2023 Rye YMCA Annual Impact Report

FOR COMMUNITY

Dear Friends,

At the Rye Y, we have big dreams.

We want children to thrive, adults to achieve their goals, and communities to become stronger. We want to ease the effects of illness and isolation. We want to create opportunities for healthy living for all.

In 2023, we achieved many of these dreams. We opened a nursery school in Mamaroneck. We provided children with opportunities to grow through Youth and Government and inclusive sports. We gave seniors a chance to connect through volunteerism, group exercise and day trips. We brought our chronic disease prevention programs into the community. And, we made our building more resilient.

Making dreams come true takes exceptional vision, creativity, commitment and hard work. Fortunately, our staff and volunteers – including our board of directors – have all of those qualities and more. We're grateful to them, and grateful to you, our members, donors and friends. Thank you for giving the Rye Y an amazing year!

Sincerely,

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

(as of April 1, 2024)

Executive Committee

John Weber, President

Ned Kirk, VP

Michele Allison, VP

Brendan Doyle, VP

Mary Capaldi, Secretary

Mark Dempster, Treasurer

Chief Executive Officer

Sabrina Murphy

Members

Paul Atkins

Edward Boyle

Roz Carvin

Patrick Cavanaugh

Jimmy Chow

Carolyn Cook-Lenna

Sheila Cutner

Mark DiMassimo

Jake Dolce

Carrie Donahue

Amy Gorman

Kristen Hoft

Allyson Kim

Rich Lawrence

Kim Morgner

Staci Ramachandran

Jennifer Reddington

Kim Rotondo

Margaret Shipman

Megan Tyre

Leah Viault

Trustees

Douglas DeStaebler

Frances A. DeThomas, Esq.

Dinah Howland

Eugene P. Lynch

Thomas F. Murphy

Werner E. Tietjen

Trustees Emeritus

Michael T. Tokarz

Sabrina Murphy, CEO

John Weber, Board President

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

Offering Families More Child Care

In January 2023, elected officials, board members, and staff celebrated the opening of a new child care program: the Rye Y Nursery School at St. John's Church in Mamaroneck. The inaugural class included only 6 young children. However, as word got out, along with glowing parent testimonials, the program grew along with the kids. The January 2024 class now has 57 children enrolled.

The nursery school joined the Y’s existing child care offerings, including the Early Learning Center, Pre-School Enrichment, summer camp and After School Adventures, which is offered at both the Rye Y and at F.E. Bellows Elementary School.

Learning the Ropes About Government

The inner workings of government can seem far away from the daily lives of middle schoolers, but the Rye Y’s Assistant Child Care Director Edwin Santos and Port Chester Social Studies teacher Teresa Florindi are trying to bridge that gap. In the fall of 2023, they teamed up to bring Youth and Government to Port Chester Middle School. Youth and Government™ is a national YMCA program that empowers students by giving them the opportunity to learn about – and experience – government policies and methodologies firsthand. Over the course of 8 weeks, students drafted and debated their own legislation, giving them a chance to consider issues that affect their lives.

Celebrating 75 Years of Summer Camp

A lot has changed since the Rye Y first ran a summer camp on its back lawn in 1948. But some things have remained constant: the joy of making friends, the sense of accomplishment in learning new skills, the wonder of discovery, and peace of mind for working families. In 2023, the Rye Y served nearly 1,500 children ages 3-14 in seven different camps at three locations (including, for the first time, Kinder Camp at the Mamaroneck Nursery School). We also provided seasonal employment for 150 teens and young adults who served as our “Role Model” counselors.

Giving All Kids a Chance to Shine

We believe that all children deserve the chance to discover who they are and what they can achieve. That's why we once again partnered with Backyard Sports Cares to run three multi-week inclusive sports sessions for young athletes with special needs. Children in grades K-8 were paired with middle and high school volunteers for basketball, soccer, and games in our gymnasium. Over the course of the year, more than two dozen student volunteers helped 22 children learn new skills and grow in confidence.

HEALTHY LIVING

Fostering Friendship and Adventure

Recognizing the need for our adult members to stay active, engaged and connected, we launched the Rye Y Day Trippers in October. Our first outing was a bus trip to Storm King Art Center, where our group of 17 intrepid members walked the grounds admiring large scale art installations and enjoyed lunch together at an outdoor café. Watch for upcoming trips to local and regional attractions!

Bringing Care Where it’s Needed Most

The Rye Y is committed to bringing our evidence-based health programs into the communities we serve, especially those with underserved populations. In the summer of 2023, the Y’s bilingual Community Health team brought our Blood Pressure SelfMonitoring Program to day laborers from Don Bosco Workers, Inc. and immigrant women at Don Bosco Community Center in Port Chester. In September 2023, we started a new YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program class, which is being offered in Spanish and free of charge, thanks to a grant from Greenwich Hospital. The class is composed of 11 uninsured Port Chester residents, who would otherwise not have access to programs to help manage this chronic disease.

Offering Hope and Healing to Cancer Survivors

LIVESTRONG at the YMCA is a free, 12-week small group program that helps adult cancer survivors reclaim their health and well-being following a cancer diagnosis. In 2023, 50 survivors grew stronger, became more flexible, and increased their endurance thanks to LIVESTRONG at the YMCA.

Y Studios Thriving One Year After Opening

It didn’t take long for The Studios at the Rye YMCA (Y Studios) to become one of Rye’s newest hotspots. After opening in June 2022, the state-of-the-art facility grew in popularity as the fitness team added new classes and special programming throughout 2023. By the end of the year, members and guests could enjoy a menu of over 130 classes weekly, including Pilates, Yoga, Tai Chi, indoor cycling, High Intensity Interval Training, Zumba and more. The Y Studios’ Community Room was the perfect location for our YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program class, as well as Greenwich Hospital’s 90-minute CPR and First Aid class and Togetherhood community service projects. And parents loved the convenience of Child Watch, an on-site babysitting service that allowed them to work out worry free!

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Building Leadership and Paying it Forward

Rye High School student Matthew Pellegrini grew up at the Rye Y, so when it came time to select his Eagle Scout project for Rye Boy Scout Troop #2, he chose to pay it forward. Matthew spent months researching, fundraising, and installing a new playground to replace the one that had been swept away by Hurricane Ida flooding in September 2021. At a celebration in May 2023, Rye Y CEO Sabrina Murphy said “we’re so proud of Matthew and so grateful for his hard work on behalf of the Y. His leadership serves as a role model for children of all ages.”

Meeting our Community’s Critical Need

In the face of a critical nation-wide blood shortage, the Rye Y stepped up. In June 2023, we partnered with the American Red Cross to run a community blood drive in our gymnasium. By the end of the day, 31 units had been collected from members, community residents and our own staff and board.

Making an Impact with Y Cares

Our Y Cares Financial Assistance Program ensures that our Y remains diverse, inclusive and accessible to all. Thanks to the generosity of donors, small foundations, and businesses, we were able to award $403,242 to 653 families and individuals for camp, program, membership and child care subsidies…in 2023 alone.

Moving On Up

In December 2023 – 27 months after our pools, child care classrooms, boilers and mechanical equipment were devastated by flooding – Y leaders and guests cut the ribbon on a new rooftop mechanical room. The 900-square-foot “boiler house” will shelter the two boilers and most of our mechanical and electrical panels from future flooding. The project was funded by FEMA (90%) and the NYS Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (10%). CEO Sabrina Murphy noted “This project is a significant step toward a more sustainable future for the Rye Y.”

At our Annual Benefit on June 4, former board members Frances DeThomas and Courtney Bennett were honored with the Rye Y’s Gold Spirit Award, while Barbara Brunner was recognized with the Community Service Award.

Ben Mayer, a Rye High School senior and Rye Y lifeguard, was the 2023 Woof Haneman Scholarship winner. Shown here with Rye Y CEO Sabrina Murphy.

In July, the Rye Y was honored by Westchester Magazine as “Best Community Fitness Center.” We’re so proud of our health and wellness team for their hard work and dedication and for ensuring that members of all ages and abilities can stay active, fit and socially connected.

Five Rye Y staff members were recognized in May for excellence and commitment. From left to right: Caitlin Bochicchio (Quality Keepers Award), Denise Woodin and Heidy Barros (Gregg Howells’ Spirit, Mind and Body Award), Tatiana Rodriguez (Quality Keepers Award) and Melissa Lewis (Excellence in Innovation Award).