MIDDLESEX YMCA

The National Voter Registration Day Team just shared exciting results with 2018 being the BIGGEST National Voter Registration Day EVER with over 800,000 voters registered. In an update email to participating partners across the country, they wrote:

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"We'll be honest, we didn't see this coming. But thanks to 4,087 community partners, 52 premier partners, 10 premier sponsors and THOUSANDS of volunteers across the country - we just pulled off the biggest National Voter Registration Day EVER with over 800,000 voters registered! The field reports from community partners are still coming in, but it's clear that thousands of groups working at colleges, universities, libraries, health centers, bus stops, concerts and more just rocked it! There were on-the-ground National Voter Registration Day events across the country and even in far-flung places like U.S. Virgin Islands, Hawaii, Guam, and American Samoa. We.Were.Everywhere." 

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The Middlesex YMCA was proud to be a part of this important day of action to lift up our democracy and prepare people in our community to participate in the 2018 elections on September 25, 2018. As a cause-driven organization focused on YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY and HEALTHY LIVING, we empowered the people we serve. Y staff and volunteers from the community were available in the lobby from 7:30am - 7:30pm making it easy for members of the Y community to make address updates or register as a new voter. Members on the way to workout, parents dropping off their children for preschool, non-member participants of our Youth Programs and anyone from the community was welcome to register with our volunteers. All are welcome at the YMCA. 

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As you know, the midterms are still over a month away and there are still millions of unregistered voters out there. Let the Y help you! Use this online registration tool to update your information or register as a new voter. 

nationalvoterregistrationday.org/register

The Northern Middlesex YMCA is excited to announce that together the members of the YMCA Community and Business Sponsors raised $26,500 at the September 2018 Sip and Celebrate Fundraising Event at Ingersoll Outdoor Center. All proceeds will directly benefit the Northern Middlesex YMCA’s Annual Campaign which supports high quality programs and services that are so important in closing the achievement gap, nurturing children and teens, improving community health and well-being and supporting those in our community. TOGETHER. Building a Better Community for a Better Us. See below for details about the 2018 Annual Fundraising Campaign. The need in the community is great. The support from the community is much appreciated!

Learn more... https://www.midymca.org/giving

2018 Annual Campaign – Northern Middlesex YMCA

WHAT WE NEED TO FULFILL OUR VISION
Total Need: $314,000
TEEN PROGRAMMING:
• $59,000
KIDS’ KORNER:
• $100,000 – Open Doors Financial Assistance
CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS:
• $100,000 – Scholarships/Financial Assistance
MEMBERSHIP:
• $27,000 - Open Doors Financial Assistance
AQUATICS:
• $8,000 – Open Doors Financial Assistance
MY TIME:
• $20,000 – (Camp Scholarships/Y Membership)
 

The Y is for everyone; no child, family or adult is turned away
because of inability to pay. But, we cannot do it alone. Your generous donation will help to close the achievement gap, empower children & teens to reach their full potential, and improve the community’s health and well-being! Our Annual Campaign Goal is $280,000 – 70% of total need. As a cause-driven organization, the Northern Middlesex YMCA is committed to providing high quality services in the areas of health and wellness, fitness, child care, family enrichment, life skills for teens, aquatics, camping, youth development, adult residence and recreation.  The Y is for everyone: no child, family or adult is turned away because of inability to pay.  In 2017, the Northern Middlesex YMCA provided over $357,000 of financial assistance to our members, with over $329,000 provided directly to 663 youth enrolled in our after school and summer camp programs.  As a result, 488 children were provided an afterschool safe haven for academic support and healthy recreational activities while 175 campers had the opportunity to attend summer camp where they developed self-confidence, self-respect, healthy habits, and leadership skills. 

The Northern Middlesex YMCA is a non-profit organization founded in 1886. The organization currently serves several thousand people in Middlesex County through various programs that encourage youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. A strong community relationship has made it possible for the Northern Middlesex Y to have a significant reach and provide quality service to all regardless of race, creed, gender, sexual orientation or financial status. Learn more at www.midymca.org.

The Northern Middlesex YMCA will hold its “Sip & Celebrate” wine, beer and spirits tasting fundraiser on Saturday, September 8, 2018 (Rain date: September 15, 2018) in Portland, Conn., at YMCA Camp Ingersoll, from 5 PM to 8:30 PM. Tickets are $50 per person and are available for purchase at the Northern Middlesex YMCA or online at www.midymca.org.

All funds raised from this event will benefit the Northern Middlesex YMCA’s Annual Campaign which supports high quality programs and services that are so important in closing the achievement gap, nurturing children and teens, improving community health and well-being and supporting those in our community.

“Liberty Bank is a longstanding supporter of the Middlesex YMCA. Whether it’s educating our youth, providing opportunities for our employees to make a difference, or collaborating to put an end to homelessness, we are proud to help move the YMCA’s mission forward,” said Chandler J. Howard, Liberty Bank President and CEO. “It is our responsibility to partner with the YMCA to ensure local children, and their parents, succeed now and in the future; this plays a major role in the long-term prosperity of our businesses and good quality of life in our communities.”

Liberty Bank, the oldest bank in Connecticut is our top sponsor of this event as well as lead Business Partner.  This event will feature a variety of wine, beer and spirits for tastings, delicious artisan pizza cooked in a wood burning brick oven served with appetizers, salads and dessert, live music by musician Matt Vizzo, a silent auction, a live auction, and a wine pull.

As a cause-driven organization, the Northern Middlesex YMCA is committed to providing high quality services in the areas of health and wellness, fitness, child care, family enrichment, life skills for teens, aquatics, camping, youth development, adult residence and recreation.  The Y is for everyone: no child, family or adult is turned away because of inability to pay.

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The Y is for everyone: no child, family or adult is turned away because of inability to pay.  In 2017, the Northern Middlesex YMCA provided over $357,000 of financial assistance to our members, with over $329,000 provided directly to 663 youth enrolled in our after school and summer camp programs.  As a result, 488 children were provided an afterschool safe haven for academic support and healthy recreational activities while 175 campers had the opportunity to attend summer camp where they developed self-confidence, self-respect, healthy habits, and leadership skills. 

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The Northern Middlesex YMCA is a non-profit organization founded in 1886. The organization currently serves several thousand people in Middlesex County through various programs that encourage youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. A strong community relationship has made it possible for the Northern Middlesex Y to have a significant reach and provide quality service to all regardless of race, creed, gender, sexual orientation or financial status. Learn more at www.midymca.org.

The Northern Middlesex YMCA will hold its “Sip & Celebrate” wine, beer and spirits tasting fundraiser on October 1st  in Portland, Conn., at Camp Ingersoll, from 4 PM to 7 PM. Tickets are $50 per person and are available for purchase at the Northern Middlesex YMCA or online at www.midymca.org.

All funds raised from this event will benefit the Northern Middlesex YMCA Annual Campaign which provides opportunities for: youth to receive academic support and the life-changing experience of our summer day camp, adults and seniors to achieve optimum health and wellness, families living with cancer to receive scholarships for wellness programs and youth development programs, and men with housing opportunities.

“It is our mission to provide high quality programs, services, and facilities that assist youth in developing into responsible adults,  improve individual and family life, and encourage healthier life styles,” says Lori Lodge, Director of Fund Development.  “This is a new event for our YMCA, and we are excited to share the story of the Y’s impact in our local community and how the funds raised from this event will help our guests be a part of that impact.”

NFP, a leading insurance broker and consultant in Middletown is stepping up as Leadership Sponsor for this premier event. This event will feature a variety of wine, beer and spirits for tastings, delicious artisan pizza cooked in a wood burning brick oven, appetizers, salads and dessert, live music by musician Matt Vizzo, a silent auction, a live auction, and a wine pull.

The Northern Middlesex YMCA is committed to providing high quality services in the areas of health and wellness, fitness, child care, family enrichment, life skills for teens, aquatics, camping, youth development, adult residence and recreation.  In 2016, through its fundraising efforts, the Northern Middlesex YMCA enriched the lives of many in our community through a variety of programs. This included providing $148,000 in financial aid to 153 Camp Ingersoll attendees, where they developed self-confidence, self-respect, healthy habits, and leadership skills. It also provided $301,000 in financial aid to help 275 children with a safe after school haven for academic support and healthy recreational activities.

As America’s Swim Instructor, the Y is the most accessible community resource to prevent drowning and encourage a lifelong enjoyment of swimming—teaching more than one million kids a year swimming and water safety skills.

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This year, the Middlesex Y updated its lessons to increase the accessibility and enjoyment of swimming to all ages and skill levels. The latest evolution of Y Swim Lessons accommodates varying abilities to help foster a sense of achievement as swimmers’ progress between levels. Through this approach, advanced swimmers flow more easily to higher levels while swimmers who need more instruction can learn at their own pace. This results in more confident swimmers who stick with lessons and develop a love for swimming that can last a lifetime.

“We want swim lessons to be a rite of passage for ALL children; helping kids stay safe in and around the water while developing a love of swimming,” said Nick Dionne, Aquatics Director, Middlesex YMCA. “Through our latest approach to swim lessons, kids of all ages can progress at their own pace while building the confidence needed to become a successful swimmer

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There are three general categories of Y Swim Lessons

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•        Swim Starters develops water enrichment and aquatic readiness in children ages 6 months to 3 years. This category focuses on developing swim readiness skills through fun and confidence-building experiences. Parents also learn how to supervise children in the water, how to prevent accidents and how to plan for emergencies.

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•        Swim Basics develops personal water safety and basic swimming skills in students of all ages. Swimmers develop a high level of comfort in the water by practicing safe water habits, engaging in underwater exploration, and learning how to swim to safety and exit if they fall into a body of water.

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•        Swim Strokes introduces and refines stroke technique in older students (school age, teens and adults). Having mastered the fundamentals, students learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique, developing skills that prevent chronic disease, increase social-emotional and cognitive well-being and foster a lifetime of physical activity.

The Y introduced the concept of group swim lessons in 1909. Now, each year in more than 2,000 pools across the country, the Y teaches more than a million children from all backgrounds invaluable water safety and swim skills. Here in Middlesex County the Y teaches 1,000 children water safety and swimming each year.

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Families interested in learning more about Y swim lessons and water safety classes should visit www.midymca.org/swim-lessons.

Detroit Pistons’ center, Andre Drummond has planned a visit to Middletown to continue supporting his local community ahead of kids going back to school.

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“We’re very grateful for the opportunity Andre has created for youth in this community. So many of the Andre’s Allstars Scholarship recipients really need a safe space to get away and focus their energy. It’s such an impressionable age, so it’s important that we continue to provide a positive outlet. I think we’re beginning to truly develop future leaders and establishing a sense of community for the youth here at the Middlesex Y,” says Craig Chivers, Teen Coordinator, Middlesex YMCA.

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Drummond’s previous donations of $10,000 to the Middlesex YMCA have funded Andre’s Allstars, a program open to youth over the age of 12 which currently provides support to over 30 participants. All participants receive a complimentary membership and academic support with tutoring sessions on Tuesday evenings, during the school year, through a partnership with Wesleyan University Volunteer Tutors. The funding has also provided an opportunity for additional programming such as basketball skill clinics and S.T.O.R.M.Y Nights (Spend Time Out Relaxing at the Middlesex Y), a program designed to bring middle school kids into the Y for supervised activities on select Fridays. Many Andre’s Allstars scholarship recipients have also participated in this summer’s youth basketball league.

Andre will be visiting the Middlesex YMCA with Mike Boornazian on Friday, August 18, 2016 from 6:00pm-8:00pm. The first 300 children in attendance will receive a backpack with school supplies. The first 100 children will also receive an autographed basketball. This event is open to the public.

A group of volunteers has dedicated hours to improving the outward appearance of the Middlesex Y.  

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The Garden Committee, a group of approximately 15 volunteers, began meeting in March to plan the transformation of the Y’s exterior. A major focal point of the makeover was the garden located at the corner of Union and Crescent Street. The Garden Committee sought out to make the space a place member and staff enjoyed taking a break.

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“The generosity of The Home Depot really helped make the committee’s vision a reality. I think it would be accurate to say that the garden wouldn’t look as beautiful without The Home Depot,” says A0A & Volunteer Coordinator Cindy Sullivan. “Everyone did a really great job. The Y is so thankful for our wonderful volunteers and donors!”

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The Home Depot located on Washington Street in Middletown, donated all of the annuals in bloom, small planters, large planters, several bags of soil, mulch, and pavers.

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Many Garden Committee members are members of the AOA Committee. The Active Older Adult Committee is a volunteer group that helps organize social and Annual Campaign fundraising events throughout the year. Annual events organized by the group include the Mother's Day Plant Sale and quarterly Pot Luck Lunches. ​

The Middlesex YMCA will host Water Safety & Splash Week to share facts about water safety and provide insight on the benefits of the improved Y swim lesson program.

“At the Y, swimming is a life skill. Our swim lessons prepare kids of all ages to stay safe and have fun in the water, building strong swimmers and confident kids. We are beginning to implement our new swim lesson program. This summer we will feature new techniques that place greater emphasis on life saving skills like swim, float, swim,” explains Nick Dionne, Aquatics Director.

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Water Safety and Splash Week will include the sharing of informative statistics, safety tips, prize drawings and a Swim Lesson Open House. Participants can support teaching the lifesaving skill of swimming by making donations throughout the week to the Y’s Learn to Swim Program. This program focuses on providing swim lesson scholarships with an emphasis on African American, Hispanic/Latino, and low income children in the community. With the help of community partners the Middlesex YMCA was able to offer 240 free swim lessons to children from Wharfside Commons in 2016.

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The Swim Lesson Open House will take place Thursday, June 22, 2017 from 5:30-7:00pm at the Middlesex YMCA in Middletown. The open, free event will be a great opportunity to learn about the Y's improved swim program, meet swim instructors, ask questions, enjoy family swim and have children participate in safe swim stations in the pool.

This year’s Middlesex YMCA Annual Meeting will focus on generations of impact with awards being presented to five community members.

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“The Y is a great resource for the community but so many of our successes are linked to the endless work of people like our five Y Community Impact Award recipients. It’s so important to recognize other community partners that act as an asset to us time and time again,” says Michele Rulnick, Middlesex YMCA President/CEO.

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The 2016 Annual Meeting’s agenda includes a peak into the Middlesex Y’s past, the organization’s business meeting, and a presentation of awards. The For a Better Us – Community Impact Award is presented to individuals or companies within our community that have gone above and beyond to make a positive impact on our community in 2016. Recipients include:

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Justin Carbonella, Youth Services Director, Middletown Youth Service Bureau - Justin is a strong advocate for Middletown youth working to improve lives and youth services through Juvenile Justice, behavioral mental health, leadership and developmental assets.  He is a valuable community partner, working together with the Y and others to support positive youth development in our community.

Theresa Cleary, Camp Volunteer - Theresa has been instrumental in providing campers the opportunity to experience first hand how vegetables are grown and their wonderful, fresh flavor by planting and maintaining the vegetable gardens at camp for the past 5 years.   

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Tyler Gerry, Owner, Torrison Stone & Garden - Visit the Henry Coe Amphitheater at Camp Ingersoll and you will experience Tyler's generosity and inspiration.  Tyler and his company designed, built and donated materials for the flag area, fire pit, inspiration and recognition circles.

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The Building a Better Us – Y Community Impact Award is presented to staff and/or volunteers who have exceeded the requirements of their job to positively impact the YMCA in 2016. Recipients include:

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Ulysses Fordham, Engineering Custodian - Ulysses exemplifies the definition of a Y employee by reaching beyond his job title to work with teens that spend time on the basketball courts after his shift.

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Trisha Franklin, Preschool Teacher - Trisha has emerged as a leader among her peers having nurtured and taught nearly one thousand children during her time at the Y.

The Middlesex YMCA is turning over a new leaf with youth in the community. The organization is focusing on targeting teens with a series of events and a newly appointed Teen Coordinator.

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The Y’s first teen event of the year, Y.N.O.T (The Y Nurtures our Teens) Chill, was held on Saturday, March 25th with 53 teens in attendance. Students from Middletown High, Vinal Tech and Xavier were asked to sign in and share insight on their areas of interest upon arrival. Attendees had the option to use the pool or hit the gym for music, dancing, basketball, and food.

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“It was exciting to see so many teens in the building having a good time. We're looking forward to our next events and learning more about ways to engage our youth. Two of our immediate goals are to really encourage academic success and zero in on developing leadership among our youth,” says Craig Chivers, Teen Coordinator.

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In the coming weeks the Middlesex YMCA will work to create a teen volunteer group and will be hosting a range of free programs for youth. Students are welcome to visit the Youth Center for homework help on Tuesdays from 6-8pm. Hot TopYc, a women supervised and facilitated group for high school girls to have a fun, safe and confidential space is also held on Tuesday evenings 6:15pm-7:15pm and will help develop life skills and gain access to the resources necessary for positive developmental growth. The next Y.N.O.T Chill High School Mixer is scheduled for Saturday, April 29th from 7-10pm. The night will feature music, games, snacks, and friends from local and surrounding high schools. Dodgeball will be held in the racquet ball courts 7:00-8:30pm and a Dance Party will be in the gym 8:00-10:00pm with snacks for $1.

On Saturday, April 29, 2017 the Middlesex YMCA is holding a free community event to inspire more kids to keep their minds and bodies active at the annual YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day®, the Y’s national initiative to improve health and well-being for kids and families.  The day-long event features activities such as: games, healthy snacks, family fitness, crafts, STEM activities and more to motivate and teach families how to develop healthy routines at home.

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YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day, celebrated at over 1,600 Ys across the country by over 1.2 million participants, works to get more kids moving and learning, creating habits that they continue all summer long.  When kids are out of school, they can face hurdles that prevent them from reaching their full potential. Research shows that without access to out-of-school learning activities, kids fall behind academically – this summer learning loss is more pronounced among students from low-income families. Kids also gain weight twice as fast during summer than the school year. As spring turns to summer, Healthy Kids Day is a powerful reminder not to let children idle away their summer days. Instead, the Y wants families to focus on “charging” kids up with enthusiasm for themselves and their potential.

“When a child is healthy, happy motivated, and excited something amazing is inevitably going to result. We believe in the potential of all children, and we strive to help kids find that potential within themselves. A child’s development is never on vacation and Healthy Kids Day is a great opportunity to educate families and motivate kids to stay active in spirit, mind and body throughout the summer,” says Ben Silliman, YMCA Camp Ingersoll Director, Middlesex YMCA.

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In celebration of YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day, the Y offers the following tips to help families develop healthy habits:

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•        High Five the Fruits and Veggies – Make sure kids get at least five servings a day, the minimum number nutritionists recommend to maintain healthy childhood development. And to keep kids’ taste buds evolving, have everyone in the family try at least one bite of a new fruit or vegetable at least once a month.

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•        Foster an Early and Ongoing Passion for Books – Read to and with your kids. Help children read at every age and every stage of their development.

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•        Team Up for Athletic Events – Set a family goal of great health by teaming up for community or charity events like races, walks, fun runs, bike rides, etc.

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•        Volunteer Together – Find a cause that matters to the kids. Open their eyes to a world beyond themselves and the rich rewards that come from making a difference.

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•        Make sleep a priority – Doctors recommend 10-12 hours of sleep a day for children ages 5-12 and 7-8 hours per night for adults. Sleep plays a critical role in maintaining our healthy immune system, metabolism, mood, memory, learning and other vital functions.

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The Middlesex YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day takes place at Camp Ingersoll, 94 Camp Ingersoll Rd., Portland, CT from 3:00-7:30pm and features fun, active play and educational activities. All kids deserve the best summer ever, and Delta is proud to be the national sponsor of Healthy Kids Day, which kicks off a healthy, active and engaged summer for kids throughout the country. Locally, Healthy Kids Day is sponsored by Macaroni Kid, Vinnie’s Jump & Jive, Town of Portland Parks and Recreation, Indian Springs Gold, Snap Fitness and Zah’s Water Sports.

Staff and members spent the week sharing stories of impact and collecting donations following the Y’s kickoff event that included personal impact stories from members and a video message from Mayor Dan Drew.

“Every day, our community faces new challenges that create a greater need for the work we do. YMCA donors, volunteers, members, and partners are what really make the difference. A gift, of any size can help greater Middlesex County and everyone in it shine,” says Lori Lodge, Director of Development.

The internal campaign known as Togetherhood Week is all about members jump starting the giving for the 2017 Annual Campaign. March 20th-26th Middlesex Y staff encouraged members to Share the Love and give back to the great cause of creating a better us. Members had the option of giving in person, online, or in the form of purchasing baked goods throughout the weekend. Members also had the choice of receiving Y gifts such as a fleece blanket, t-shirt, or tote bag for their donations.

In the end a total of $12,537 was raised as result of everyone’s dedication to sharing the love of the Y, its programs, and impact. The successful week’s total far exceeded the initial goal of $6,000 for the week. Over $400 of the total was raised at the Active Older Adult sponsored bake sale. All goods were donated by members and local businesses such as Kim's Cottage Confections of Durham and Stop & Shop of Middletown.

Although Togetherhood Week is over there are so many ways to continue to Share the Love. In-kind donations, volunteering, and attending events are great ways to continue to support our community in 2017. More information about ways to give or community and fundraising events can be found online at www.midymca.org.

Staff, board, and volunteers gathered in preparation for the Middlesex YMCA Annual Campaign ahead of Togetherhood Week.

“Every day, our community faces new challenges that create a greater need for the work we do. YMCA donors, volunteers, members, and partners are what really make the difference. A gift, of any size can help greater Middlesex County and everyone in it shine. Last year the Middlesex YMCA was able to provide over $500,000 in financial assistance for memberships and various programs. Grants, corporate, community and individual donors made this happen,” added Lori Lodge, Director of Development.

This year’s campaign kickoff was held at Middlesex Community College. The night’s events included a video message from Mayor Dan Drew, words on the Y’s impact from a former Kids’ Korner participant, who now works in the program. Her proud mother Rachel, detailed how vital the program was to her family’s growth and success. “I was able to go back to school and role model for my kids how important education is. How important relationships are,” shared Rachel Kurek. The night concluded with a video highlighting the Y’s My Time Program which serves families affected by cancer and a reminder that Togetherhood Week begins Monday, March 20th.

Togetherhood Week is all about members jump starting the giving for the 2017 Annual Campaign. March 20th-26th the Middlesex Y is encouraging everyone to Share the Love and give back to the great cause of creating a better us. Members can stop by the welcome center during the day all week to pledge any amount toward the Annual Campaign. Members are also welcome to purchase baked goods on Saturday and Sunday in the lobby.

The Middlesex YMCA has partnered with Connecticut Parkinson’s Working Group and the Middletown Senior Center to offer a series of classes for those with Parkinson’s to improve mobility, balance, and quality of life.

“These classes are filled with the moan of hard work and the roar with excitement of a job well done!” explains Kitch Czernicki, Water Exercise Coordinator & Get Tough instructor.

The class titled “Get Tough” is being offered at the Middletown Senior Center on Durant Street, Thursdays from 1:30pm-2:30p. The Middlesex YMCA also offers a long running Parkinson’s class on Tuesdays, at the Senior Center. Both classes are structured to include movement, vocalization, and socialization components. “Get Tough” includes quick boxing moves, weighted workout and a thorough cool down. The class is open to any individual with or without Parkinson’s. Participants can register through the Middletown Senior Center. For any additional information about the class please contact Kitch Czernicki at kitczernicki@midymca.org or Emily Randall, YMCA Healthy Lifestyle Director at 860-346- 6240.

Participants learn Thriller dance as fundraiser for YMCA Diabetes Wellness Program.

$5000 grant from the Joey Logano Charitable Fund received.

Middlesex Y dedicates week to water safety.

Recent grant award allows Y to expand My Time Scholarship Program.

Local Y community gathers to review its impact and honor community partners.

Winning fan votes could mean $25,000 for his hometown YMCA.

Middlesex YMCA and Camp Ingersoll provide active family fun in the outdoors this spring.

Donors celebrate the start of a life-changing fundraising season.

Volunteers take the plunge to send children to summer camp.