Thank you to everyone who joined us for a sold-out night at the ballpark on July 19! We had a fun night of friendship, great food, and a Somerset Patriots win We can't wait to do it again!
-Liz Bennett, Director of Development
UPCOMING FUNDRAISERS
RYAN PATTERSON
MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
The 2024 Ryan Marie Patterson Memorial Scholarship, with a financial award of $2000, has been awarded to Caden Leung of Piscataway, shown here with his family at the check presentation at the end of July.
Caden graduated from Piscataway High School, where he consistently excelled in academics balanced with his volunteer and extra-curricular activities. While achieving membership in various honor societies, Caden also participated in Chess, Badminton, and Chinese Culture clubs. He learned leadership skills from these activities as well as with the Highland Park Lion/Leo Club where he served as President and taught English as a Second Language and organized community service projects. With Rise Against Hunger in Union County, he assisted with gathering and packing food to alleviate global hunger.
Caden stated in his scholarship application that his most meaningful volunteer experience so far has been with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where he assisted patients and staff with a wide variety of needs, from greeting to transportation, supply distribution to patient room prep, and mailroom duties to laboratory work. From his experience at Memorial Sloan Kettering, Caden learned technical skills, but more significantly he gained an understanding of the patience, awareness of others’ perspectives, and empathy essential to working with critical care patients. This fall Caden will be attending at Rutgers University in New Brunswick and plans to continue a lifetime of service to others.
From left to right: Dan Hontz (Director of Operations, YPCC), Mike Patterson (Ryan’s father), Dr. Joe Gaffney (Board Chair), Caden Leung, Rose Cushing (President and CEO), Kyle Strohmann (VP, Operations), and Paul Edgcomb (Board of Directors)
YOUR SUPPORT MAKES CAMP HAPPEN
The time, treasure, and talent you share with us makes Camp possible for kids. Check out a few of their amazing thank you notes (below).
DONOR SPOTLIGHT
of the connections that you, as Board Members, have fostered. We extend our heartfelt thanks to you, these organizations, and the countless other individuals whose donations are helping families in our community.
Align Wealth Group
Amboy Bank
Aquatic Services
Bank of Princeton
Barton Nursery
BCB Indus Bank
Brighton Gardens of Edison
Costello-Runyon Funeral Homes
Dana Ford Lincoln
Federal Business Centers
Hughes Environmental Engineering
Lightpath LyondellBasell
Magyar Bank
Metuchen Lion’s Club
Metuchen PBA
More Life Recovery NJ
Optimum
Orthodontic Specialists
Pepsi Co
Rise Light and Power
Salad Works
Shutterfly
South Amboy Parade Committee
Spencer Savings Bank
Wells Fargo Foundation
Woodbridge Community Fund
TOGETHERHOOD UPDATE
Togetherhood is eight months into 2024 and thanks to our leaders and volunteers we are making a difference with blood drives, food security efforts, ESL classes, green initiatives in our community, and more. We would be able to deepen and expand our efforts with even more outreach and volunteers, so please spread the word and ask folks to contact Marisha (mwignaraja@yahoo.com) and/or Christine (christine.tolley@ymcaofmewsa.org) to match-up their interests with Togetherhood.
Since our last update, co-leads, Kathy Liss and Lesley Briggs, successfully coordinated June and August blood drives with a volunteer team of eight. These two drives collected a total of 71 units at the Metuchen branch, helping to boost the very low blood supplies in our area. To date, the Metuchen branch has run four drives, collecting a total of 182 units of blood, which equates to 546 lives saved. Our next Metuchen blood drive will be on Sunday, October 20. Blood drives are also being run at our other MEWSA branches.
FOOD SECURITY
Food donations at the Metuchen Y continue all year. Through August, we have collected a total of 3,226 items and $175.00 in cash donations for the First Presbyterian Church of Metuchen Food Pantry. This is almost double what we collected at this time last year. A June street drive in Edison, run by Y members, Lesley and Stuart Briggs, and donations from a June Green Initiatives walk (see below) contributed to this total, emphasizing the collaborative nature of our efforts to fight food insecurity in our communities.
GREEN INITIATIVES
On June 9, members of the YMCA and the Middlesex Greenway Coalition came together for "The Beauty of Trees" Greenway walk, our second collaboration to get people connected through nature. Jennifer Ryan, a horticulturalist, led over 30 participants on an exploration of evergreens, deciduous trees, and types of leaves and lobes along the Greenway. Our walk began with a lively showcase of nature artwork from students at the Y's early learning centers, refreshments donated by Dunkin Donuts, and donations of 150 items to the food pantry, and ended with the distribution of guest passes to all participants. Thank you to our co-leads, Eunice Salton and Walter R. Stochel, Jr., and
Jennifer Ryan, for organizing this walk, and a big shout out to the staff, teachers, and students of the YMCA's early learning centers for the spectacular artwork. We all walked away with a new appreciation of the Greenway. Another Green Initiatives event will be planned for the Fall.
2024
English as a Second Language (ESL) class year. Our instructors reflected on the success of the sit-and-talk format, which offers students the opportunity to grow their conversation skills AND build deeper social connections. Both the Tuesday evening and Friday morning classes maintained a core of 6-8 students with others transitioning in-and -out.
Y staff are grateful that the ESL classes are contributing an "education component to the Y" and expressed appreciation to our instructors (Janice Fried Donnola, Diane Cammarano, Adam Fensterheim, and Kathy Higgins) for the smooth running of the classes. As we prepare to resume classes in September, we are conducting outreach to ESL students and looking for a second instructor for the Tuesday evening class.
If you are interested in co-teaching an ESL class at the Metuchen Y, please contact Kathy Higgins at khiggins1002@gmail.com. ESL continues to grow at the Y. Starting September 9, Literacy New Jersey will be running a free ESL class on Monday's from 1 3pm at the Edison branch.
Reproduced courtesy of
TROOPER READINESS WATER TRAINING LAUNCHED
A new Trooper Readiness program has been launched and works with State Trooper Candidates to refine the aquatic skills required in order to pass a required minimum skills test. The class is open to all swimming abilities and consists of pre-course swim evaluation, stroke instruction, endurance training. This course is designed for State Trooper recruits that need to prepare for the swimming portion of their exams; registrants do not need any prior swimming experience.
The goal of the readiness program is to ensure that the recruit will not only pass the basic requirements but is confident in his or her skills in and around the water.
Throughout the course, the safety of trainees and the importance of water rescue skills is emphasized. In a state that boasts roughly 400 lakes and rivers – and is surrounded by water – water skills are critical. Once candidates have become comfortable in the aquatic environment, they are introduced to basic water rescue techniques and endurance.
Participants also learn to retrieve a 10lb brick from a depth of 9 feet, tread with the brick, and swim using either sidestroke or backstroke while holding the brick for a distance of 25 yards. The completion of the course culminates with participants swimming at least 50 yards, completing a brick retrieval and a 5-minute tread while fully dressed.
There have been discussions about opening up this program to other agencies as well, as we have had requests for classes to work with Armed Forces and First Responder agencies.
-Kelly Molinelli Aquatic Director YMCA at The Piscataway Community Center
ANDREW MAGNUSON EDISON BRANCH DIRECTOR STAFFING NEWS
BACK TO SCHOOL GIVEAWAYS
SOUTH AMBOY
The South Amboy Branch kicked off back-to -school season with News 12 New Jersey, Optimum, Warner Bros., Discovery, and several more generous organizations. Our campers and many other local children got to grab some school supplies before they return to school. They were also treated to visits from Smokey the Bear, the New York Red Bulls and the New Jersey Devil. We could not have had a better day!
EDISON
The back-to-school kickoff event at the Edison Housing Authority was a great success! Students were treated to food trucks, giveaways, free haircuts and fully stocked backpacks with supplies thanks to Amazon.com and Spencer Savings Bank. Our team was there with hands crafts for each child.
WOODBRIDGE & PERTH AMBOY
A big thank you to BCB Bank in Edison and Woodbridge for supporting children in need through school supply drives. Special shoutout to Rekha Sarathy, Regional Manager of BCB Edison and Edison YMCA board member, and Ankita Shah, Branch Manager of BCB Woodbrige and Child Care Committee member
YMCA OF MEWSA BRANCH NEWS
DOUGHNUTS WITH DUDES
Avenel Early Learning Center kicked off the summer with a Doughnuts with Dudes celebrated the special men in their lives.
YOUNG EXPLORERS AT GRACE ELC
Thanks to generous funding from the PNC Foundation, the outside play area at Grace Early Learning Center in Perth Amboy was dramatically improved with plantings & playscapes. Students thoroughly enjoyed the new, colorful and interactive outdoor activities.
AFTER
YMCA OF MEWSA BRANCH NEWS
EDGAR ELC ENJOYS THE SUMMER OUTDOORS
Edgar Early Learning Center in Metuchen took advantage of the warm summer months with a variety of outdoor activities.
The Infant and Toddler class cooled off on Water Play Day by exploring Water Balloon Piñatas, an activity that helps develops hand eye coordination, motor skills, and team work. The Preschool and Pre-K students enjoyed the water during a field trip to the Oakcrest Community Pool. All father figures were celebrated at Tommy's Pond on a gorgeous day in June with some sweet treats and refreshments. Rain didn't stop the Kindergarten class playing outdoors; they jumped in huge puddles which enhanced their
YMCA OF MEWSA BRANCH NEWS
SOUTH AMBOY SAFETY AROUND WATER PROGRAM
Congratulations to an amazing group of Second Graders for completing their “Safety Around Water” program in South Amboy. This free program ensures that children learn the basics of water safety to prevent drownings, especially during the summer months. At the conclusion celebration, Mayor Fred Henry and Councilman (and YMCA Board Member) Anthony Conrad provided a well-deserved ice cream treat. Many thanks to our incredible lifeguards and instructors for helping create more confident swimmers!
SUMMER HARVESTS
Campers in South Amboy had a blast picking the last of the summer’s harvest in their garden classrooms during the final days of camp. Outdoor time is not only fun, but improves a child’s chance of future health and success by not only providing sunshine and exercise, but opportunities to practice executive function, risk-taking, and socialization skills. Plus, they got to take home the fresh produce they helped grow!
YOUTH AND GOVERNMENT (YAG) PROGRAM
Thanks to generous funding from the New Jersey State Bar Foundation (NJSBF), the Metuchen Branch was able to once again run it successful Youth And Government Program.
At the conclusion of the program in mid seven students from our program attended the 85th Annual New Jersey Youth and Government (NJYAG) conference in Princeton, New Jersey. This in-person conference provided them with an opportunity to enhance what they would learn in a traditional civic class by actively simulating the entire process legislation follows before becoming law. The conference catered to a wide range of interests, and delegates are able to participate as senators, assemblymen, justices and lawyers, media members, and more.
One of our students received an invitation to the National Conference and another student received an alternate spot for the same conference. These invitations demonstrate the growing success of our program, thanks to the New Jersey State Bar Foundation.
YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL
At the end of July, Congressman Frank Pallone wrapped the final meeting of his Youth Advisory Council at the Piscataway YMCA. Pallone, New Jersey’s representative for the 6th congressional district, runs the program to reach young people who, as he says “are the heartbeat of our democracy, and their ideas and energy keep us on our toes.” Many thanks to these amazing, engaged students for getting involved.
YMCA OF MEWSA BRANCH NEWS
BLACK BELT FIRST FOR ANYA ZHANG
Congratulations to Anya Zhang for becoming the first student in Metuchen YMCA history to earn the coveted rank of First-Degree Black Belt in the venerable art of Shaolin Kempo Karate.
"Anya has consistently been an exemplary student by all measures," said Sensei Alec Moore, Metuchen YMCA Karate Instructor. "She's incredibly talented and she exemplifies everything that our program, and the martial arts, stand for," he added. "She's also been a remarkable leader model to her fellow students. I could not be more proud of her."
Anya collected numerous trophies and medals throughout her time as a tournament competitor, including winning the Grand Championship of the Girls 13 - 15 Intermediate Division at the United Martial Arts Referees Association's 2019 Martial Arts Challenge after capturing gold medals for sparring, weapons and forms. Anya is a 2024 graduate of Metuchen High School where, among other achievements and extracurriculars, she was a member of the National Honor Society and also competed on the school's golf and swim teams. Anya will begin attending Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) in the Fall of 2024.
MILITARY OUTREACH INITIATIVE IN METUCHEN
The Department of Defense has extended the Military Outreach Initiative until July 31, 2025, and the Metuchen Branch is currently participating in this program. Duty personnel are authorized to receive benefits that result in a cost reduction for their families.
Since 2008, this national initiative has provided more than 140,000 fitness memberships, the majority of which are through local YMCAs, and more than 172,000 military children have benefited through the 1800 YMCAs that currently support this initiative.
YMCA OF MEWSA BRANCH NEWS
NEW TRAINERS & MULTI-GYM
The Edison Branch has received delivery of a new “Multi Gym” from Life Fitness. This equipment adds new items and updated, modernized features. In addition, two new personal trainerS have been welcomed to our wellness team Megha Kathalkar and Ami Shah making the Edison Branch an even better exercise destination!
SWIMMING SUCCESS
The Edison Otters Swimming and Diving program participated in the New Jersey Conference Championships with several individual swimmers achieving personal best times and placing overall. This was the first year first the team could host a relay team go at championships, as there needs to be a time qualifying individual event. Shown here is a meet at the Oakcrest Community Pool.
-Alexis Brown, Director of Aquatics and Director of Competitive Aquatics
INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY
In June, the Edison Branch celebrated International Day of Yoga with weeklong activities, including Mandala Yoga, partner yoga, weighted yoga, and other yoga play classes.
ZUMBA MASTER CLASS
In early August, the Edison Branch held a special Master Class with Zumba Educator Vignesh Madhrani of Mumbai, India. He brought all of the flavors of Indian dance and it was a blast!
DIVERSITY, EQUITY &
UPCOMING EVENTS
BLOOD DRIVE Metuchen Branch
Sunday October 20
