TRANSFORMING LIVES SPRING 2021 LI ES LETTER FROM THE CEO Dear Friends and Supporters, Spring is a season of hope, inspiration and promise. This spring, that seems especially true. With the recent easing of social restrictions, it’s been wonderful to welcome back more people to the Y. After all, that’s what the Y is all about… it’s not the space between the walls, it’s the people in the halls that make the Y a special place in our community. I am hopeful we are on the road back, and want to personally thank all of you for your invaluable support during this trying time. UNITY FOR COMMUNITY This spring, we were thrilled to honor Annual Campaign Update all of our donors and volunteers at On April 14, we held our Annual Campaign Celebration to mark the fundraising our Annual Campaign Celebration and accomplishments toward our 2021 Annual Campaign goal of $1,150,000. Thanks to Volunteer Spirit Awards, which was your generous support of the Y’s mission, we came close to reaching our goal. held as a virtual event. Our donors and volunteers are vital to our organization. As our community looks ahead to recovery following the pandemic, your charitable Your steadfast advocacy of the Y’s gifts are more essential than ever. One hundred percent of your generosity goes mission inspires our work every day. directly to the community in the form of financial assistance for child care and summer camp, mission-based services such as rehabilitation programs for cancer Your continued support of the Y holds patients, enrichment programs for individuals with special needs, career guidance for great promise for the community by the unemployed, food security initiatives, and more. allowing vulnerable neighbors to have access to the resources, relationships We’ve been so inspired by you, our donors, through your expressed passion for and opportunities that allow them to the Y’s mission and the many ways in which you have stepped up to support the thrive. organization and the community. Thank you to all of our donors, including: On behalf of everyone who benefits 188 New donors who contributed to the 2021 Annual Campaign from your generosity, thank you. 319 Chairman’s Roundtable donors who give at a level of $1,000+ Gratefully, 126 Donors who secured employer matching gifts and/or matched the gifts of other donors 22 Donors who donated more than one charitable gift David M. Carcieri President/CEO Your generosity flows through the Y to the community. You provide individuals and families with the support they need to live happy, healthy and fulfilled lives. With your belief in the Y’s mission as our inspiration, we will continue our efforts to meet and exceed our campaign goal to ensure access for all. SELFLESS SPIRIT 2021 VOLUNTEER SPIRIT AWARDS During National Volunteer Month, we proudly presented 22 Volunteer Spirit Awards to individuals and partners who volunteer their time and talent for the benefit of others. The awards recognize volunteers for their commitment, service and leadership toward helping Greater Somerset County YMCA to fulfill its mission of strengthening community. Volunteerism is deeply rooted in the history of the Y, and volunteers remain as important to our organization today as they were in the beginning. Over the past year, we’ve been truly inspired by the valiant contributions of all our volunteers in supporting the Y’s response to the public health and economic crises. From helping with food distribution, to supporting individuals with special needs, to projects that inspire equity and inclusivity, our volunteers help neighbors to thrive and they are shining examples of social responsibility. We are so grateful for all of our donors and volunteers who share a passion for transforming lives and propelling our community forward by investing in our kids, our health and our neighbors. Congratulations to the 2021 Volunteer Spirit Award recipients. YOUTH YOUTH YOUTH ADULT Paige Griggs Victoria Mlynarski Sydney Hayes Janis Goldfeder Swim Team Volunteer Camp & Child Care Volunteer Saturdays in Motion Swim Team Volunteer Volunteer ADULT FAMILY FAMILY ACTIVE OLDER Colleen Ogden Janet & Jesse McCrea Kelly Stoffers & ADULT Gymnastics Team Volunteer Family Peter Caputo Family Jim Richart Food Security & Branch Board Program & Branch Financial Assistance Volunteers Board Volunteers Committee Volunteer Your generous support helps to strengthen community. GROUP GROUP LEADERSHIP LEADERSHIP Somerville YMCA Food Plainfield YMCA Food Donna Nejad John Cassimatis Security Distribution Team Security Distribution Team Food Security & Branch Board Annual Campaign & Branch Food Security Volunteers Food Security Volunteers Volunteer Board Volunteer LIVING OUR CAUSE LIVING OUR CAUSE RAY OF LIGHT RAY OF LIGHT Lisa Wax Joe Antico Charlotte Flower Jenna Langer Togetherhood Committee Branch Board Volunteer Philanthropy Volunteer Philanthropy Volunteer Volunteer RAY OF LIGHT COMMUNITY BOARD LEADERSHIP BOARD LEADERSHIP Rutgers University Student PARTNER Ana Duarte-McCarthy John McManus Athletes Vanas Construction Board of Directors Volunteer Board of Directors Volunteer Saturdays in Motion Facility Development Partner Volunteers PHILANTHROPY LIFETIME TULA Shamala & Rama ACHIEVEMENT RA TIO Ramaprasad Martin Scheidl G N Philanthropy Volunteers Swim Team Volunteer N S O ! C INVESTING IN UNITING NEIGHBORS TRANSFORMING COMMUNITY Shailee’s Story Just before the pandemic began, LIVES Eric’s Story a Little Free Pantry was installed Through the Y’s Adventure at Somerville YMCA on January 1, Through your support of Guides program, Eric has enjoyed 2020. The project was the inspiration the Y, you transform lives opportunities to bond with his two of Shailee - a high school student sons. He credits the program with and dedicated Y volunteer – and it every day. The measure helping him to balance the long hours quickly became a vital resource in the of your impact is best of his demanding job with precious community. The Little Free Pantry, time on weekends with his boys… which is stocked daily by volunteers illustrated in the words camping, enjoying the outdoors, and and available 24/7, offers donated food of those who benefit building friendships with other kids and and necessities. Shailee thought the Y their dads. As a longtime donor, Eric is would be a perfect place for the pantry from the Y’s programs inspired by the impact that the Y has because of the Y’s warm and welcoming and services. not only on his family but also on the environment. community. “The Little Free Pantry strengthens “Adventure Guides is just one of the community by uniting neighbors – many ways that the Y helps to make those in need and those who can give. families and communities stronger. Unlike other food pantries, it levels I’ve always been a fierce advocate the playing field through anonymous for the Y, and have inspired many taking and anonymous giving. Every fellow Adventure Guides families to one approaches the Little Free Pantry also donate. I love the fact that the Y equally – there is no distinction, no is a hyper local organization. I trust judgement, and no shame. It warms the Y to maximize my donation for my heart to see the community come the benefit of our community and to together through a project like this ensure that everyone has the resources to lift people up, especially during a they need. Over the past year, during critical time when so many people are the pandemic, I have been especially struggling with food insecurity.” inspired by the Y’s work. In particular, the Y ensures that local families have access to affordable child care, and the Y has been helping individuals who are facing food insecurity. These are important services. I challenge anyone to find another organization that is this effective at making a difference locally. I know that my donation to the Y is an investment in my community. To me, that is a wise investment!” Your generous support helps to strengthen community. PEACE OF MIND FULL CIRCLE Nichole’s Story Marvin’s Story For many parents and children, the Y’s Academic Support Marvin volunteers for Plainfield YMCA’s food security program. Centers for Remote Learning have been a lifeline. While learning He became involved to help others and, through his experience, remotely is difficult for most children, it’s perhaps especially he found how willing others are to help him. Marvin grew up so for children with special needs. When Nichole chose the Y’s in Plainfield and has lived his life with kidney disease. In April program for her son, Aidan, it put her at ease knowing he was 2019, he became ill and his status quickly went from acute to in an inclusive learning program so she could work with peace chronic. By the end of the year, his illness required him to retire of mind. from his 22-year career as a corrections officer. Giving back feeds Marvin’s soul through the social connections he is making “Trying to work from home full-time and support my son, who with other volunteers who are passionate about making a has special needs, with remote learning was stressful and difference, and the satisfaction of knowing he is helping others frustrating. When Aidan’s school planned to open in the fall who are less fortunate. with remote learning, I knew we would need help but I was worried. Aidan doesn’t adapt to change well. I was concerned “My dialysis treatments made it hard for me to continue about putting him in a new environment and that he might working. So with the time I have not in treatment, I decided not make friends. When I met with the Y staff about the to volunteer because I love humanitarian work. That is when I program for remote learning, I felt so comfortable with the found the Y’s Food Security Program in Plainfield.