As we reflect on the remarkable achievements we have already seen in 2024, we are filled with gratitude for your unwavering support that propelled us to new heights. Your generosity and commitment enabled us to achieve record levels of support in financial aid and fundraising. Through your compassion, we were able to extend a helping hand to 1,572 families in need during the first quarter of this year alone. Together, we have cultivated a community where no one is left behind, where every individual has the opportunity to thrive.
Moreover, we are thrilled to announce the successful launch of our "Expect the Best" culture of member service across our Association. This commitment to excellence has not gone unnoticed, as evidenced by our recent accolades, including top Net Promoter scores, recognition as a Top Workplace in NJ, Charity Navigator recognition, and Praesidium accreditation. These achievements affirm our dedication to providing unparalleled service and support to our community. It is inspiring to witness the impact of your generosity and dedication to our cause. In 2024, your support propelled us to a record-breaking annual campaign, raising over $1.95 million to further our mission and expand our reach. Together, we are building a brighter future for all. Thank you for being the driving force behind our success.
Yours in service,
Rick Gorab
Chief Executive Officer
The Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges
Safety Around WaterWith summer around the corner, the YMCA will offer a free Safety Around Water program in June to children at select locations, aiming to make water enjoyable and safe. Certified instructors teach vital swimming skills to prevent drowning and boost confidence around water. Drowning remains a leading cause of death among children in the U.S., particularly affecting African American and Hispanic communities, with a significant number lacking proficient swimming abilities. This program addresses these disparities by equipping children with essential water safety skills.
This summer the Metro YMCA is gearing up to welcome nearly 20,000 campers back to our summer camp programs, many of whom would not have been able to attend without the generous support from YOU, our donors and sponsors. Across our Association, 1 in 4 campers receive some form of direct financial support to attend camp, accounting for over $890,000 in support of our friends and neighbors throughout New Jersey.
We’re seeing our kids come out of their shells like never before as many still recover from the isolation and trauma that COVID has had on our com
munity. The phenomenal staff and programs offered by the Y summer camps have helped our children learn, grow, and thrive!
This year, we bring back for its second year running, our Camp for a Cause program! In addition to educational lessons and special programming focused on community engagement and giving back, fundraising campaigns across our association raised more than $20,000 to help make camp possible for more families! Fairview Lake YMCA Camps, their Blue Mountain Day Camp, and South Mountain YMCA’s Summer Discovery Camp made Newsweek’s list of the 500 Best Camps for 2024. The rankings are based on a survey of 30,000 parents conducted in 2023 and 2024 and nearly 700,000 social media reviews on Google and Facebook. Camps were rated on criteria like selection of offered activities, accessibility, staff-to-children ratio and camp safety.
The Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges hosted Healthy Kids Day® in April and May, a national initiative aimed at enhancing children's health and well-being. Families learned about healthy eating, physical activity, mental health, and forming good habits through various activities, sports, giveaways, and more, with over 1,000 families participating.
EAST ORANGE YMCA
Our partnership with CFBNJ Foodbank has empowered us to offer enriching experiences like cooking classes for our kids, fostering essential life skills and nutritional awareness. By collaborating with CFBNJ, we're not just addressing hunger; we're investing in the holistic development and well-being of our community's youth.
The East Orange Y values the mental health and well-being of our community’s children. We partnered with 360 Arts All Around for a 6-week session, featuring Hip Hop and sketch art classes. These programs prioritize creative outlets for expressing emotions.
FAIRVIEW LAKE YMCA CAMPS
Camp is buzzing with activity and we have a lot to look forward to this year! We’re busy planning for an incredible camp season. Our day camps and sleepaway camps will be in full swing, with new program activities, updated equipment, and some fantastic staff from all over the world. In the fall, we’re looking forward to hosting a new family camp in September, our annual Pig Roast and Community Harvest Day, and our popular LGBTQ+ Family Camp weekend.
This summer Fairview Lake is celebrating two new projects to strengthen the future of camp programming.
We will embark on the replacement of the impoundment (dam) that retains water in Fairview Lake, ensuring the lake will provide recreational opportunities for the next 100 years.
Prepare to elevate your game with Futsal (five-a-side soccer) and pickleball courts! Featuring an all-weather playing surface and low perimeter walls, it promises fun throughout the summer season. This enhancement is a reality thanks to the incredible support from our sponsors, whose contributions are honored by prominently displaying their names within our arena. There are still opportunities for sponsorship available.
NEW MILFORD YMCA PROGRAM CENTER
The New Milford YMCA Program Center, a location of the Greater Bergen County YMCA, is thrilled to bring back swimming programs for the community, just in time for the summer season. Kids 6-12 can join School Age Swim Lessons at Hackensack High School Pool on Sundays until June. Plus, Lap Swimming is available on Sundays from 10a.m.-12p.m.
The Y will welcome seniors for National Senior Health & Fitness Day® on May 29, offering free fitness classes, blood pressure screenings, a dietician lecture, vendors and more.
We are also in full prep for another season of summer camp! Did you know that the Y runs a resident camp? Camp Michikamau sits on the shores of Lake Kanawauke, a 117-acre lake located in Harriman State Park in New York. Campers spend two weeks in camp swimming, boating, hiking, rock climbing and more. Our alumni come "home" to visit at the end of each summer, traveling from coast to coast to spend a weekend in camp reminiscing and reuniting with fellow campers and staff.
SOUTH MOUNTAIN YMCA
The Y successfully worked with the State of NJ to license St. Joseph's educational building in Maplewood for additional After School programming. This opened 200 more spots for critical after school care. With this expansion, more families will have the peace of mind that their children are in a fun, nurturing, enriching environment with access to homework support, recreation, SEL, STEM and more.
The South Mountain YMCA took the helm of Beyond the Bell and successfully transitioned to the Y from the Maplewood/South Orange School District. Over 1600 participants enrolled in a wide variety of enrichment classes at every school in the district. The Y is now able to make this program more accessible to all, with financial assistance available to families that qualify. The Y has also extended 100% and 80% financial assistance to children on Free/Reduced Lunch.
The 25th Anniversary of the Duck Race is set for Memorial Day. Hundreds of locals will join the Y on the banks of the river to cheer their ducks. Proceeds from the event help enable families from our community access to childcare, summer camp, sports and enrichment classes and more through the Y's financial assistance program. Each year, the Y also selects a qualifying local non-profit to receive 20%, up to $5,000 of the proceeds, for the Ellie and Charlie Gianni Community Impact Grant.
SUSSEX COUNTY YMCA
The Sussex County YMCA was presented the Non-Profit of the Year Award by the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce in April. The award recognizes the outstanding accomplishments by a non-profit organization with a reputation for excellence.
The Y will celebrate National Senior Health and Fitness Day® on May 29. This annual event features free activities and resources, and stands as a beacon for promoting the importance of physical activity and wellness among our active older adult population.
The Y will graduate another group of 11 adults who participated in the most recent LIVESTRONG at the YMCA® program. This free 12-week program helps participants reclaim their health and wellbeing following a cancer diagnosis. The Y typically offers the program 4 times a year, with the next session starting May 14.
WAYNE YMCA
The Wayne YMCA is now a SNAP Navigator location, meaning they can assist people in submitting their application for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.
Throughout the month of April the Wayne Y was proud to host the spring Farmer’s Market, taking place the first and third Saturday of each month. The market continues in May in the Township’s Municipal Parking Lot, offering a variety of produce, baked goods, and other special merchandise from local vendors.
The Y is proud to increase the offerings of its EPIC Sweetheart Dance for adults with disabilities, which are now offered monthly.
The Y is celebrating the opening of My Third Place Cafe. The Cafe provides a unique experience for members who seek a comfortable place to relax and enjoy healthy and delicious food. with a range of options with a Mediterranean inspiration.
WEST ESSEX YMCA
The West Essex YMCA is offering free enrollment in the Piranhas Special Olympics Swim Team for the first time since the onset of the pandemic. The season ran through May with Sunday practices. The Piranhas provide an opportunity for adults with disabilities to develop their swimming strengths and compete in partnership with the Special Olympics of New Jersey. The program is made possible through a partnership with the Kiwanis Club of Livingston and Kiwanis Club of Caldwell-West Essex.
Along with New Milford, Wayne, and Sussex County Ys, the West Essex Y will welcome seniors for National Senior Health and Fitness Day on May 29. Past activities have included free fitness classes, presentations, vendors, raffles, and more.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
The Metro YMCA of the Oranges is expanding youth and aquatics program offerings to provide more opportunities for people with disabilities to thrive. Here is a look at some new initiatives across the association.
MENTAL HEALTH
AWARENESS MONTH
The Metro YMCA is marking Mental Health Awareness Month this May by hosting a variety of complimentary workshops and events accessible to everyone in the community. With its crucial role in fostering environments that enhance community health, the Y facilitates both individual and collective engagement in activities that bolster mental, emotional, and social well-being. Through initiatives such as group fitness classes, summer camps, and swimming lessons, the Y actively promotes opportunities for physical activity and greater social interaction. Additionally, we’re training staff to recognize, respond, and refer when they notice someone who may be struggling. Over 100 staff members at the Metro YMCA have achieved certification in either Adult or Youth Mental Health First Aid, a program accredited by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.
NEW INCLUSION PROGRAMS ADDEDEarlier this year, the South Mountain YMCA introduced an Inclusive Baking Class for children aged 5-12. This spring, the Sussex County YMCA plans to relaunch Everyone Can Play, an instructor-led class that aims to increase physical activity among school age children with developmental disabilities. The Y currently offers a similar class for adults called Everyone is Fit. The Sussex County Y is also looking to add dedicated Pickleball times for people with disabilities, and expand family programming activities this year.
When we moved to New Jersey from Astoria, Queens we were worried we would struggle to find a replacement for the daycare/preschool our daughter had grown up in. It had been a special place for 4 years, and we had developed so many lifelong friendships there in our small community. We moved late in the summer of 2017, and landed on the Peanut Shell Early Child Care Learning Center at the West Essex YMCA. After a wonderful and fulfilling year, we transitioned to the South Mountain YMCA and quickly realized this place was going to have a lasting impression and was quickly becoming our new home away from home.
Beau joined the preschool classroom that was called the Giraffes. His first teacher, Miss Erica, was creative and engaging, and Ms. Tricia and Ms. Hassana welcomed our little man with such love and kindness. He was excited. We were excited. No tears, no fears, just a happy boy ready to go to school every day and see his friends - his 'brothers' as he called them. Little did we know that 18 months later we would have a newborn and the pandemic would bring such change.
While this moment was so pivotal to everyone's lives, I think it was at this moment that I realized just how special and important the Y was. The teachers rallied and our Zoom life began. Weekly catch-ups for the children, video messages with birthday songs, weekly kindergarten preparation classes, and newsletters with guided reading ideas and activities in abundance. Ms. Nakeeyah had become the lead teacher and her commitment to maintaining a sense of community for the class was evident. He turned 5 in May of 2020. No party that year was hard as a parent as he missed his friends, his brothers, so much. But the teachers rallied. They organized a drive-by-birthday salute and celebration for him, and his friends and teachers drove down our street. Ms. Dani, who had quickly become his favorite person upon arriving at the YMCA, turned up with a card and a hug (masked). This was family. The teachers were not just teachers, they had become friends and part of our extended family.
Due to COVID, Luc did not join as an infant but started in the toddler class with Ms. Keisha, Miss Jasmine, and Ms. Marjo. He was nervous at first, a few tears. But we were back and it felt so good to be 'home'. Then came the Macaws with Ms. Karen, Miss Altine, and Ms. Joie. How lucky were we! He loved these teachers. And they loved our Luc! Everyday on the ride home from school he had stories to tell and talked about his teachers and friends, endlessly. He was happy! Some days it took us 15 minutes to leave, as he wanted to hug each of them as much as possible, and invite them home for dinner! He would end his day telling Ms. Joie about his 'amazing' or 'fantastic' day with such enthusiasm and excitement. And she, in return, would celebrate with him the success of a great day! And then just like his older brother had done 4 years before him, every night on the way out he would give Ms. Dani a side hug and chat with her at the front desk about his day, and often leave with a treat of stickers, or a fruit snack!
Before we knew it we were back in the Giraffes, now named River Dolphins classroom with some familiar faces (Ms. Trisha!!) and some new ones - Ms. Gloria and Ms. Ayanna. But it was the same feeling of excitement and energy and potential! We are excited for what the next two years have to bring and know from experience that it will be nothing short of wonderful. Because this is family and this is home! Not just to my boys, but to my daughter too who has read stories to both her brothers classes, and loved the very same teachers as if they had been her own too.
Thank you, everyone, for being part of our Y community.
– The Auzenne family: Louise, Joey, Nola, Beau and Luc
Interested in volunteering at the YMCA? Contact giving@metroymcas.org to find out how you can help support our community programs.
Are you or someone you know looking for a rewarding full time or part time job? Visit metroymcas.org/jobs to find out more about our available positions and our referral and sign-on bonuses! Be sure to mark your calendar for the following events:
JOIN THE SOCIETY
By making a planned gift to the Y, you can continue to create a healthier and stronger community for years to come. We’d love to thank you today by welcoming you into The Heritage Society, a group of dedicated supporters who have included the YMCA in their estate plans and are recognized throughout the year for their generosity. Heritage society members enjoy the benefits of creative charitable contributions through Estate Plans, Charitable Gift Annuities, Trusts, Gifts of Appreciated Stock, and IRA distributions. The tremendous tax savings and retirement income potential make this type of gift very appealing for those eligible and are extremely beneficial to the YMCA. We welcome the opportunity to have a confidential conversation with you at no obligation. Contact Daniel P. Elwell Sr. at delwell@metroymcas.org or 973-758-9622 x1120.
Our Impact Members are a dedicated group of monthly sustainers who create a BIG annual impact. For the cost of one coffee a week, joining this group with a $25 monthly donation enables the YMCA to increase our outreach efforts, serve more of those in our community in need, and further our mission for youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.
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