2014-2015 Annual Progress Report
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96 Years in Greenwich and Moving Forward ywca greenwich 2014-2015 annual report Our Mission YWCA Greenwich is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. 2 2 ywca greenwich | 2014-2015 annual report Dear Friends of YWCA Greenwich, It was another good year for your YWCA, continuing the excellence we have exhibited for 96 years. We continue to move forward…building momentum…toward our 100th Anniversary celebration. Since 1919, we have been a treasured Greenwich community asset. There are six reasons for our continued success. We have a devoted, hard-working Board of Directors with a clear focus on the future… an energetic Leadership Council…an experienced staff that knows how to get the job done…a committed base of generous supporters… members who report that our offerings either meet or exceed their expectations…and management leadership expertise that delivers 93% of every dollar directly to programs and services for women, children and families. In addition, we continue to modernize our beautiful facility and the programs within and without. This past year, we completely renovated our Fitness Center and Spin Studio, adding all new, cutting-edge equipment. Then we purchased a state-of-the-art Pitching Machine and Batting Cage System for baseball and softball training…it’s the only one in Greenwich. Our basketball academy, with the best instructors in Town, also was added to our lineup. And, we still maintain over 125 programs, services and events, with scholarships available for those in need. We’re all about helping…helping kids in our top-rated Preschool prepare for Kindergarten… helping to rebuild the shattered lives of domestic violence victims…helping children to better health and fitness in our gymnastics classes and Learn-to-Swim School...helping adults keep fit with personal training sessions and forty group exercise classes each week…and helping a graduating Dolphins Swim Team member reach the 2016 Olympic Swim Team Trials. Please enjoy this Annual Report. Please visit us if you can. Please call with any suggestions you may have. And please continue to support us. Thanks so much for helping. Aundrea Amine Adrianne Singer Chair of the President & Chief Board of Directors Executive Officer ywca greenwich | 2014-2015 annual report 3 Childhood Education YWCA Greenwich Preschool, After-School and Summer Camps are licensed by the Connecticut Department of Public Health and comply with all regulation standards for health and safety. 4 ywca greenwich | 2014-2015 annual report Greenwich provided educational YWCA programs that afforded girls and boys ages 15 months to 14 years learning platforms on which to grow their knowledge…as well as enhance their social, emotional and physical vitality. In addition, 2014-15 parent surveys support our continuing reputation for creative curriculums based on Connecticut State Benchmarks, staff excellence, scheduling flexibility, and facility safety and cleanliness. Consistent with our core mission of eliminating racism, YWCA Greenwich encourages diversity in our student population. Ending racism begins with the young…and the younger, the better. In the 2014-15 academic year, YWCA Greenwich Preschool was truly an international body. We taught children of many racial, ethnic and economic backgrounds from 14 countries, including Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Dominican Republic, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Portugal, Ukraine, United States, and Venezuela. Children 15 months to 2 years enjoyed 1-2-3 Grow Preschool. The YWCA is one of the very few area preschools to provide early learning for one year olds. Three and four year olds enjoyed the Tinker Tots program that features special instructional classes in gymnastics, music, Spanish and swimming. Extended Day and Full Day programs, popular with working parents, were also available. More students than ever attended Kaleidoscope After-School for girls and boys 5 to 11 from 2:30 to 6:00 pm daily during the public school academic year. It combines homework and study with 19 other activities, including STEM classes in Chemistry and Computer Coding, and there is free pick up from many elementary schools. Both Kaleidoscope Vacation Camp and Preschool Vacation Camp served children when schools were closed for holidays. Summers at YWCA Greenwich found our three camps heavily attended, which meant that our four outdoor play areas – Greenwich’s only Water Park, two Kompan Structures Playgrounds and the Sand Play Area – were well used. For 45 years, girls and boys 5 to 11 have loved two-session Camp Ta-Yi-To with the most diverse activities schedule in the region. Two-session Preschool Summer Camp was a sell-out. And our two-week Girls Circle Camp helped pre-teens build confidence and self-esteem. ywca greenwich | 2014-2015 annual report 5 Health & Fitness 6 ywca greenwich | 2014-2015 annual report Greenwich offered a large number of YWCA activities that improved the health and fitness of girls and boys and women and men ages two through seniors. A total of 42 Group Exercise Classes were held each week. In addition, our Fitness Center featured a Spin Studio with YW Power Spin Classes, an experienced staff of certified Personal Trainers and a Massage Therapist… plus new, top-of-the-line weight circuits, spin bicycles, tread mills, ellipticals, adaptive motion trainers and more. Members enjoyed Precor Treadmills, AMTs and Ellipticals with 140-channel, high-definition picture quality and internet access monitors…plus Expresso Bikes with interactive road racing programs… plus YW Power Spin Classes with new Star Trac Blade Ion 100 Bicycles with computer monitors…plus new Precor Discovery strength equipment. Our five new locker rooms include a Women’s Locker Room with sauna and a Men’s Locker Room with steam. The staff of certified Personal Trainers conducted more sessions than ever before. Children ages 3 to 18 enjoyed modern ballet classes in the modern Royce/Porter Dance and Yoga Studio. Our large gymnasium was home to Soccer for girls and boys 2 to 5 years old…and Gymnastic classes for kids 3 to 15, beginner to advanced, taught by the famed Greenwich High School Varsity Coach, Sue Knight. Badminton continued to gain in popularity. NOW Tennis, for girls and boys 3 to 13 using age- appropriate sized racquets and balls, grew in popularity. Softball and Baseball Training clinics, featuring Greenwich’s only Pitching Machine and Batting Cage System and Head Instructor, Mike Parisi (formerly of the St. Louis Cardinals), experienced increased useage by individuals and local teams. ywca greenwich | 2014-2015 annual report 7 Aquatics This page (top): Aqua Aerobics class; (bottom): Dolphins Swim Team Head Coach Nick Cavataro and star swimmer Thomas Dillinger Opposite page (top): Swim lesson and DolphinBabies class; (bottom left) Dolphins Team members from left: Anja Coffee, Kelly Leahy, Lacey Warwick and Daryl Forno; (bottom right) Kate Hazlett and Meghan Lynch 8 ywca greenwich | 2014-2015 annual report Greenwich offered girls and boys and adults, YWCA six months old to seniors, a complete and integrated Aquatics program in a 6-lane, warm water pool. There were group and private swim lessons…specialty classes including Aqua Aerobics, Aqua Arthritis, Aqua Core, Water Polo, Scuba, and Kayaking…plus Lifeguard Training, CPR/AED and Water Safety Instructor courses. Popular times were available throughout the week for both family and lap swims. All instructors are American Red Cross certified. The successful YWCA Greenwich classes improved technique, built endurance and were the training ground for the 225+ member – girls and boys ages 5 to 18 years – YWCA Dolphins Swim Team that continued its 46-year winning tradition. The Dolphins Team is ranked in the top 4% nationally by U.S. Swimming. In a season of successes, three Dolphins stood out. Meghan Lynch, 12, besides many other national age group and state records, is now America’s top-ranked 12-year-old in the 200-meter individual medley. Thomas Dillinger, 17, qualified for the 2016 Olympic trials in the 200-meter individual medley. And Kate Hazlett, 14, set a Connecticut age group record in the 50-free-style. Three Training for Success Seminars were held for Dolphins Team members and their parents, featuring Olympic swimming medalists, health professionals and educators. There was a Dolphins Awards Banquet in May attended by more than 500. Every Dolphin Team member received an award. The YWCA Greenwich Masters Swim Team had another strong season. ywca greenwich | 2014-2015 annual report 9 One in three young girls in the U.S. is a victim of physical, verbal or emotional abuse. Domestic Abuse Services This page: (top) 2015 Candlelight Vigil; (bottom) 2015 Old Bags Luncheon Co-Chairs Alease Fisher Tallman, Sareeta Bjerke, Jordan Rhodes, Emma Pennington, Jieun Wax, Judith Wertheimer, Shelly Tretter Lynch, Mary Anne Henry Opposite page: (top) Counseling session; (middle) YNet Executive Committee members Isabelle Marlow, Maggie Keatinge, Kristin Moore and Katie Lawrie, Photographic Journalist Jodi Cobb and Domestic Abuse Services Community Educator Yajaira Gonzalez at Greenwich High School education session; (bottom) at the Old Bags Luncheon 10 ywca greenwich | 2014-2015 annual report Greenwich, the only licensed provider YWCA of domestic violence services in the community, delivered a wide range of multi-lingual, free services to thousands of victims, including children. Your YWCA provides two 24/7 hotlines; emergency shelter; life- saving safety planning; crisis intervention; child and adult counseling; criminal and civil court services at Stamford Superior Court; and violence prevention education at public elementary, middle and high schools. One in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. Horrific stories of anger, fear, hopelessness …physical abuse…even death…are reported daily. Domestic violence shatters hearts, souls and lives. Yet many have been able to escape abusive relationships and build new lives with the help of YWCAs, the largest providers of domestic violence services in the country.