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 | David Stevenson President & CEO
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| CORPORATIONS PITCHING IN
Dear Friends:
I hope that this message finds you and your families well and looking forward to a great fall season. Over the past thirteen years, I have shared with you many stories about outstanding individuals who make their communities stronger by volunteering at the Y. These women, men, girls and boys have inspired us with their enthusiasm, dedication, skill and love of others – especially those in need. In addition to our volunteer corps of individuals, the Y is also blessed to have many corporations who rally their employees to spend time volunteering at the Y as a team. Typically, these corporate work teams spend a day (or two!) at a Y branch working on a special project, and can include up to 100 employees who are being supported by their company for a day of service. Although the number of corporate work teams volunteering at our Y is too numerous to recognize in this short message, I’d like to tell you about two companies that have made an incredible impact at YMCA Camp Mountain Laurel in Hamden. Babbidge Construction Company and Svigals + Partners (an architectural firm) have volunteered thousands of hours over the past many years planning, building, renovating, painting, plastering, and planting resulting in YMCA Camp Mountain Laurel being transformed from a camp considering closure to a day camp that serves as a model for other camps in New England. Under the leadership of Alex Babbidge, Barry Svigals, FAIA, and Robert Skolozdra, AIA, LEED AP, these generous companies have brought their highly skilled and committed work teams to YMCA Camp Mountain Laurel and have created a special place where campers can learn, laugh, make new friends, and build memories. Thank you, Babbidge Construction, Svigals + Partners, and the many corporations who pitch in and make our kids, families, and communities stronger.
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|  | Building a bear-proof trash receptacle.
| |  | An important bridge was re-built.
| |  | Our camp was made beautiful with lovely plantings.
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|  | This team sawed, hammered, and painted.
| |  | Picnic tables were built and painted.
| |  | This team installed high-quality windows in a cabin making it much warmer and cheerful.
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HELPING THOSE AFFECTED BY CANCER
The Lakewood-Trumbull Y and the Soundview Family Y are fortunate to offer LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA, a 12-week exercise program for cancer survivors. The program is provided at no cost and is available to adults 18 years or older living with or beyond cancer treatment. Since the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA program launch in 2022, we have served over 50 survivors.
LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA is an evidence-based program that helps adult cancer survivors reclaim their health and well-being following a cancer diagnosis. Participating YMCAs create a welcoming community in which survivors can improve their strength and physical fitness, diminish the severity of therapy side effects, develop supportive relationships, and improve their quality of life. Since 2007, the LIVESTRONG Foundation has been the YMCA’s partner in developing and delivering LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA.
Participants are also introduced to other Y programs that would benefit them such as restorative yoga, stretch clinics and TRX classes.
“The Livestrong Program at the YMCA was a great opportunity to reestablish an exercise program that I had given up on. The instructors were so supportive and encouraging making it so easy to stay motivated. Being surrounded with a supportive group of people, including the other participants, made this journey worth the effort.” -JC
“Livestrong at the Y is such a tremendous program. It provided me with a structured exercise program for both my body and mind that I really looked forward to attending throughout the entire 12-week program. I was able to connect with other cancer survivors I likely would have never met, and we worked side-by-side, each at our own pace, to improve our overall fitness and mental well-being. We were at different stages of recovery and we all supported each other. During the program, I had a follow up appointment with my oncologist which resulted in some unexpected additional medical testing. The day I had my tests my mind was a mess and I was extremely anxious. It just so happened it was a program day and we were doing a mindfulness yoga session. The instructor was so caring and invested in the session, it felt like the program was designed solely for me. There was no better place I could have been following my tests and it helped me center myself, reduce my anxiety and put me in a much better place mentally.” -GS
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NURTURING LOCAL GYMNASTS
The Lakewood-Trumbull YMCA gymnastics program has been inspiring and helping children achieve their goals since the 1980’s. The Y has proudly competed in State and Regional Championships. And brought home quite a few trophies. Our gymnasts learn, through fun and discipline, the ability to achieve their goals. We believe that if a child believes in themselves and trains hard, then anything, even the amazing sport of gymnastics, can be achieved.
Our team is coming off a great 2022-23 Season. Our Xcel Bronze girls were awarded first place out of 9 teams at Regional Championships and one of our Xcel Platinum's, Jacqui, scored a 9.9 on floor, which is exceedingly rare. We are certainly looking forward to this season, as we unveil a new era for our Y gymnastics team, with growth, expansion and a revitalizing head coach.
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SHARING OUR STORY
This summer, the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA had the pleasure of hosting many State and Local Officials. We were able to share the positive impact our summer camps have on the children and the families we serve. Interacting with campers and Y summer staff while immersing our visitors in the camp day provided the perfect opportunity to talk about water safety education, child care, facility maintenance, partnerships and funding. We look forward to future opportunities to connect.
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|  | The Stratford Y introduced State Representative Joe Gresko to all their campers (who were very curious about his work at the Capitol.)
| |  | East Haven Superintendent Erica Forti and East Haven's Director of Administration & Management/Economic Development Michelle Benivegna visited the Soundview Family Y Camp Hays for a meet and greet.
| |  | Soundview Family Y Camp Nonoma shared the morning with State Senator Christine Cohen, State Senator Paul Cicarella, State Representative Vincent Candelora, State Representative Robin Comey, First Selectman of Guilford Matt Hoey and Superintendent of Branford Public Schools Chris Tranberg.
| |  | Matt Reich, State of Connecticut Outreach Assistant for the Fourth Congressional District, received a tour of Lakewood-Trumbull Y Camp Tepee.
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CONSIDER MAKING A GIFT
The Dortch Family was going through a tumultuous time when they first came to the Soundview Family YMCA in 2019 to inquire about youth programs. Uncles Dennis and Aaron were recently awarded family guardianship by the Connecticut Department of Children & Families (DCF). As new legal guardians, the uncles were now emotionally and financially responsible. They wanted their children to have a positive summer experience. Marxas, Kaylyb and Kristian needed all that YMCA Summer Camp offered!
Thanks to donations to the Soundview Family Y Annual Campaign, the Y provided financial aid. Care4Kids and the Y’s ability to offer additional scholarships have helped them remain active Y members, now participating in Summer Camp and School-Age Child Care for the last four years. In 2023, Krystanna, the youngest sibling joined the family and YMCA programs.
The children have had consistent care, have learned to trust others, and have grown as individuals as a result of participating in YMCA programs. They’ve built strong relationships with all the Soundview Family Y staff and other YMCA children.
It’s such an honor to serve people like the Dortch Family! Please consider a donation to our Annual Campaign and help make the work of the Y possible.
Click to Donate On-Line to our Annual Campaign!
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FOR COMMUNITY
Since January 2023, the Alpha Community Services YMCA has housed over 43 new individuals at our Y Permanent Supportive Housing sites. They have also helped 23 additional individuals move into the community from Y Permanent Supportive Housing. The Y Brooks Street Shelter assisted 13 families (a total of 33 individuals) in relocating to stable housing. All while the YMCA-led South End Community Center housed an additional 21 individuals and continues to house 100s through diversion with our Coordinated Access Network HUB, also located at the South End Community Center.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS James McGuinness, Chair - Alexis Smith, Vice Chair - Howard Olderman, Vice Chair - Preston Tisdale, Vice Chair - George Logan, Secretary - Leo Connors, Jr., Asst. Secretary - Christopher Gallo, Treasurer - Marc Romanow, Asst. Treas. - Blanca Kazmierczak, Imm. Past Chair - Lissette Andino - Scott Burns - Christal Esposito - Dr. Mario Garcia - Dr. Ceasar Irby - Melissa Kessell - Andrea Kovacs - Jon Leckerling - Lenny Lye - Alice Ruqiao Mao - Dr. Victor Morris - Dr. Matthew O'Connor - Dan O’Donnell - Michael Papale - Andrew Patrick - Louis Procaccini - Dustin Riedel - Dr. Jeff Santee - Andrea Seek - Casey Stark - Dr. David Stevenson - Donna Wells
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Robert Fiscus, Chair - Jeffrey Jones, Vice Chair - Sandra Brown, Secretary - Michael Leone, Treasurer - David Bjorklund - Christopher Gallo - William Maley, Sr. - James McGuinness - Ronald Noren
BRANCH LOCATIONS Alpha Community Services YMCA Bridgeport - Bridgeport YMCA - Fairfield YMCA - Hamden/North Haven YMCA - Lakewood-Trumbull YMCA - New Haven YMCA Youth Center - Soundview Family YMCA Branford - Stratford YMCA - Valley YMCA Ansonia - Woodruff Family YMCA Milford - YMCA Camp Hi-Rock Mt. Washington MA - Association Office New Haven
OUR MISSION To put Judeo-Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
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