’s Annual Support Campaign, this past year we provided more than $9,000 to our partner, Facing the Future.
POINTS OF PRIDE We presently offer rehabilitative programs for those living with such conditions as Arthritis, Parkinson’s Disease, and other movement challenges and have also entered into a partnership with Stamford Hospital to offer Phase IV cardiac rehab right here at our Y. Nearly 500 young people build character and healthy habits through our competitive swimming, diving, and synchronized swimming teams. Many of these kids go on to continue their sport at the college level. The Y awarded $57,800 in childcare assistance to 26 kids, helping working families remain actively employed.
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NEW CANAAN YMCA 564 South Avenue New Canaan, CT 06840
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Peter Skaperdas, President Laura Barker, Kevin Cowser, Jennifer Forese, Scott Fuller, P. Richard Gessinger, Boyd Harden, Tom Hargrove, Chris Hughes, Arnold Karp, David Kirby, Susan Lovejoy, Martin McLaughlin, Tom Osterndorf, Chris Pohle, Jeff Rold, George Russell, Kristin Selvala, Hunter Smith, Stan Sokolowski, David Squier, Christine Wagner BOARD OF TRUSTEES Judy Bentley, Sherri Kielland, Chuck Kontulis, Joseph Merrill, H. Ward Reighley, Peter Ziesing YMCA STAFF Craig Panzano, Executive Director Susan Cossette Eng, Financial Development and
Marketing Director Kristina Quinlavin, Asst. Financial Development and
Marketing Director
How do I donate? You may respond with a check to: The New Canaan YMCA 564 South Avenue New Canaan, CT 06840 • Visit our website: www.newcanaanymca.org and follow the link under “Giving” to make a gift online. • Call our office at 966-4528, ext. 142 to make a gift via credit card, or to make a contribution of stock. • Designate the New Canaan YMCA at your workplace with our 501(c)(3) Tax ID # 06-0763077.
Thank you for considering the YMCA in your year-end charitable giving plans!