CRANSTON, RI – The Greater Providence YMCA today announced the completion of facility renovations at the organization’s Cranston-based branch. The renovations mark the most recent investment in the Park Avenue location since 2014. 

“Part of what has empowered the Y to continue to be a lifeline of support and engagement in the communities they serve for well over a century is its ability and commitment to adapt to the evolving needs of the populations we serve,” said Karen Santilli, CEO, Greater Providence YMCA. “Just as – if not as important – as the programming itself is the quality and accessibility of the physical space we provide our member community for each branch location. We’re excited to bring these long needed improvements to the Cranston YMCA and its membership.” 

The expansive improvements were completed over twelve weeks. Renovations include all new flooring throughout the first floor and teen center, new furniture, fixtures, and paint throughout the lobby and entryway, as well as modernized bathrooms.

Established in 1936, the Cranston branch serves 4,949 members and provides 295,492 in programming and support to the surrounding community. The branch officially opened the renovated spaces to the public in April.

“We’ve already seen a positive impact in the dynamic of the branch’s operation with these renovations,” said Emely Castro, Executive Director, Cranston YMCA. “Our team looks forward to using this as an opportunity to reintroduce ourselves to the Cranston community at large to demonstrate how we can inclusively meet the needs of all individuals and families.”

About GPYMCA
GPYMCA includes six branch locations across Rhode Island and in Seekonk, Massachusetts, plus Providence Youth Services, Camp Fuller, and the Shooting Stars School of Dance in Seekonk. The organization provides programs for Rhode Islanders and Massachusetts residents of all ages and supports equitable access to health, fitness, recreational, and other services. In addition, GPYMCA supports high-quality out-of-school time programs and other community-based approaches to delivering health and wellness opportunities, academic enrichment and achievement, and youth development skills.

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Media Contact, for YMCA of Greater Providence
Hillary Lima, Half Street Group
401.585.4286 | hillary@halfstreetgroup.com 

PROVIDENCE, RI – The East Side/Mt. Hope YMCA held Safety Around Water Day in recognition of Water Safety Month. The event included opportunities for attendees to participate in water and land-based training sessions on water safety. The program equips kids and their families with critical life skills that encourage safety and help them to be confident in and around water.

The Y introduced the country to group swim lessons over 110 years ago in 1909. Now, as one of the largest community-based organizations in the country, they teach more than a million children, especially those most at risk of drowning, invaluable water safety and swimming skills each year.

“As I visit our branches and meet more and more members, I often hear that for many of them, swimming was what introduced them to the Greater Providence Y community,” said Karen Santilli, CEO, Greater Providence YMCA. “Our Association is proud to be a state leader in promoting accessible swim programming that promotes safety and healthy childhood development. Thank you to our supporters, especially Senator Jack Reed, Stages of Freedom, the Papitto Foundation, and Bank Newport, for sponsoring these critical services.”

3 in 10 parents report not prioritizing swim lessons or water safety with their child due to cost. This year, the Greater Providence Y is proud to offer this event free to the public with the support of Bank Newport.

About the Greater Providence YMCA
GPYMCA includes six branch locations across Rhode Island and in Seekonk, Massachusetts, plus Providence Youth Services, Camp Fuller, and the Shooting Stars School of Dance in Seekonk. The organization provides programs for Rhode Islanders and Massachusetts residents of all ages and supports equitable access to health, fitness, recreational, and other services. In addition, GPYMCA supports high-quality out-of-school time programs and other community-based approaches to delivering health and wellness opportunities, academic enrichment and achievement, and youth development skills.

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Media Contact

Hillary Lima (Half Street Group)

hillary@halfstreetgroup.com | 401.585.4286

PROVIDENCE, RI – The Greater Providence YMCA (GPYMCA) held its annual Y Heroes Celebration this morning. The annual event honors individuals and organizations who have made an outstanding commitment to the mission of the GPYMCA.

Funds raised through Y Heroes will support the GPYMCA’s community programming, which includes childcare, financial assistance for neighbors in need, swim lessons, lifeguard training, food inequity programs, and youth enrichment programs.

“I am incredibly grateful to our 2024 Y Heroes for their unwavering commitment to the GPYMCA. Since joining the GPYMCA as CEO in March, I have had the opportunity to meet many incredible individuals who make up the GPYMCA community. Our amazing executive directors, staff, partners, camp counselors, dedicated members, swim instructors, and committed donors have made the GPYMCA one of the region’s most impactful and essential community pillars. It is clear to me that the GPYMCA is filled with heroes dedicated to our mission,” said Karen Santilli, CEO of the Greater Providence YMCA. “This year’s slate of honorees fully embodies our core value that The Y is an organization for everyone. We’re here for the entire community, from childcare and before and after school programming to dance classes, swim lessons, healthy aging, and summer camp.”

2024 Y Heroes Honorees (In alphabetical order);

• Helena Buonanno Foulkes, long time supporter of the GPYMCA
• New England Laborers Training Academy, led by Dan Bianco, Michael Sabitoni, and Jay Sabitoni
• Ray Rickman, Executive Director, Stages of Freedom
• Steven G. O’Donnell, former CEO of the GPYMCA
• University of Rhode Island Greek Life, led by Nathan Goulart and Victoria Johnson

Established by former CEO Steven O’Donnell, the GPYMCA’s Y Heroes Celebration has been recognizing the community contributions of individuals and organizations since 2017.

GPYMCA includes six branch locations across Rhode Island and in Seekonk, Massachusetts, plus Providence Youth Services, Camp Fuller, and the Shooting Stars School of Dance in Seekonk. The organization provides programs for Rhode Islanders and Massachusetts residents of all ages and supports equitable access to health, fitness, recreational, and other services. In addition, GPYMCA supports high-quality out-of-school time programs and other community-based approaches to delivering health and wellness opportunities, academic enrichment and achievement, and youth development skills.

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Media Contact

Elisabeth Wales (Half Street Group)

elisabeth@halfstreetgroup.com | 401.406.0883

Did you see YMCA’s Steve O’Donnell and Kobi Dennis on WPRI’s The Rhode Home? Check out the segment below:

Click here to watch the segment

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Thousands of toys were distributed to local families Tuesday at the YMCA of Greater Providence’s annual holiday drive.

YMCA CEO Steven O’Donnell said they expect 10,000 to 15,000 toys to be given away. As of 11 a.m., about 500 cars showed up at the toy drive.

Residents can pull up in their car to 21 Peace Street, tell the workers and volunteers what kinds of toys they need, and the team will gather the toys and brings them out to the car.

O’Donnell said it’s important to make sure every child has a gift to open on Christmas.

“There is nothing better than watching a kid smile and recognize that they got something because they might not have an opportunity to get something for no fault of their own,” he said.

The toys are donations from across Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The drive will be running all day until the toys run out.

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WARWICK, R.I. – The Kent County YMCA had its Golf Tournament on September 26th, 2022. View pictures from the event below:
 

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — More than 285 dancers graced the Providence Performing Arts Center stage in celebration of the 12th annual Shooting Stars School of Dance recital Saturday, June 19th.

The program came to fruition more than 12 years ago after Newman YMCA Director of Arts and Humanities Ashlee Bourque asked her bosses at the YMCA to teach dance classes to earn internship credits back when she was a student at Dean College. “I started the dance program over 12 years ago to earn enough hours for my internship and the program became so popular that my boss at the time asked if I can make enough to support my salary, I would be offered a full-time position,” said Bourque. “The June show was planned back in October 2020, before I went on maternity leave.”

“The program started out in high schools and moved to the Park Theatre in Cranston,” said Paula Roy, Operations Director at the Newman YMCA in Seekonk. “With COVID, we ended up having it at the Newman YMCA gymnasium in Seekonk. This year, securing it in Providence Performing Arts Center was huge! The dancers and families were excited.”

According to Roy, the first show had more than 600 people and the second show had more than 300 in attendance. “Pre-Covid, we sold more than 1,200 tickets,” said Roy. “We didn’t have as many dancers participating in the show as before Coronavirus.”

Despite the pandemic, this year’s show was able to showcase the amazing strength, resilience and passion of all of the dancers, staff and families. “I’m just super grateful to the families and proud of the dedication of the dancers. It was a strange year for all of them to continue to stick it out,” said Bourque.

For Roy, the most exciting part of this year’s recital was witnessing the jubilant facial expressions of the dancers and their families. “Being at PPAC for the girls was the most exciting part of the recital,” Roy said. “Coming out of Covid and dancing at PPAC was special. I heard one of the girls say, ‘I couldn’t believe I was dancing on the same stage other famous dancers were on.”

According to the Shooting Stars School of Dance Facebook page, dance classes are offered for toddlers up to adults for beginners through advanced, and in a variety of different genres. The program was originally designed to help teach children to dance, build confidence, establish proper dance techniques and maintain a healthy lifestyle through physical movement, while focusing on the YMCA values: Respect, Responsibility, Caring and Honesty.

Bourque tries to incorporate some dancing techniques that she learned after several years of experience as a cheerleader for the New England Patriots into her own dance school. “Any time you work for any other organization, you’re learning and growing as an individual. If anything, the experience working as a cheerleader for the New England Patriots helped me grow professionally on a more individual level and I was able to bring that to my dancers.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Greater Providence YMCA has partnered with Winn Residential Company for an initiative that would help serve 35 families in the Wiggins Village apartment complex with tablets and other important resources to help bridge the gap of education.

The program will provide 35 tablets for senior citizens in the Wiggins Village apartment complex located in the heart of the West End of Providence. The program also includes a translator, a program coordinator who will offer weekly office hours and coordinate weekly group meetings to review the best practices for usage of the tablets, hand sanitizers and PPE. There will be Wi-Fi hot spots, however, some residents will require a viable internet connection.

Dwayne Keys, the Chairperson of the South Providence Neighborhood Association is happy this is happening and has spoken out about the resources many communities of color lack. “I love it,” Keys said. “I’m so glad to hear that is happening. Given the digital divide we’ve been talking about since the late 90’s when the internet first became mainstream, we’ve always had historically excluded groups such as communities of color. We’ve also had low-to-moderate income families, families such as those who live in Wiggins Village and first time English language-learners who’ve just been left out. It is simple, easy and will provide other computer amenities that those who can afford a desktop or laptop can do.”

The families selected primarily consist of low-income families of grandparents ages 60 and older who live with adults and children or care for a K-12 student relative. With a population of approximately 92 seniors, the senior and family population in Wiggins Village makes up 98 percent Latino and African-Americans; many of those have struggled due to a lack of resources and financial support.

“The Greater Providence YMCA is continuing to “pivot” our resources to assist those most in need,” said Greater Providence YMCA CEO Steve O’Donnell. “In conjunction with the Office of Healthy Aging, we will be providing tablets to assist parents and grandparents who are caregivers to children for distance learning in both Spanish & English. This is community work at its finest!”

“The YMCA of Greater Providence is outstanding. The work that they’re doing is fantastic,” said Wayne Montague, Director of Community Relations at Winn Residential Company. I thank CEO Steve O’Donnell, Kobi Dennis [Director of Equity and Inclusion] for the great work they’re doing, and everyone who works for the YMCA because it’s a team effort. Before, during and coming out of the pandemic, they’ve done great things.”

“Think of how today people have to apply for jobs online, think of how so many of our everyday transactions and things we do are being moved online because it’s easier and it’s cheaper,” said Keys. “Not if you don’t have devices such as a tablet to do them.”

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NEWMAN YMCA’S SHOOTING STARS SCHOOL OF DANCE WINS BIG

THE STUDIO TOOK HOME VARIOUS OVERALL & HIGH SCORE AWARDS

SPRINGFIELD, MA – February 15, 2020 – The Newman YMCA’s Shooting Stars School of Dance enjoyed their second optional solo competition of the season at Breakout Regional Dance Competition in Springfield, Massachusetts on February 15 and 16, taking home several high score winnings.

Junior soloist, Delainey Pari, finished the night with an opening number invitation, an “Outstanding Emotional Execution Award,” a Platinum Plus score, first overall in the Jazz category for her age, and 5th overall Junior advanced soloist.

11th-year student and current senior soloist, Sydney Mello, scored two Platinum awards and 4th overall Senior advanced soloist, against fierce competitors. While teen soloist Delaney Kotch finished up with a Platinum score and 8th overall teen soloist.

Several other students rounded out the weekend with Platinum scores and special awards such as the “Silky Smooth Special Award”, and the “Star Quality Award”.

“I am extremely proud of the students who attended this competition, as this was an optional competition for our soloists, and these dancers remain consistently dedicated to getting on the stage as much as possible,” said Ashlee Bourque-Tinkham, Director of Shooting Stars School of Dance. “We have many more competitions to attend this season and we are off to a fabulous start, thanks to the dedication of all of our dancers,” said Bourque-Tinkham.

Shooting Stars will be attending five more competitive events between February through July. Learn more about upcoming events, or how to register your child for dance lessons by visiting the Shooting Stars Facebook page.

About the Newman YMCA

The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility with a mission of nurturing the potential of children and families, improving the nation’s health and well-being, and providing opportunities to give back and support neighbors. The Y has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but also deliver, lasting personal and social change. Learn more at https://ymcagreaterprovidence.org.

Connect with the YMCA of Greater Providence on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn.