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COMMUNITY NEWS

STATEN ISLAND YMCA HONORS A GREAT LEADER Jack Lund has served the YMCA for 40 years. During his career, he has held a variety of top leadership roles, including his current role as president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater New York. At the end of June, Lund will retire, leaving behind a legacy of great leadership, innovative YMCA programming,

and stronger New York City children, families and communities.

Through the years, Lund has pioneered programs in education, civic

engagement, and immigrant services. Most recently, the Y has launched signature programs addressing the academic achievement gap for children living in poverty, the epidemic of youth obesity, and the disconnect felt by young people who have dropped out of school and are not working.

In his role, Lund also has spearheaded the next century city-wide branch

capital renewal program that will build or renovate more than 1.5 million square feet of facility space. In addition, he has worked to foster volunteerism in New York City and has focused on cultivating talent within the YMCA.

In July, Sharon Greenberger, who currently serves as Senior Vice President, Facilities and Real Estate at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, will take over

the helm as president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater New York.

WHAT’S NEW AND EXCITING AT THE STATEN ISLAND YMCA

IN THIS ISSUE

Staten Island YMCA Honors A

Great Leader

YMCA Dine ‘N Dance Celebrates

Local Community Heroes

Grants To Help YMCA Go Green

Staten Island YMCA 2015 Golf

Outing

Former NY Jets Quarterback Ray

Lucas Headlines YMCA Counseling

Service Brunch

Program Spotlight: Rowe Scholars

Around the Y

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find it useful.

QUESTIONS,

COMMENTS, IDEAS?

Contact Andrea Ganzman,

the editor, at

aganzman@ymcanyc.org.

STATEN ISLAND YMCA

3939 RICHMOND AVE., SI, NY 10312

Summer 2015

ymcanyc.org/statenisland

On May 20, the Staten Island YMCA honored Jack Lund, the president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater New York, who is retiring at the end of June. Lund, middle, is seen with (from left): Frank Scarangello, Joseph Verhey, John Semerad, Anita Harvey, Jacqueline Filis, Michael Biagioli and Gregory Coil, all executives or board members with the YMCA.

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YMCA DINE ‘N DANCE CELEBRATES

LOCAL COMMUNITY HEROES

In March, the Staten Island YMCA honored three local community heroes who make a difference in our community at its annual Dine ‘N Dance event held at the Hilton Garden Inn.

The honorees were: Teddy Atlas, boxing trainer and commentator who is the founder of the Dr. Theodore A. Atlas Foundation; Joanne Cook, a longtime YMCA volunteer who is a vice president at Goldman, Sachs & Co., and Brian Laline, a longtime YMCA volunteer and executive editor of the Staten Island Advance.

There also was a special performance by Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes, singers

of “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” and “The Love I Lost.” The chairs of the event were Angela Mirizzi Olsen and Gerald Amerosi, and the emcee for the night was Robert Scamardella.

To further the Y’s mission of never turning anyone away due to an inability to pay, the proceeds from the event help support local children and families by providing them with free youth memberships and scholarship funds for

YMCA programs like summer day camp, teen activities, swim lessons, early childhood education and more.

GRANTS TO HELP

YMCA GO GREEN

The Staten Island YMCA has

received grants from the Richmond

County Savings Foundation that are

allowing us to beautify our spaces

and teach children the importance

of being environmentally friendly.

The Foundation’s Green Challenge

grants were awarded to five

Staten Island YMCA sites: South

Shore YMCA, Broadway YMCA,

Outdoor Adventure Day Camp at

Pouch Camp, PS 44 Y After School

and PS 39 Y After School. Each site

will use the funds for a Green Kids

Planting Project, in which Y

students and campers help plant

the gardens and learn about

nature, healthy eating and being

environmentally friendly.

This is the second year the Staten

Island YMCA has been awarded

this grant.

“These grants allow us to teach our

children the importance of

going green and what it means to

care for our environment,” said

Andrea Ganzman, the Staten

Island YMCA’s Director of Fund

Development and Communications.

“We are extremely grateful to the

Richmond County Savings

Foundation for their continued

support and looking forward to our

planting season.”

LEFT: The Staten Island YMCA’s Dine ‘N Dance honored local residents Brian Laline, Joanne Cook and Teddy Atlas. RIGHT: The event, held at the Hilton Garden Inn, featured a special performance by Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes.

The event was chaired by Angela Mirizzi Olsen and Gerald Amerosi.

Andrea Ganzman, director of Fund

Development & Communications for the

Staten Island YMCA, receives the Green

Challenge Grants from Cesar Claro,

executive director of the Richmond

County Savings Foundation.

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FORMER NY JETS QUARTERBACK RAY LUCAS HEADLINES YMCA COUNSELING SERVICE BRUNCH

Former NFL Star Ray Lucas delivered a powerful speech at the YMCA Counseling Service’s 35th Anniversary Brunch on Sunday, June 7. The annual event, held at the Hilton Garden Inn, sheds light on the addiction epidemic plaguing Staten Island and celebrates those in

recovery, recognizing people who are currently going through, or have recently completed, the Counseling Service’s programs.

Lucas, a former New York Jets Quarterback, told his story of addiction and recovery, recounting the lengths he went through to satisfy his prescription drug addiction, which started after a football injury, and the toll it took on his work and personal life.

“Some days, I was taking 50 to 60 pills a day. Fifty to 60 pills would

kill half this room,” Lucas told the audience of over 600 people. “The funny thing is, when you are taking the pills, you think you are fooling everyone, but the one you are really fooling is yourself.”

The analyst for Jets Nation recounted that when he was in active addiction, he blamed everyone else, the NFL, the weather, anything that could be playing a part in his pain. It got so bad, that he one day

contemplated committing suicide and drove back and forth across the George Washington Bridge looking for the perfect spot to drive off the edge.

“At that point, everything felt all right, everything was OK,” he said, although he ultimately did not go through with his attempt. What saved him, he said, was his three girls and his wife Cecy. “She’s the reason I’m standing here today.”

Lucas eventually sought help and went to rehab. When he started to listen to the stories of those around him, he said, “The biggest lesson I learned is that I’m not alone.”

The event was chaired and hosted by John R. Merlino Jr. and Gloria O’Donnell. Newly-elected Congressman Daniel Donovan and his fiancé Serena Stonick also were on hand to introduce and pay tribute to Lucas for the work he has done in the battle against addiction. Ms.

Stonick serves on the Staten Island YMCA’s Board of Managers and is the chair of the YMCA Counseling Service’s Committee of Management.

Jacqueline Filis, the executive director of the YMCA Counseling Service, also inspired those in attendance to never give up hope, no matter how hard life gets.

“Everyone sitting with us today, at some point, has felt defeated, broken, for one reason or another – whether it be relapsing after a promise to a loved one to stay clean, or rejection over not finding a job in a new home because of a

language barrier,” she said, referencing participants in the YMCA’s New Americans Welcome Center, who also were recognized at Sunday’s event.

“This feeling of defeat, like the feelings of love, hope and resilience, is a part of what makes us human,” Mrs. Filis continued. “It’s a part of what helps us grow, so that in the end, we are not defeated. In the end, we are more well-rounded, stronger, smarter individuals, who have learned from our past mistakes and are taking steps to move

forward.”

This event also served as a fundraiser with all proceeds benefitting the YMCA Counseling Service’s programs and

ensuring that no one is turned away due to an inability to pay. The Counseling Service is a comprehensive outpatient chemical dependency program providing prevention and treatment services to children, adolescents, adults and their families.

Carl D., who recently completed his program with the Counseling Service, addressed the audience and thanked the YMCA for helping him on his path to sobriety.

“Life is beautiful today. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, beauty is a perception. When I think and act beautifully, I see the beauty in things. When I think and act ugly, I’m suddenly surrounded by ugliness,” he said. “This program

found me at the lowest of my lows that I got to searching for a high and elevated me to a higher point of hope than I’d ever reached. The sobriety stamps the best bag on the block.”

TOP: Ray Lucas delivers a powerful speech to a crowd of over 600. BOTTOM: Lucas surrounded by from left: Anita Harvey, senior executive director of the Staten Island YMCA; Jacqueline Filis, executive director, YMCA Counseling Service, Sharon Greenberger, incoming CEO of the YMCA of Greater New York, and Gloria O’Donnell and John Merlino, co-chairs of the event.

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AROUND THE Y PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT:

ROWE SCHOLARS

Joka Oyefeso knew after her freshman year at Port Richmond High School that she needed to get her grades up. Not knowing where to go for tutoring, a friend told her

about the YMCA’s Rowe Scholars program that was held right in her own school. She enrolled in the program that offers academic planning and support and saw her average go up by around 10 points.

“Through the program, I learned that I’m smarter than I thought I was,” said Ms.

Oyefeso, who is heading to Dowling College in the fall. She was one of 25 students who graduated from Port Richmond this year, with the help of the YMCA’s Rowe Scholars program.

The YMCA’s Rowe Scholars program, formerly Y Scholars, has been in place at Port Richmond High School for the past four years. A comprehensive

college and career access program offered throughout New York City's five boroughs, the program serves more than 1,200 public and charter school students enrolled in grades 6-12 across the city, including 117 at Port Richmond, the only school on Staten Island to currently offer Rowe Scholars. In 2014, 95 percent of Rowe Scholars were accepted to colleges across the country including: Brown University, Columbia University, SUNY Albany, SUNY Binghamton, Hunter College, and Ithaca College.

Participants in the YMCA’s Rowe Scholars program at Port Richmond are given individualized academic planning and support throughout high school from specially trained Y staff members, led by Rowe Scholars Coordinator Joyce Strype. They receive homework aid, individualized tutoring and preparation for the college application process and admissions exams (SAT/

ACT), among other support.

“I work closely with the students and develop strong relationships with

them,” said Ms. Strype, who has worked for the Staten Island YMCA for nine years. “I ensure they have all the tools they need to graduate high school and college. The Y has a great relationship with the Port Richmond faculty, and we work together to ensure all children are successful.”

All Rowe Scholars also get to see first-hand what college life is like by taking college tours organized by the Y throughout the academic year. The

tours are part of a comprehensive college-readiness program that includes weekly workshops, focused on timely topics such as high school success, time management, college applications, financial literacy, and financial-aid.

Additionally, Rowe Scholars participate in over 100 hours of programmatic activities throughout the school year and are expected to maintain a high academic average. In high school, YMCA Rowe Scholars are required to undertake a rigorous curriculum including Advanced Placement classes to

support their transition from high school to college-level work. While getting good grades, Rowe Scholars also actively participate in YMCA core programming (Youth and Government, Teens Take the City, and Leaders Club) to develop confidence, leadership skills and self-esteem.

“Through this program, I’ve learned that you have to take opportunities when they are presented to you,” said Quadry Bello, a senior heading to The University of Buffalo in the fall. Through Rowe Scholars, Bello was

introduced to the Global Teens program offered by the Staten Island YMCA and visited Chile during the summer of 2013 as part of a community service trip.

“If you don’t know what you want to do with yourself, like I didn’t, get into this program and it will help you with your academic career,” he said.

Rowe Scholars participant Quadry

Bello and program coordinator

Joyce Strype.

The South Shore

Y hosted

Assemblyman

Michael Cusick’s

Total Fitness

Challenge to

teach kids about

health and

fitness.

Volunteers of the Year from the Broadway YMCA,

South Shore YMCA and YMCA Counseling Service

were honored during a recognition ceremony

earlier this year.

Children and parents in the Broadway YMCA’s

Aquatics Program were featured in a Staten

Island Advance article on swimming.

Both the Broadway and South Shore YMCA s

participated in the Staten Island Slim Down,

a program that helps Staten Islanders lose weight

and change their lives.

Broadway

Y staff

members

gear up for

summer

camp.