To Our Y Family,
It’s been a busy, productive, and profitable summer! We continue to see significant gains year-over-year across our four key categories. Membership is up +5% year over year in an industry that, as a whole, has seen a record number of competitors enter the marketplace driven primarily by the rise of on-demand and virtual workouts. Water safety enrollment jumped +20% year over year. Our highly popular summer camps continued to deliver accelerated growth at +4.7% year over year and we’re still hearing rave reviews from children and caretakers. Before and After School Programs registrations are also up +9% year over year. Over the summer, we invested heavily in understanding the needs of our families. With a heightened focus on social-emotional development, we expanded our childcare teams with the addition of a Behavioral Specialist at several locations. In fact, registration is still open.
Since December 2016, overall debt is down 55%. Our steadfast mission to revitalize the Y and invest in our facilities has never been stronger with the completion of several major enhancements this past quarter bringing the total enhancement value close to $4 million dollars since January 2017.
As we move into the holiday season, we’re on a dedicated mission to help reduce the summer learning gap by sending 400 children to our life-changing summer camps. $250 will send one child to one week of camp. When you give to the Y, you’re helping us all move forward. Thank you for your continued support.
With Dignity and Respect,
Steven G. O’Donnell
YMCA OF GREATER PROVIDENCE RAISES OVER $130,000 TO SUPPORT CHILDREN & FAMILIES IN NEED
For the third year in a row, the Y’s annual golf tournament has raised over $130,000 to benefit children and families in need throughout Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. Proceeds from this year’s tournament will go directly to supporting the Y’s financial assistance program, which provides free access to valuable programs such as free memberships, swim lessons, camp scholarships, weight loss classes, and other life-changing programs.
“Our annual golf tournament is one of the most important ways we give back to children and families throughout our seven locations,” said Steven G. O’Donnell, CEO, YMCA of Greater Providence. “This tournament continues to grow each year as a result of our generous community partners like Thomas C. Slater Compassion Center, Inc. and East Commerce Solutions. Everything the Y does is in service of making us— as individuals and a community—better. As Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusett’s leading Y provider, we give over $1.5 million in financial assistance to those who need it most.”
175 golfers traveled from as far as Wisconsin to brave the windy conditions of the Alpine Country Club in Cranston, RI, on Monday, October 7. Coming in at -16 under par were golf veterans Pat Canning, Bed Chatfield, Mark Flaherty, and Frank DeLeo. Other special guests included: two-time Olympic Medalist and current Cast Member of CBS’s Survivor, Island of the Idols, Elizabeth Beisel; Joe Andruzzi, Former New England Patriots’ three-time Super Bowl-winning offensive guard; Yianni Kourakis, award-winning Sports Director for WPRI 12 and FOX Providence; and Andy Gresh, Host of The Gresh Show, WPRO 99/7FM/630AM. Other notable guests and golfers included Nicholas A. Mattiello, Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives; Charles A. Lombardi, Mayor of North Providence; Richard Fossa, Former Mayor of North Providence; and other State Representatives.
Thank you to all golfers and sponsors who supported this special event, especially our Premier Sponsor, Thomas C. Slater Compassion Center, Inc., and to all of our incredibly generous Sponsors.
CYCLE FOR YOUR CAUSE
OCT. 19 @ BAYSIDE FAMILY YMCA
Join the Bayside Family YMCA on Saturday, October 19 from 12-3PM for their annual indoor cycle-a-thon designed to support children and families in need so they can experience the Y’s life-changing programs and services. Open to all ages and abilities for both Y members and non-Y members. Teams now forming.
HALLOWEEN BOWL-A-THON
OCT. 26 @ LANG’S BOWLARAMA
Join this year’s spookiest Bowl-a-thon ever! Providence Youth Services, Cranston YMCA, and East Side/Mount Hope YMCA are joining forces to raise funds to support their financial assistance program so that families in need can have access to the Y’s transformative programs. Open to all ages and abilities. Costume contest, prizes, food, drink and more! Wrangle your team of five to secure a lane at Lang’s Bowlarama.
SWIM WITH THE PUMPKINS & TRUNK OR TREAT
Calling all ghouls and goblins! We’re filling up our pools with hundreds of inflatable pumpkins so you can enjoy some early Halloween fun! Don’t forget to wear your costumes for our annual Trunk or Treat event too! Dates and times vary by location. Contact your local Y for details.
SWING DANCE
NOV. 2
Dance the night away with the highly popular New Providence Big Band at the Rhode Island Country Club in Barrington on Saturday, November 2 from 7-10PM. Ticket proceeds benefit families in need at the Bayside Family YMCA. $40 for individuals and $75 per couple. Tickets include: live music, dance lessons, food, and cash bar.
WELCOME NEW Y BOARD MEMBERS
- Michael Busam
- Pamela Hanson Carbone
- John Harkey
- Stephen Hug
- Carmen Sharp
- Grace Swinski
RHODE ISLAND’S FIRST ADAPTIVE GYM
In July, The Gary Tiger Balletto Foundation in partnership with the Y opened Rhode Island’s first adaptive gym at the Cranston YMCA. This uniquely designed gym is situated within the main exercise space, where dedicated, specially-trained YMCA staff are available to assist clients so they can safely and effectively use the equipment. This allows people of all abilities to be surrounded by friends, family, and peers, in a context where all can interact, assist, and enjoy working out together.
This new adaptive gym will offer:
- Individualized Fitness Plans
- Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES)
- Standing Frames
- Adaptive Cardio Equipment
- Adaptive Strength Machines
- Galileo Tilt Table
- Personal Training
POWER LUNCHES BY NATIONAL GRID OFFERS FREE LUNCHES FOR SENIORS
By popular demand the Power Lunch program at the Cranston Y, sponsored by National Grid, BankRI, and Blackstone Health, will continue through the end of October. Seniors 60+, who may find themselves increasingly isolated, the Power Lunch program provides a wonderful opportunity to get together in a comfortable setting to share stories, good times, and a delicious meal. National Grid will also be onsite to share helpful resources on how to find everyday energy savings around the home. Power Lunches is offered Wednesdays and Fridays from 12-3:30PM. Call 401-943-0444 to reserve your FREE spot. Limited seating.
NEW LOCATIONS! SHOOTING STARS SCHOOL OF DANCE
Shooting Stars School of Dance is now offering classes in four convenient locations throughout Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. Classes are offered for toddlers through adult, for beginners through advanced, and in a variety of different genres: Irish Step, ballet, lyrical, tap, hip-hop, musical theater, jazz, acro/cheer, ballroom and more! Locations: Cranston YMCA, East Side/Mount Hope YMCA, Kent County YMCA, and Newman YMCA. Call your local Y for registration details or visit: gpymca.org/locations.