Donation Will Expand Opportunities in Youth Programs at East Orange YMCA

By: Mollie Shauger | Wednesday, February 5, 2025 | News

Zoey Smith, Cayenne Wynter, and Skyler Gooden with their Toy Drive items.

EAST ORANGE, NJ - The East Orange YMCA is once again partnering with The Crossings at Brick Church Station to give the gift of wellness and offer greater access to youth programs. A generous donation of $5,000 from the real estate project, led by co-developers Triangle Equities and Incline Capital, Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group, and Basis Investment Group, will support program enrollment costs for 200 children in 2025.  

“We are grateful for the continued support of The Crossings at Brick Church Station. This donation will help the Y fulfill its mission by offering vital programs and services that enable children to engage and thrive, opportunities they might not otherwise have,” said East Orange YMCA Interim Executive Director Leah Greene. 

“We are thrilled to support the YMCA’s important work in the East Orange community. Just as our project seeks to build a healthier East Orange community by creating sustainable housing, remediating the impacts of environmental racism, and upgrading East Orange’s only full-service grocery store, so too does the YMCA build a healthier community with its classes, camps, and programming,” said Josh Weingarten, Executive Vice President - Development and Acquisitions of Triangle Equities.  

The East Orange Y serves more than 2,000 individuals a year, and more than 50 percent of participants receive financial assistance to reduce their enrollment costs for already subsidized programs. In 2024, the East Orange Y provided more than $228,000 in financial aid to over 618 individuals, ensuring all community members have access to Y programs.

The community comes together to help fund the Y’s Financial Assistance Program through generous donations and pledges made during the Annual Support Campaign, and fundraising events throughout the year. The East Orange Y just kicked off its 2025 "Legacy" campaign. For more information about giving to the Y, visit metroymcas.org. 

More than 350 toys were provided to local children during a Toy Drive on Dec. 23. In addition to Triangle Equities, the Y’s Toy Drive partners included the Belleville Fire Department, Bink International Charity, M&T Bank in Orange, and Turtle Back Zoo. 

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ABOUT THE Y

Established in 1885, the Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges invests in its diverse communities to promote wellness, safety and quality of life for children, adults and seniors. Its six branches in East Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, New Milford, Hardyston and Stillwater are committed to nurturing the potential of kids, promoting healthy living and fostering a sense of social responsibility through an array of programs. Some 35,000 people belong to the Metro Y, which awards more than $2 million annually in direct and indirect financial assistance.

ABOUT TRIANGLE EQUITIES

Triangle Equities is a full-service, real estate development firm that is prepared to tackle and solve the most difficult development challenges. By actively embracing the complexities inherent to responsible urban development, Triangle achieves sustainable results and unlocks substantial value for its investors, tenants, and the communities in which it builds. Visit triangleequities.com for more information. 

ABOUT INCLINE CAPITAL

Incline Capital is a diversified real estate development and investment organization. Incline is structured to grow by selectively identifying opportunities where it can enhance the value of real estate through market cycles. For more information, visit Incline Capital.

About the Goldman Sachs Asset Management Urban Investment Group (UIG)

Bringing together traditional and alternative investments, Goldman Sachs. Asset Management provides clients around the world with a dedicated partnership and focus on long-term performance. As the primary investing area within Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), we deliver investment and advisory services for the world’s leading institutions, financial advisors, and individuals, drawing from our deeply connected global network and tailored expert insights, across every region and market—overseeing more than $2 trillion in assets under supervision worldwide as of September 30, 2022. Driven by a passion for our clients’ performance, we seek to build long-term relationships based on conviction, sustainable outcomes, and shared success over time. Goldman Sachs Asset Management invests in the full spectrum of alternatives, including private equity, growth equity, private credit, real estate, and infrastructure. Established in 2001, the Urban Investment Group within Goldman Sachs Asset Management has committed over $10 billion through real estate projects, social enterprises and lending facilities for small businesses and students, creating economic value and opportunities for underserved communities and families. Follow us on LinkedIn.

About Basis Investment Group 

Basis Investment Group is a full-service commercial real estate investment platform investing across the capital stack of stabilized, transitional, and development CRE assets throughout the United States. With representation in New York, Chicago, Dallas, Tampa and Irvine, CA, Basis has successfully closed over $5 billion in transactions across multiple strategies and asset classes focusing across the US middle market. Basis, a certified Minority and Woman-Owned Business (MWOB), focuses primarily on investments in the middle market where it has deep relationships. Basis is a registered investment advisor and lender that invests in both debt and equity strategies including fixed rate senior mortgage loans, bridge loans, mezzanine loans, preferred equity, structured equity, JV equity and B-piece investments. Basis is also the only diverse-owned and licensed Optigo® lender for Freddie Mac. For more information, please visit www.basisinvgroup.com.