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COMMUNITY

NEWS WHAT’S NEW AND EXCITING AT THE STATEN ISLAND YMCA

IN THIS ISSUE

Staten Islanders Score a Hole-In-

One for Local Kids and Families

A Treasure Trove of New Classes

at the Staten Island Y

SI YMCA and New York Life

Partner to Bring Holiday Cheer

A Celebration of Recovery

Lights! Camera! Action! At Y After

School

Recognizing Our Volunteers

From Planting to Harvesting:

PS 39 Teaching Gardens

Photo Collage: Kids Celebrate the

Holidays at the Staten Island

YMCA!

Become a Y Champion

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with anyone who you think may

find it useful.

QUESTIONS,

COMMENTS, IDEAS?

Contact Andrea Ganzman,

the editor, at

aganzman@ymcanyc.org.

Staten Island YMCA

3939 Richmond Avenue

Winter 2014

ymcanyc.org/statenisland

The Staten Island YMCA 2013 Golf Outing raised funds for the YMCA’s Annual Campaign. Attending from left are: John Semerad, executive director of the Staten Island South Shore YMCA; Anita Harvey, senior executive director of the Staten Island YMCA, Victor Vientos, Golf Outing Co-Chair, and Jack Lund, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater New York.

STATEN ISLANDERS SCORE A

HOLE-IN-ONE FOR LOCAL KIDS AND FAMILIES

Golf for good was the theme of the Staten Island YMCA

2013 Golf Outing, held October 7 at Silver Lake Golf

Course. More than 100 golfers turned out to support

the Y’s Annual Campaign, and braved the rain to help

support local children and families.

All proceeds from the event benefit the Staten Island

YMCA’s Annual Campaign, which ensures that no one is

turned away from the Y’s services due to an inability to

pay.

Following golf, attendees enjoyed dinner at the Staaten.

The chairs of this year’s event were Dan Bilotti and Victor Vientos.

More than 100 golfers participated in the Staten Island YMCA 2013 Golf Outing at Silver Lake Golf Course.

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A TREASURE TROVE OF NEW

CLASSES AT THE STATEN ISLAND Y

This is an exciting winter at the Staten Island Y! Starting in January, we will

be offering a slew of new classes for kids, teens and adults. Here’s just a

sneak peak at what we have to offer.

South Shore YMCA

Ballet N Tone — This dance and fitness class mixes classical ballet

moves with Pilates, contemporary dance, yoga, body

conditioning and other disciplines to tone and sculpt the body.

Individualized TRX Suspension Training — Train with a

TRX Certified Personal Trainer during this workout that

leverages gravity and body weight to perform exercises for a

fast and effective total-body workout.

Creation Station — Kids can have fun creating art projects

using different mediums and materials in this new class.

My Little Academy — This creative class is for children

who have achieved independence in our socialization program

and features enriched activities with hands-on learning.

Little Hikes and Little Pucks — These two new youth

programs introduce kids to flag football and hockey. The

programs are designed to help your children learn teamwork

and gain a love of sports.

Lifeguard Preparation — For youth and teens interested in

becoming a lifeguard comes this new class, which will further

their swimming skills while working on lifeguard prerequisites.

Broadway YMCA

TRX Group Training — Build a rock solid core and increase your

muscular endurance during this group class that runs in 4-week

sessions. You’ll be at the top of your game in no time!

Beginner Latin Dance — This new class, led by instructor

David, will teach you the basics of Salsa and other popular

dances.

Pre-School Soccer — A popular sport for young children,

soccer involves running and kicking, as well as eye and foot

coordination. It holds a young child’s interest and provides a

lot of fun.

Mini Scientists — This class provides hands-on

exploration of the wonders of science. Experiments,

fascinating discoveries and real learning await your youngster.

Spinning For Kids — Spinning is a safe, healthy and low-

impact form of exercise for kids. Plus, it builds physical fitness, improves

social skills and develops life-long healthy habits.

Healthy Cooking for Kids — This “no cooking, cooking class”

will have your child participating in food preparation, table

etiquette, measuring and nutrition while making a “no cooking”

recipe.

To learn about these classes and more, call the South Shore Y at

718-227-3200 or the Broadway Y at 718-981-4933.

SI YMCA AND

NEW YORK LIFE

PARTNER TO

BRING HOLIDAY

CHEER

The Staten Island YMCA and New York Life teamed up to host a Story Time with Santa Pajama Party on Friday, December 13, at the South

Shore Y. More than 250 people turned out for the event and took part in arts and crafts, cookie decorating, a visit from Santa, a reading by Mrs. Claus and more.

In addition, New York Life "adopted" 16 Staten Island families affected by Hurricane Sandy for the

holidays. Through their Season of

Giving initiative, New York Life employees helped to fulfill the holiday wishes of these families and presented them with gifts during the party.

Plus, New York Life employees -- who volunteered their time to help during the event -- presented each child at the event with a gift to take

home at the end of the night.

One parent who was affected by

the storm told the staff, "Words

cannot express how truly thankful

we are for everything you and New

York Life have done to make

my family's Christmas this year

extra special."

New York Life volunteers presented gifts to families effected by Hurricane Sandy during a holiday party on December 13.

Mrs. Claus, with help from her elf, read “The Night Before Christmas” as the children listened quietly.

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LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION! AT Y AFTER SCHOOL

The Staten Island Y After School programs presented “Lights On! After School” on October 17, and one school received a special visit

from city Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Commissioner Jeanne Mullgrav.

The students performed skits that correlated to the theme of “Film Genres: Lights, Camera, Action!” Different types of films were

explored including comedy, action, animation, fantasy, science fiction and horror.

Students performed songs and dances about the different film genres and their artwork was

displayed to further enhance the performances. During the weeks leading up to the showcase, Y After School students explored these different genres, while incorporating components such as math, literacy and science into their lessons.

Ms. Mullgrav and DYCD Assistant Commissioner Andrew Miller visited PS 19, which is overseen by Helen Larino. Also on hand to view the performances were Staten Island

YMCA Senior Executive Director Anita Harvey, Broadway YMCA Executive Director Joseph Verhey and PS 19

Principal Mary Petrone.

Second and third-grade group the Seals do a skit about Fantasy films.

From left: DYCD Commissioner Jeanne Mullgrav; PS 19 Principal Mary Petrone; PS 19 Y After School Coordinator Helen Larino; Staten Island Broadway YMCA Executive Director Joseph Verhey, and Staten Island YMCA Senior Executive Director Anita Harvey.

A CELEBRATION

OF RECOVERY

Hope and Recovery were the

themes of the YMCA Counseling Service’s Recovery Celebration on October 3, as more than 100 people gathered in Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church to salute participant’s accomplishments and look forward to an addiction-

free future.

The evening was kicked off by a performance from members of Amethyst House, which was followed by awards given out to all program completers and achievers.

YMCA Counseling Service participants were invited to share their stories during the event. They spoke about their struggles with alcohol and substance abuse and how the YMCA Counseling

Service helped put them on the right path.

The YMCA Counseling Service has been offering help to those affected by addiction on Staten Island since 1980. Its services include those for adults, at-risk

youth and children affected by a family member’s addiction.

To learn more about the YMCA Counseling Service, call 718-948-3232.

Jacqueline Fiore, executive director of the YMCA Counseling Service, speaks during the 2013 Recovery Celebration.

RECOGNIZING OUR VOLUNTEERS

On December 4, the Staten Island YMCA held a volunteer recognition dinner at the Staaten. Those in attendance included YMCA staff and members of our Board of Managers and Committees of Management, volunteers who ensure that the Staten Island YMCA succeeds in its mission

surrounding youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Thank you all for a great 2013!

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BECOME A Y

CHAMPION

The Staten Island YMCA is kicking off its Annual Campaign this January and we need your help to help local kids and families!

Not every Staten Islander can afford the low cost of Y programming and that’s where our Y Champions come in. Y Champions are volunteers who help us fundraise so that no one is turned away from the Y’s services due to an inability to pay.

On Thursday, January 30 at 7 pm, our South Shore YMCA (3939 Richmond Avenue) will be hosting Y Champion Coaching.

To register, visit ymcanyc.org/ychampioncoaching.

If you can’t make the coaching session, but still want to give, visit ymcanyc.org/statenisland and make your donation today!

Students in the PS 39 Y After School program recently learned how delicious

home-grown fruits and veggies can be as part of the American Heart Association’s Teaching Gardens program.

The students planted the fruits and veggies back

in May and cared for them until it was time to harvest them in November.

“Our After-School students had an

amazing time learning how to grow their own

Students in the PS 39 Y After

School program harvested

the fruits and vegetables

they planted as part of the

American Heart

Associations’s Teaching

Gardens program.

produce and the ease in which it can be done,”

said PS 39 Y After School Coordinator

Robert Palmeri. “Our goal was to show our students the joys of

growing their own food, while promoting a healthy lifestyle and healthy eating

habits.”

Less than 1 percent of children have ideal cardiovascular health today, according to the American Heart Association. The Teaching

Gardens initiative aims to teach students how to plant seeds, nurture plants, harvest food and

ultimately understand the value of good eating

habits and the

importance of physical activity.

FROM PLANTING TO HARVESTING:

PS 39 TEACHING GARDENS

PHOTO COLLAGE: KIDS CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS AT THE STATEN ISLAND YMCA!