Fall 2013 Newsletter
YMCA NEWS OF PARK SLOPE Prospect Park YMCA
Park Slope Armory YMCA
The Heart of a Community: Remembering Thomas Gallagher The Prospect Park YMCA has been a proud staple in Park Slope since 1941, serving hundreds of thousands of neighbors and community members. This past June, our community lost one of its beloved Lifetime Members, Thomas Gallagher. Born in Brooklyn, Tom grew up in Queens with his brother Pascal and sisters, Martha and Ellen. He returned to live in Park Slope for the rest of his life after marrying Mary Malone, his wife of 51 years. Their beloved family consists of his sons and daughter; Tom and his wife Gail, Kevin and his wife Christine, Maureen and her husband John Farah, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. His family tree extended to the Prospect Park YMCA. Tom joined the Air Force during World War II, where he acquired his life-long passion for aviation. He was a professional basketball player for Brooklyn’s St. Francis College before the NBA existed, and was a fan of the game ever after. Tom was a math teacher and mentor for over 35 years. A Lifetime Member of the YMCA and a fixture at the Prospect Park YMCA, Tom was known for playing the harmonica and giving lessons on how to master the Rubik’s cube. Tom was a true reflection of the vibrant and eclectic city in which he lived for the 88 years of his life. Photos and information courtesy of the Gallagher family and Joseph Duffy Funeral Home.
Prospect Park YMCA 357 Ninth Street, Brooklyn 11215 718-768-7100 ymcanyc.org/prospectpark
Tom will be missed by all those fortunate to have known him. Thoughts and prayers are with the Gallagher family. His spirit will truly remain part of the Park Slope community. Park Slope Armory YMCA 361 15th Street, Brooklyn 11215 212-912-2580 ymcanyc.org/parkslopearmory
Summer Camp Success! For the Prospect Park YMCA, 2013 proved to be another successful camp year. The branch served over 1000 participants from Bensonhurst to Park Slope, and approximately 50% of those campers attended for free or with financial aid. Our Y Day Camps offer theme based sessions that Smiles all around for a Prospect Park Y Summer Camper. incorporated individual and group activities, enhanced by local outings and trips. Some of the many camps attended this summer included Progressive Swim Camp, Teen Camp, Sports Camp, and Lisa Beth Gerstman Camp for children with special needs. In our day camp programs we provide creative and educational experiences utilizing a diverse curriculum, and all camps incorporate a Summer Learning Initiative to prevent summer learning loss. Research shows that students lose academic skills and knowledge over the course of summer vacation (Cooper, 1996). However, summer education opportunities, like day camp, can help to supplement students’ scholastic achievement in both reading and math (Denton, 2002). Campers were given continuous access to age appropriate reading materials and were inspired to read and write for recreation. Finally, campers also engaged in hands-on STEM activities (Science, Engineering, Technology and Math), with the goal of increasing their interest in these core areas. Our Y campers traveled to the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens, the Transit Museum here in their home borough of Brooklyn, and the Alice Austen House in Staten Island, among many other excursions. All trips provided a rich cultural experience that often cannot be taught in a traditional classroom setting. Prospect Park YMCA
Our counselors worked with campers to help them achieve their fullest potential in terms of their mental development, physical well-being, social growth and self awareness. While summer learning is certainly a focus, one of our favorite parts of summer camp is watching our campers build new and lasting friendships. Seeing the smiles and waves from the children each morning is inspiring to all who are fortunate enough to witness it. We here at the Prospect Park YMCA, feel privileged to have worked with such a terrific and dynamic group of young people this summer, and eagerly look forward to summer 2014!
PS 200 Y Afterschool Partners with Ailey Arts In fulfillment of Alvin Ailey’s long-standing dictum “dance is for everybody”, the AileyDance Kids residencies give young people all over the tri-state area the opportunity to explore their creative potential while also imparting life-skills like teamwork and self-discipline. Ailey Arts in Education will provide 3, eight week program cycles, serving all 150 students at PS 200 this school year. Students will have the opportunity to choose from two disciplines to study, West African Dance, and a Percussion Workshop. Each cycle will culminate in a full performance for parents, partners and school officials.
PS 200 students learn how to drum in their Percussion Workshop.
Fall 2013 Newsletter
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, IDEAS? CONTACT NICOLE POLDIAK FUND DEVELOPMENT & COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE AT (212) 912-2364 OR NPOLDIAK@YMCANYC.ORG
Park Slope Armory YMCA