COMMUNITY NEWS

1

Two of the Y’s newest additions are now over a year old and already

making big impacts in their seaside communities. The Coney Island YMCA has served over 12,000 people and has provided the local community with resources such as a free Anti-Violence Family Day for over 500 community members, swim lessons for nearly 900 children, free Leaders Club participation for dozens of teens, and over 300 hours of community meeting space. In 2015 the Coney Island Y continues to host

MAKING WAVESNEWEST YMCAS MAKE IMPACT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES

2015: ISSUE 2MAKING WAVES 1 – 2

SHARED VISION 2 – 3

CIVICS IN ACTION 3

TEAMWORK 4

CELEBRATING SUPPORTERS 4

LET’S HEAR IT FOR HEPA 5

PLANTING THE SEEDS 5

FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE 6 – 7

PLAY, LEARN, SERVE, WORK 8

a range of events to meet local needs, including a job fair, a community health symposium, and Healthy Kids Day.

The Rockaway YMCA at Arverne by the Sea is providing unique benefits to the local community, serving over 23,000 people in its first year. The Rockaway Y offers over 70 exercise classes each week, a summer day camp serving hundreds of children, and LIVESTRONG, a national twelve-week program designed to support adult cancer

“The Coney Island YMCA has already played an important

role in improving the health and quality of life for many

residents over the past year, and I am excited to build on

these many successes in the years to come.”- Council Member Mark Treyger

survivors. The Rockaway Y operates programs at two local schools, PS 197 and the Village Academy, providing enrichment activities for 625 children.

It is also one of the largest employers on the Rockaway Peninsula, with 120 full- and part-time staff members, 75% of which are from the Rockaways. The Y has also hosted a job fair for State Senator Joseph Addabbo (below right, with YMCA President & CEO Jack Lund). •

“The YMCA is a tremendous anchor in our city. It

serves as a cornerstone of many neighborhoods I

represent in Brooklyn and Queens. It’s where our kids

learn, they make life-long friends and blossom into

responsible, young adults. I am thankful for the priceless

role the Y plays in bringing together New Yorkers from all

walks of life.” - Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (above, with Coney Island Executive Director Sam Moore)

2 2015: ISSUE 2

State Senator Martin Golden (above, with Coney Island staff) visiting the Coney Island Y.

The Y’s annual legislative breakfast, held in Jamaica, Queens this year,

centered on the important work of getting young people back on track. Whether it’s through the Y Roads program, through the City’s Young Men’s Initiative, or the White House’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative, many partners are working together to serve those young people most at risk. Keynote speaker Joshua DuBois, former Director of the White House

Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, spoke about the ways nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and legislators can support young people who have reached a crossroads and are seeking to improve their lives. Mr. DuBois was joined by Congressman Gregory Meeks, who spoke about the impact of the Y’s programs in Jamaica and other communities. Kevin Quiroz shared how the YMCA YouthBuild program turned his life around after a

SHARED VISIONTHE Y DISCUSSES OPTIONS FOR OPPORTUNITY YOUTH AT ITS ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST

“The Rockaway YMCA has been

a great addition to our community,”

said Council Member Donovan

Richards. “I hosted a few events

at this state-of-the-art facility and

had the pleasure of seeing firsthand

the warm response the YMCA has

received from the neighborhood.

I am proud to continue our

partnership and to further improve

the quality of life of the entire

Rockaway Peninsula.”

“The entire Rockaway Peninsula is very fortunate to have a great community

partner like the YMCA. Not only has the Y given our families, including my own,

the opportunity to grow healthy and strong, it has also helped spur growth and

recovery after Sandy.” - Assembly Member Phil Goldfeder

3

Over 100 teens representing all five boroughs took over the Council

Chamber as part of the Y’s 10th Annual Teens Take the City event. Council Members Mark Weprin (above, with Mayor Bill de Blasio, YMCA President & CEO Jack Lund, and TTC staff and participants) and Helen Rosenthal (right) hosted the group and talked to participants about a life in public service. Mayor de Blasio stopped by

and cheered on the teens for their interest in their communities. Over the course of the evening, teens debated and voted on bills related to clean air, affordable housing, homelessness and more. There’s no telling what could come of teens’ bills – earlier this year participants proposed offering free MetroCards to CUNY students and later on a similar bill was proposed by two NYC Council Members! •

CIVICS IN ACTIONTHE Y ENGAGES TEENS IN ANNUAL EVENT AT CITY HALL

(previous page) Congressman Gregory Meeks speaks about supporting young men of color; (left) Special guests included (left to right) Y Roads ECHOES Coordinator Tiffany Williams, Jamaica Y Executive Director Cedric Dew, Assembly Member David Weprin, Keynote Speaker Joshua DuBois, YMCA President & CEO Jack Lund, Council Member Rory Lancman, Council Member Mark Weprin, and Y Public Policy Committee Chair Stanley Grayson.

childhood living on the streets and an adolescence mired in gangs and drugs. Through the Y, Kevin obtained his high school equivalency, gained workforce training, and developed the confidence to go on to serve in Afghanistan, graduate from St. John’s University this year, and serve other youth as a YouthBuild intern.

The Y Roads program is supported by the Altman Foundation, Bank of America Charitable Foundation, BNY Mellon, Capital One, The Clark Foundation, Coach Foundation Inc., The Dammann Fund, Ira W. DeCamp Foundation, Hagedorn Fund, JPMorgan Chase Foundation, Marion E.

Kenworthy-Sarah H. Swift Foundation, NYC Department of Education, NYC Department of Youth & Community Development, The Neuberger Berman Foundation, NYC Department of Probation, PVH Foundation, US Department of Labor, and van Ameringen Foundation, Inc. •

4 2015: ISSUE 2

TEAMWORKTHE NEW YORK KNICKS STRENGTHEN Y YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS

During halftime of a Knicks game against the Indiana Pacers, the

Cross Island YMCA Jr. Knicks team, representing New York City’s YMCA, took their skills to the court in their Biddy Game at Madison Square Garden.

The relationship, established more than 20 years ago with the New York Knicks at the Madison Square Garden Company, has helped introduce over 50,000 young people to the sport of basketball through its 12-week basketball league. The league serves

boys and girls ages 7 to18 and includes two weeks of developmental skills building clinics, 10 weeks of league play, and a championship tournament. The program stands out from other leagues in New York City due to its inclusiveness and the combination of unique resources made available by the Y and the New York Knicks, with leadership support from their corporate sponsors Chase and Sprite.

In addition to playing on the famous court, the awestruck participants

CELEBRATING SUPPORTERSTHE Y HOSTS THE ANNUAL CHAIR’S ROUND TABLE RECEPTION

Over 200 donors, board members, and corporate and

foundation partners attended the Chair’s Round Table Reception, an annual recognition event for the Y’s most generous supporters. The special evening included welcome remarks from Jack Lund, who in July will be retiring as the Y’s President and CEO after a 40-year YMCA career. Also on hand was Jack’s successor, incoming President and CEO Sharon Greenberger. Greenberger delighted the audience with a brief history lesson on the Y’s first president,

Robert Ross McBurney, comparing his social justice and educational legacy to Jack’s 10 years of service in New York City. As she noted, Jack’s tenure has included overseeing the launch of successful initiatives to tackle some of the City’s most challenging social issues, such as the achievement gap, immigrant services and youth disconnection.

Youth program participants Jada Emanuel and Joshua Theodros charmed the audience with stories of how the Y has changed their lives for the better. •

(l to r) YMCA Board Vice Chair and President, Investments Group at New York Life Insurance Company, Chris Blunt; incoming YMCA President & CEO Sharon Greenberger; Jada Emanuel; Joshua Theodros; and retiring President & CEO Jack Lund.

enjoyed watching Knicks players warm up, receiving exclusive Jr. Knicks uniforms, and hearing the cheers of the crowd. Two all-star Jr. Knicks players received special recognition: 17-year-old Kareem Medina from North Brooklyn-Eastern District YMCA and 8-year-old Marianna Lee from the Harlem YMCA.

With such a special event to look forward to each year, the Jr. Knicks Basketball League has grown to become the Y’s largest and most popular sports program. Much more than just a “basketball league,” Jr. Knicks is a values-based program that teaches young people sportsmanship, leadership, teamwork, dedication, and respect for oneself and others. •

5

LET’S HEAR IT FOR HEPAY AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS SECURE SUPPORT FOR HEALTHY LIVING ACTIVITIES

PLANTING THE SEEDSYMCAS CELEBRATE HEALTHY KIDS DAY ACROSS THE CITY

Citywide, thousands of people came out to enjoy YMCA Healthy Kids Day

at free block parties and other events. Activities inspired young people and families to keep their minds and bodies active all year long and to connect with their communities. Kids and families took part in Zumba, yoga, spinning, martial arts, basketball, hip hop, tennis, hopscotch, water safety, scavenger hunts, healthy snack preparation, and more.

Y kids and community members weren’t the only ones having fun. Participants at Healthy Kids Day included Assembly Member Walter T. Mosley at Bedford-Stuyvesant (lower left, with Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA Executive Director Dordy Jourdain), State Senator Leroy Comrie at Jamaica (upper left), and Mr. Met at Flushing (upper right)! •

The Alliance of New York State YMCAs

received a $500,000 line item in the final state budget for Ys to implement Healthy Eating and Physical Activity (HEPA) standards in afterschool programs. Funds will reach over 70 Y sites in NYC, serving nearly 11,000 children. The YMCA HEPA program promotes positive health outcomes for children by focusing on standards in six areas: parent engagement, physical activity, screen time, nutrition, beverages and infant feeding.

The Y received early support from State Senator Jeff Klein (below right), who

secured $50,000 to pilot the HEPA program at sites in the Bronx. “It’s never too early to promote a healthy, active lifestyle and encourage smart choices when it comes to nutrition. The YMCA HEPA program is a win-win for students, families and the community – providing young people with the tools they need to stay active and eat well,” said Senator Klein. •

State Senator Rubén Díaz Sr. (left, with Bronx Y Executive Director Sharlene Brown) and Assembly Member José Rivera (right, with YMCA Vice President for Public Affairs Sharon Levy) cheer on the Y’s efforts to promote healthy lifestyles in the Bronx.

Council Member James Vacca (top) and Senator Klein and Assembly Member Michael Benedetto (bottom) visit PS 14, an afterschool site piloting HEPA.

6 2015: ISSUE 2

FOCUSED ON HITTING THE BOOKSState Senator Joseph Addabbo visited PS 197 in Far Rockaway to galvanize support for the Y After School program.

THE Y AND ITS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE

NEW PROTECTIONS FOR NEW AMERICANSStaff from the YMCA’s New Americans Initiative joined the New York Immigration Coalition to celebrate the Immigrant Assistance Service Enforcement Act going into effect. Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance (at podium) spoke about the new protections granted to immigrants seeking legal assistance and his office’s commitment to prosecuting those who seek to defraud New Americans living in the City.

GIVING BACK IN QUEENSCouncil Member I. Daneek Miller (pictured with participants and Y Roads ECHOES Coordinator Tiffany Williams) encouraged students in the Y Roads ECHOES program as they assisted seniors and handed out materials at Queens Community Board 12’s Health Fair. ECHOES is an alternative-to-placement program that enables justice-involved youth to access paid externships and life coaching.

IMMIGRATION IN FOCUSThe Staten Island YMCA New Americans Welcome Center was chosen by the Department of Homeland Security to host its quarterly roundtable on civil rights and civil liberties issues. Representatives from community based organizations and religious institutions included (left to right) Dr. Erroll Southers from DHS’s National Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events, Rachael Rinaldo from the YMCA NAWC in Staten Island, and Ehsan Zaffar, Esq. from DHS.

TASTE OF RIDGEWOODState Senator Joseph Addabbo was honored at the Taste of Ridgewood, where hundreds of families came out to sample delicious local offerings while raising funds for the Ridgewood YMCA’s Annual Campaign. (left to right) Council Member Elizabeth Crowley, District 24 Superintendent Madeline Chan, Ridgewood Y Executive Director LaKeisha Harris, President of the Ridgewood Historical Society Linda Monte, Senator Addabbo, and Y participant Brian Taveras.

WHERE CREDIT IS DUEThe Flushing YMCA, in collaboration with the Consumer Affairs Office of Financial Empowerment, hosted weekly Community Tax Aid sessions to help residents learn about earned income tax credit. The Flushing Y was one of over 200 sites offering free tax preparation to 150,000 New Yorkers. (left to right) Congresswoman Grace Meng, Commissioner Julie Menin, Flushing YMCA Executive Director Jen Silvers, and Community Tax Aid Board Member Emil Gomez.

7

THE FUTUREPARTNERS DEEPEN IMPACT IN COMMUNITIES

SUPPORTING KIDS IN THE BRONXCommunity leaders came out to support the Bronx Y’s Annual Campaign kick-off, underscoring the impact that the Y’s programs make throughout the Bronx. Special guests included (left to right) Assembly Member Michael Benedetto, Bronx Borough President Rubén Díaz Jr., Deputy Borough President Aurelia Greene, Bronx YMCA Executive Director Sharlene Brown, and Assembly Member Mark Gjonaj.

PARTNERS IN ALBANYThe Y was joined in Albany by many of its supporters to discuss investments in community health, afterschool programs, and other critical areas. Community partners included Assistant Speaker of the Assembly Félix Ortiz (top), City Council Members Jimmy Van Bramer and Karen Koslowitz (below).

INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATIONCouncil Member Dan Garodnick spoke to teens at the Vanderbilt YMCA about leadership, problem solving, and the ways they can serve their communities.

CHECKING PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE IN STATEN ISLANDStaff and former clients from the YMCA Counseling Service spoke to Assembly Member Michael Cusick about opioid dependency on Staten Island and some of the benefits of the I-Stop law. (left to right) Heather Brown, Carl D’Elia, Amanda Wexler, Floyd Miller, Assembly Member Cusick, and Chris Pansini.

GIVING THANKSAt this year’s Our Town Thanks You (OTTY) Awards, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer (far left) joined Y Senior Executive Director Anita Harvey and more than 100 Upper East Siders to celebrate community members who make a difference. Among those honored was Ellen Appleby (left, with Harvey and OTTY Master of Ceremonies/ NY1 Anchor Roma Torre), a member of the Vanderbilt Y who was recognized for her volunteer work.

PLAY, LEARN, SERVE, WORKTHE Y BRINGS A DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR INITIATIVE TO NYC

The YMCA of Greater New York is one of 10 YMCAs nationwide partnering

with the Department of the Interior in 2015-2016 to support the Play, Learn, Serve, Work Initiative. The innovative program will engage up to 20,000 New Yorkers each year as volunteers at national parks, wildlife refuges, and more. With support from the American Express Foundation, the program will engage partners throughout the city

to connect people with public lands. The initiative was announced at Castle Clinton National Monument. The Y’s involvement will complement its outdoor environmental education program - a hands-on, experiential program that teaches nearly 8,000 kids each year about the natural relationships that occur in the world. Environmental education takes place at the Y’s 1,150 acre camp in Orange County. •

YMCA of Greater New York 5 West 63rd Street, 6th Floor New York, NY 10023 212 630 9600ymcanyc.org

(left, l to r) U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell; Tim McClimon, President of the American Express Foundation; Park Ranger Daniel Prebutt; Mitchell J. Silver, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation; Jane Chan, 21st

Century Conservation Service Corp Member; and Neil Nicoll, President Emeritus of the YMCA of the USA. (right) Volunteers and a park ranger engage in a clean-up project near Castle Clinton National Monument.