Blog

The Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges held its 26th Annual Golf Tournament on Sept. 21, raising $118,000 for the Y’s “Y for All” Fund, which helps reduce the cost of Y programs for individuals and families experiencing financial hardship.

The Greater Bergen County YMCA has long played a vital role in meeting the community’s health, wellness, and child care needs. When the novel coronavirus hit the area, the Y responded by providing access to a basic need that has rapidly increased during the crisis: the need for food.

he Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges strives to create opportunities for all. Providing affordable, quality programs is central to the Y’s mission of strengthening communities, by ensuring that each person, no matter their background and economic status, has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.

The South Mountain YMCA, the Achieve Foundation, Parenting Center, and the South Orange-Maplewood School District have formed a partnership to ensure that equity and opportunity continue to be hallmarks of our community. 

With more people experiencing financial hardships during the pandemic, the Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges has made it easier for members of the community to request financial assistance for the Y’s child care, membership, and health and wellness programs.

The Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges has launched a new Virtual Tutoring Program to provide one-on-one support in specific subject areas to students in grades K-8. This program follows the successful roll out of two similar Y programs - Virtual Distance Learning and Virtual Kindergarten Readiness.

After closing its facilities in March due to health concerns and Governor Murphy’s stay-at-home order surrounding the spread of COVID-19, the Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges is welcoming members back and waiving the fee for new members to join during the Labor Day weekend.

While the new school year may look different than before, one thing remains the same: the YMCA’s after school program continues to be a place where children can remain active, learning and engaged during their time out of school – a critical time for all school-age children, especially as they continue to adjust to the many changes related to COVID-19. 

The Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges will hold its 26th Annual Golf Tournament on Sept. 21 at the award-winning Montclair Golf Club, 25 Prospect Ave. in West Orange. 

As a kid growing up in Webster, NY, near Lake Ontario, Doug Phelps lived right next door to his local YMCA and has fond memories of sledding down the Y’s hill in winter time, and then playing pickup basketball games with friends after school as a teen. 

To Susan DiGiacomo, the end result of a building project is more than just the aesthetic outcomes; it’s also about how it will be received by the community. One of the rewarding aspects of her job in construction management is seeing how a new or redesigned building can fuel the “economic engine” for a town or city. 

Two decades ago, Nancy Josephs took a risk when she left her job as a management consultant in the healthcare field to co-start a business in a very different industry, one she was not familiar with. What she did have was a desire and drive to learn.

After an extensive national search, the Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges has named Daniel P. Elwell, Sr. as the organization’s new Chief Development Officer. He will work closely with the Metro Y leadership teams to develop and spearhead annual fundraising initiatives and strategies to advance the Y’s mission. 

The Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges and its African American Network Employee Resource Group invite the community to join the Y for a series of free virtual events during August.  

The audience was at home, the actors all wore face masks and stood 6 feet apart. This year’s Creative Theater Camp at the South Mountain YMCA in Maplewood looked a little different, but the shows still went on, all in an effort to ensure campers had the best summer experience possible.