SUMMIT AREA YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION A NJ NONPROFIT CORPORATION
99 Morris Avenue, Summit, NJ 07901 www.thesay.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: The Summit Area YMCA champions positive values in youth, strengthens families and builds healthy spirit, mind and body for all.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT MY DAUGHTER IS AT THE SAME AGE WHERE I STARTED BINGING, AND TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE YMCA SO WE CAN WALK ON THE TREADMILL TOGETHER, WE CAN SWIM TOGETHER, WE CAN CYCLE TOGETHER-SO THE YMCA REALLY SUPPORTS ME IN BUILDING A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP WITH HER, MY OTHER CHILDREN AND MYSELF. I COULD NOT BE MORE GRATEFUL FOR THE PLACE THAT THE YMCA HAS IN MY HEART, AND IN MY FAMILY AND IN MY LIFE." AJ'S MOTHER IS SO HAPPY THAT HER 11-YEAR-OLD SON IS ABLE TO COME TO THE Y AND PARTICIPATE IN THE MONTHLY SUNDAYS IN MOTION PROGRAM THAT OFFERS FREE ACCESS TO THE POOL AND GYMNASIUM FOR INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES IMPACTED BY AUTISM. VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN THE GYM AND POOL WHICH IS A GREAT HELP TO MANY FAMILIES WHO MAY OTHERWISE STRUGGLE IN THOSE ENVIRONMENTS. "I HAVE A SON, AJ, HE'S ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM. HE'S A GREAT, LOVABLE KID BUT IT'S KIND OF DIFFICULT WHEN YOU'RE ON THE SPECTRUM-HE CAN'T REALLY COMMUNICATE WELL. SO WHEN WE TOOK AJ TO HIS FIRST SUNDAYS IN MOTION AT THE Y, HE GETS TO INTERACT WITH OTHER SIMILAR KIDS IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, AND HE GETS TO ENJOY THE GYM ACTIVITIES AND SWIMMING. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US TO FIND PROGRAMS FOR AJ BECAUSE IT HELPS HIM DEVELOP AND BECOME PART OF SOCIETY. HE'S STILL A CHILD, YOU STILL WANT HIM TO EXPERIENCE BEING YOUNG AND ENJOYING LIFE. IT'S A NO JUDGEMENT ZONE AND IT MAKES HIM HAPPY. HE LOOKS FORWARD TO COMING HERE. SEEING AJ ENJOY HIMSELF, ESPECIALLY SWIMMING, HAS BEEN WONDERFUL." THE Y OPENS ITS DOORS TO ALL SO THAT ALL CAN BEGIN OR CONTINUE THEIR WELLNESS JOURNEY WHERE THEY ARE AT THAT PARTICULAR MOMENT. WILLIAM IS GRATEFUL FOR THE Y: "MY FIRST IMPRESSION OF THE SUMMIT YMCA WAS THAT EVERYONE HERE IS NICE. THEY KNOW ME BY MY NAME AND GREET ME EVERY TIME I COME IN. I AM A VIETNAM VETERAN AND COMING TO THE Y HELPS ME STAY HEALTHY WHILE PROVIDING ME WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO SOCIALIZE WITH OTHERS. I PARTICIPATE IN PICKLEBALL BEGINNER, AS WELL AS DO CARDIO WORKOUTS IN THE FITNESS CENTER." THE SUMMIT AREA YMCA CONTINUES TO DEMONSTRATE ITS COMMITMENT TO ENSURE ALL PEOPLE FIND COMMUNITY AND CONNECTEDNESS. WE ENCOURAGE OUR SENIORS, MANY WHO MAY LIVE ALONE OR WHO MAY BE EXPERIENCING A SLOWING DOWN PHYSICALLY, TO BECOME AN ENGAGED PART OF OUR VIBRANT COMMUNITY. WE OFFER A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS INCLUDING ENHANCE FITNESS, BRIDGE, MAHJONNG, BOOK CLUB, PARKINSONS WELLNESS PROGRAMS, LUNCH & LEARNS AMONG OTHER THINGS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE DEDICATED Y STAFF ASSIGNED TO HELPING THESE SENIORS BE ENGAGED AND FIND WELLNESS IN SPIRIT, MIND, AND BODY.

HEALTHY LIVING "I FIRST GOT STARTED AT THE Y BECAUSE MY FRIENDS AND MY OLDER BROTHER WERE DOING IT, SO I WANTED TO TRY IT OUT. THE MOST BENEFICIAL ASPECT OF BEING IN THE FREE 7TH GRADE MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM IS LEARNING TO USE ALL THE EQUIPMENT AND MACHINES AT THE Y, SO THAT AS I GET OLDER I'LL KNOW HOW TO GET MORE FIT. ALSO, I PLAY A LOT OF SPORTS AND BEING AT THE Y HELPS WITH MY ENDURANCE FOR BASKETBALL AND INCREASES MY ARM STRENGTH SO THAT I CAN THROW BETTER IN BASEBALL. IF I WERE NOT COMING TO THE Y, I WOULD PROBABLY BE AT HOME PLAYING VIDEO GAMES ON THE COUCH." KEVIN, A YOUTH BASKETBALL COACH, LOVES TO VOLUNTEER HIS TIME AT THE Y ESPECIALLY SINCE IT IS CONNECTED TO HIS SON AND OTHER CHILDREN WHO HE CAN HELP DEVELOP SKILLS, POSITIVE THINKING AND ATTITUDES. "COACHING BASKETBALL IS A GREAT WAY FOR ME TO SPEND TIME WITH MY SON WHILE ALSO VOLUNTEERING MY TIME. MY DAD COACHED ME AS A BOY AND NOW I GET TO COACH MY SON AND TEACH HIM GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP, TEAMWORK AND DISCIPLINE. IT IS REALLY REWARDING TO SEE THE KIDS IMPROVE AND THEIR HARD WORK PAY OFF. THE KIDS MAKE FRIENDS AND NOW I'M MAKING FRIENDS AND BUILDING MY COMMUNITY THROUGH MY KIDS! I LOVE THAT THE Y BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER AND STRENGTHENS FAMILY BONDS. " THE SUMMIT AREA YMCA'S DAY CAMPS ARE SAFE, EXCITING PLACES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO EXPLORE THE OUTDOORS, BUILD SELF-ESTEEM, DEVELOP INTERPERSONAL SKILLS AND MAKE LASTING FRIENDSHIPS AND MEMORIES. IN 2019, WE PROVIDED $65K IN DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO SOME OF THE 327 CAMPERS ENROLLED, TO ENSURE THEY HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCES AS OTHER KIDS AND THAT THEY TOO, BENEFITED FROM THE NURTURING DEVELOPMENT THAT HAPPENS EVERY DAY IN Y CAMP. THE Y PROVIDES HOPE TO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE STRUGGLING AND IN NEED OF A HELPING HAND. SIANETH, A SINGLE WORKING MOTHER WHO WAS ALSO GOING TO SCHOOL FULL TIME EXPLAINED: "I NEEDED TO FIND AN AFFORDABLE, QUALITY CHILDCARE PROGRAM FOR GAVEN, MY 2-YEAR-OLD. IT WAS FANTASTIC THAT THE LEARNING CIRCLE YMCA OFFERED ME GENEROUS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, WHICH ALLOWED ME TO LEAVE GAVEN IN THE HANDS OF CARING, ATTENTIVE TEACHERS WHO WANTED ONLY THE BEST FOR HIM. AFTER 6-7 MONTHS IN THE TODDLER PROGRAM, GAVEN WAS DIAGNOSED WITH KIDNEY CANCER WHICH HAD METASTASIZED TO HIS LUNGS AND I HAD TO PULL HIM FROM SCHOOL. THE TEACHERS REGULARLY SENT ME EMAILS ROOTING FOR HIS SPEEDY RECOVERY AND RETURN. TODAY I AM BACK AT TLC YMCA AND GAVEN IS GETTING STRONGER PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY EVERY DAY. I HAVE PEACE OF MIND BECAUSE OF THE Y. IT IS TRULY A COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORTS, LOVES AND HELPS YOU WHEN YOU NEED IT."

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY MY SON JOSHUA AND I SHARE A LOVE FOR RUNNING SO IT WAS SUPER SPECIAL FOR US TO DO IT ON MOTHER'S DAY!" DOROTA, RECENTLY MOVED TO SUMMIT AND WAS LOOKING FOR PLACE WHERE SHE COULD GIVE BACK AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY. SHE EXPLAINS THE Y HELPED HER GET HEALTHY AND GIVE BACK. "WHEN I MOVED FROM MANHATTAN I WAS LOOKING FOR MORE THAN A GYM-I WAS ALSO LOOKING FOR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. I FOUND BOTH AT THE Y. THE Y REALLY HELPED ME GET INVOLVED IN THE SUMMIT COMMUNITY. I LOVE THE GROUP EXERCISE CLASSES, BUT ALSO LOVE TOGETHERHOOD, THE Y'S MEMBER-LED VOLUNTEER INITIATIVE. THEY HELP FACILITATE VOLUNTEERS' IDEAS AND MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. SPECIFICALLY, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE TOGETHERHOOD'S SENIOR SPA DAY MONTHLY EVENT. I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS EVENT FOR 2 YEARS AND SEEING THE JOY AND HAPPINESS THAT IT BRINGS TO THE SENIORS IS PRICELESS. WITHOUT THE Y, I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP OTHERS IN SUCH A MEANINGFUL WAY." ARTHUR, A CARDIAC SURVIVOR FOUND HOPE AND COMMUNITY IN THE HEALTHY HEARTS CARDIAC REHAB PROGRAM AT THE Y AND BEGAN TO REGAIN SOME SEMBLANCE OF NORMALCY IN HIS LIFE. HERE IS HIS STORY. "18 MONTHS AGO, I WAS IN A WEEK LONG COMA AND THE DOCTORS WERE TELLING MY KIDS TO PREPARE FOR MY FUNERAL. I LEARNED THEN THAT MY HEART ONLY HAD 45-50% CARDIAC USAGE. SINCE JOINING THE Y'S HEALTHY HEARTS CARDIAC REHAB PROGRAM, ME AND MY HEART ARE STRONGER ALREADY. THE INSTRUCTORS TAUGHT ME HOW TO IMPROVE MY CARDIAC HEALTH AND HOW TO EXERCISE INDEPENDENTLY. I'M GLAD I SIGNED UP FOR THE PROGRAM AND FOR MY NEW LEASE ON LIFE." IN 2019, THE SUMMIT AREA YMCA, IN KEEPING WITH ITS MISSION FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, HEALTHY LIVING AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, PROVIDED OVER $790,000 IN DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OVER $900,000 IN SUBSIDIES TO KEEP PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE TO ALL.

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