Partners in Giving 2010 News from the New Canaan YMCA’s Office of Financial Development V O L U M E
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Partners in Giving
Supporting our Community’s Kids:
is a biannual publication of the New Canaan YMCA’s Office of Financial Development.
YMCA Kicks off 2010 All Kids Are Our Kids Annual Campaign
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Our goal is to provide our constituents with news on our charitable work in the community— as well as to highlight topics of interest. As always, we welcome your suggestions for future issues.
Co-chaired by New Canaan residents and Y Board members Chris Pohle and Peter Skaperdas, this year’s campaign goal is $325,000. The Y’s All Kids Are Our Kids Campaign supports the YMCA’s work in the community by funding member-
n April, the New Canaan YMCA kicked off its 2010 Annual Support Campaign, “All Kids Are Our Kids.”
Also in this issue: Special Needs Update See page 3.
ship and program scholarships as well as programs for those with special needs.
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Kids are among our community’s most precious assets, and the Y is uniquely positioned to provide them with the experiences they need to thrive.” - Peter Skaperdas, Board President & Campaign Co-Chair
Funds raised also provide subsidies for the cost of running many YMCA programs—such as childcare, competitive aquatics, teen programs, and recreational leagues— keeping them affordable for all. The campaign also provides seed funding for new programs to respond to the commu2010 Campaign CoChairs Chris Pohle and Peter Skaperdas. This year’s campaign goal is $325,000.
nity’s changing needs and supports YMCA World Service initiatives. “The All Kids Are Our Kids campaign is central to the Y’s mission of community service,” explained Peter Skaperdas, who also serves as the YMCA’s Board President. “No one is ever turned away from YMCA membership or story continues on page 2. . .
Keeping Kids Active and Healthy the Y Way
C YMCA STAFF Craig Panzano Executive Director (203) 966-4528, ext. 124
Susan Cossette Eng Financial Development & Marketing Director (203) 966-4528, ext. 142
hildren throughout the nation face unprecedented health challenges as a result of inactivity and poor nutrition. Today, one in three is obese or overweight, leading to such conditions as elevated cholesterol, high blood pressure, and the early onset of type 2 diabetes. Addressing the childhood obesity crisis is so crucial that First Lady Michelle Obama has taken it on as a signature initia-
tive. Her “Let’s Move” campaign aims to end childhood obesity by focusing on four key pillars: informing parents about nutrition and exercise, improving the quality of school food, making healthy foods more accessible, and increasing physical activity. For these efforts to be effective, they must become a major priority that in-
volves action from all sectors of our society.
Nearly 300 middle school students hold YMCA F.I.T. passes. These 12-14 year olds have completed a 10-week training program, as well as practical and written tests, and now enjoy the benefits of using the Y’s Wellness Center.
story continues on page 3. . .
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“The Y contributes to our community in so many important ways, and it’s crucial that these contributions can continue.” -Chris Pohle, Board Member & Campaign Co-Chair
Annual Support Campaign (continued from page 1) programs for financial reasons,” added Chris Pohle. The annual campaign makes this happen.”
sibility for the well- In 2009, the Y awarded more than being of its chil$270,000 in membership and dren, providing program assistance, up 12% from them with the supthe previous year. port and experiences they need to become uniquely positioned to provide healthy, thriving adults. our kids with many of the posi-
In response to the economic crisis, the Y awarded more than $270,000 in membership and program scholarships in YMCAs across the country 2009, up 12% from the previ- have adopted Search Instious year. tute’s 40 Developmental Assets as the model for The key concept behind the their work with young All Kids Are Our Kids Cam- people. paign is that all members of a community share respon“Kids are among our community’s most precious assets,” Learn more about Search said Mr. Institute's Developmental Assets Skaperdas. “And and their importance to raising as a “community healthy kids at within a comwww.search-institute.org. munity,” the Y is
tive experiences they need to thrive.”
Added Mr. Pohle, “The Y contributes to our community in so many important ways, and it’s crucial that these contributions can continue.” For more information, contact the Y Development Office at (203) 9664528, ext. 142, or visit the Y online at: www.newcanaanymca.org.
And thanks to our 2010 Annual Campaign Committee: Did you know: 50% of the New Canaan YMCA’s 11,300 members are kids under the age of 18.
Kathy Bucci Rich Canning Peg Davidson Kristin Desautelle Genie DeserioButtenweiser Marea Dumbauld Mary Anne Farrell Jennifer Forese* Dick Gessinger*
Boyd Harden* Tom Hargrove* Robin Hoffman Chris Hughes* Arnold Karp* David Kirby* Susan Lovejoy* Hilary Manges Marty McLaughlin* Ted O’Hanlan*
Tom Osterndorf* Ruth Perry Dan Rashin Jennifer Richardson Jeff Rold* George Russell* Kristin Selvala* Susan Singer Hunter Smith* Stan Sokolowski*
Kathy Sweeney David Squier* Nicole Vink Christine Wagner* Lisa Wolff *Y Board Member
“Without a sense of CARING, there can be no sense of COMMUNITY.” -Anthony Burgess
PARTNERS IN GIVING
VOLUME III, ISSUE 1
Keeping Kids Healthy (continued from page 1) YMCAs are committed to building communities where all kids can learn, grow, and thrive, and the New Canaan Y joins our national and community leaders in the fight to end childhood obesity—an epidemic that does so much harm to our children. Each year, the New The YMCA incorporates physical Canaan YMCA serves activity in all its childcare and more than 5,000 young nursery school programs. From people. We believe our swimming and Bouncing Bears to kid- responsibility to supfriendly fitness classes, the children port children in adoptwe serve are learning healthy habits ing and maintaining through active play. healthy lifestyles reaches beyond the walls of the YMCA and extends to the entire community. Healthy active play and healthy eating are integral parts of combating childhood obesity. Kids should engage in at least 60 minutes of active play each day, and if we can get our children to play more, we can make them healthier. This is one step that can help turn the tide of childhood obesity. It will take a collective effort to create sustainable changes in the places where we live, work, learn, and play to make healthy living attainable for all. The YMCA is committed to reversing the obe-
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From the YMCA’s Mailbox
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uring the March storm, the New Canaan YMCA opened its doors to those in the community without power. After the big cleanup, the Y received its own “storm”—of letters, emails, and even a sweet surprise from a local Girl Scout Troop!
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Thank you for having the Y available to the community for showering, even for non-members and at no cost. The New Canaan Y has shown that it knows how to reach out to those in need in trying times. -MEMBER E-MAIL
Girl Scouts send cookies to our staff!
sity epidemic and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to grow into a confident and healthy adult—this is what the New Canaan YMCA has done for 55 years, and it is at the core of our mission of community service.
Special Needs Initiative Now Serves Nearly 170
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he New Canaan YMCA’s Special Needs Initiative (YSN) is growing by leaps and bounds!
Launched in 2009 with seed funding from a private donor, the YSN now offers 27 new specialized programs to kids, teens, and young adults ranging in age from 2 to 21. We currently serves nearly 170 young people and 73 families through the YSN. “I can’t even say how many calls and emails I get each week,” said Marisa Mc Bride, Director of Special Needs Programming. “With service cutbacks happening in so many communities, our Y is being challenged more than ever to provide recreational programs to those with special needs.” The New Canaan YMCA is one of the only Ys in the country to have a full-time director providing leadership to special needs programming. The Y has a long history of including those with special needs into its traditional programs. YSN programs go a step beyond
“I hope the staff realize the huge impact this and are the program has on my son. They are not specifically designed for those only helping him learn to swim, but are also giving hope to a very special child.” with special - YSN Parent E-mail needs, providing participants with built-in accommodations. YSN programs are designed to be a stepping stone for our participants, with the goal of transitioning them to fully inclusive activities. Current offerings include gymnastics, yoga, music, art, movement, social programs for teens, and Friday Night Out, a parent respite program.
YSN programs are supported by the All Kids Are Our Kids Annual Campaign and our annual charity golf outing. For more information, contact Ms. McBride at (203) 966-4528, ext. 156, or by email at mmcbride@newcanaanymca.org.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Peter Skaperdas, President Laura Barker, Jennifer Forese, Scott Fuller, Dick Gessinger, Boyd Harden, Tom Hargrove, Chris Hughes, Arnold Karp, David Kirby, Susan Lovejoy, Marty McLaughlin, Ted O’Hanlan, 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
New Canaan Community YMCA 564 South Avenue New Canaan, CT 06840 (203) 966-4528 www.newcanaanymca.org
Enriching all people in spirit, mind, and body . . .