Fall Newsletter 2017

FOR A BETTER US

FALL 2017 GREETINGS!

W

hile summer is often seen as a time of rest, relaxation and vacation, it is one of the busiest seasons for the YMCA of Metro North. The Y steps up to keep our communities engaged, active and safe during this celebrated season. Our grounds were brimming with campers, our pools full of youth swimmers learning to be safe in the water, and our facilities filled with members striving to be their best selves.

As we start a new season and a new school year, the Y is eager to welcome students back into our out-of-school time and early learning programs.

We can’t wait for another year of learning, development, support and achievement, all grounded in the Y’s core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. Thank you for helping the Y serve so many this summer and throughout the school year. Your support allows us to make a greater impact on the lives of the children & families in our community.

With gratitude, Bruce Macdonald President & CEO

Camp and Summer Programs Over 1,400 kids had the best summer ever at YMCA of Metro North camp programs in Peabody, Saugus and Melrose. The Y also served 536 kids in our summer programming at the Lynn YMCA. Youth swam, went on field trips, sang songs, played countless games and made new friends and memories. At the same time, their parents could go to work knowing that their children were being cared for in a safe, engaging and fun environment while school was out. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, the Y was able to ensure that limited financial means were not a barrier to kids having the chance to thrive at summer camp. We are proud to have provided over $81,000 in financial assistance to send 129 kids to camp. The Y was able to give 30 homeless campers, the children who need it most, the chance to have fun, play outside, enjoy new experiences and to belong as part of the Y family.

YMCA OF METRO NORTH 2 Centennial Dr. Suite 4A. Peabody, MA 01960 978-775-3701 YMCAMETRONORTH.ORG

Lynn Project Update The YMCA of Metro North is thrilled to announce we are one step closer to building a new YMCA in Lynn! The Y has completed the purchase of land directly in front of the current Y on Neptune Blvd from the City of Lynn. Construction of the new 70,000 square foot Y is scheduled to begin in late fall 2017.

Imagine the impact this will have on the lives of the children and families of Lynn!

Stay tuned for more updates and visit ymcametronorth.org/new-lynn-ymca for more information.

IMAGINE

THE IMPACT EXTERIOR RENDERINGS THE NEW LYNN YMCA

Lynn YMCA April 18, 2017

www.maugel.com

Where in the World Event The YMCA of Metro North hosted an amazing evening of international fun at the Torigian Family YMCA on September 23, 2017. One lucky winner won the trip of a lifetime, the chance to travel anywhere in the world for dinner, all benefiting the children and families in our community!

Under the leadership of event co-chairs David Gravel, CEO of GraVoc Associates in Peabody and Kathleen Walsh, Chief Operating Officer at the YMCA of Metro North, the event raised a record setting $127,000. These funds will provide the YMCA of Metro North with the necessary resources they need to help ensure that every child and family in financial need has the ability to attend the YMCA. Lynn YMCA April 18, 2017

www.maugel.com

The Torigian Family YMCA was transformed into an elegant travel inspired destination where guests were treated to food and entertainment from cultures across the globe. The evening featured raffles, silent and live auctions throughout the memorable night and culminated with a once in a lifetime opportunity for one lucky winner to win a trip for two anywhere in the world for dinner. Read more information about this event.

New Swim Lessons Get your toes wet on the topic of water safety by learning about the Y’s new swim lesson program whichi launched this fall session! We’ve updating our swim lesson program to focus even more on keeping kids safe in and around the water. Our new swim lessons emphasize the true progression of swimming with a sense of achievement throughout the stages. Through this new curriculum developed through extensive research at Y-USA, students begin with and build upon skills they are ready to learn, helping them to celebrate their successes, build selfconfidence, and enjoy learning to swim and water safety. Click here for more information about the new swim lessons.

Lynn YMCA The Lynn YMCA battled summer learning loss by challenging the kids to read a million pages! To date, 229,241 pages have been read and the literary challenge will continue at the Y until the goal is achieved. The kids read for 30 minutes every day before lunch and the Y staff made sure that summer reading lists were accomplished.

The kids were tested for literacy at the beginning of the summer and follow-up tests showed 100% improvement!

Studies show that by the end of eighth grade, summer learning loss can account for 66% of the achievement gap between low- and high-income students. Many of our youth may not be reading at home, so the time they read at the Y is critical to preventing summer learning loss.

Torigian Family YMCA The Torigian Family YMCA is proud to newly provide the community with Enhance Fitness, an evidencebased group exercise program for older adults that uses simple, easy-to-learn movements that motivate individuals (particularly those with arthritis) to stay active throughout their life. The goal of the program is to offer tailored and appropriate exercise activity options to older adults and seniors to offset the effects of aging and chronic illness. Started at the end of August, this free program serves 50 people 3 times a week for 16 weeks. One program session is at the branch and the other is at Chelsea Jewish Lifecare’s Peabody assisted living facility. The partnership with Chelsea Jewish Lifecare ensures this targeted population can benefit from a healthy activity & exercise program that they otherwise would not be able to access due to transportation constraints.

Melrose Family YMCA With Halloween fast approaching, the Melrose Family YMCA is looking forward to the 8th Annual Spooky Sprint 5K! A favorite event of the Melrose community, you’ll find people of all ages and stages in Halloween costumes running this festive race. The October 28th 5K is the final event in the YMCA of Metro North Road Race Series and is expected to draw over 900 runners. Sign up online at Active.com!

Saugus Family YMCA The LiveSTRONG program for cancers survivors came to Saugus this summer for the first time!

The 12 week program is offered for free and guides cancer survivors through specially designed exercises to improve their strength and balance to diminish the severity of the side effects of treatment. The branch also teamed up with the National Park Service and Saugus Iron Works to offer free Gentle Yoga to the Saugus community as the first of many local collaborations designed to further the Y’s mission of Healthy Living.

YMCA of Metro North Gymnastics Center Campers at the YMCA of Metro North Gymnastics Center demonstrated true social responsibility by collecting school supplies all summer to donate to local families in need. Over 200 items were collected and distributed to excited students before the new school year.

UPCOMING EVENTS Melrose Family YMCA Spooky Sprint 5K:

Saturday, October 28

YMCA of Metro North Half Marathon Saturday, November 18, Lt. Ross Park - Peabody