77th Anniversary Gala

WALLINGFORD FAMILY YMCA

CHANGING LIVES THEN | NOW | ALWAYS

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The Wallingford Family YMCA is extremely proud to be celebrating our 77th anniversary – a significant milestone that few organizations achieve, especially non profits.

It is particularly gratifying to be celebrating this anniversary as the future of our YMCA looks so bright. Demand for critical, human and social service programs is at an all time high due to the impact the pandemic has had on our communities. The YMCA is well positioned as a community partner, advocate and convenor to help address those critical issues.

Reflecting on the long history of our YMCA, we’d like to acknowledge the Ulbrich, Valenti, McGuire and St. John families who in 1944, began this community based non profit organization from a simple concept “to aid in improving the spiritual, intellectual, social and physical condition of the young people and adults of Wallingford and its vicinity”. As we celebrate our anniversary we are also excited for our major capital renovations to upgrade and improve our East Side YMCA Natatorium & parking lot. These improvements will help sustain and grow our community services for decades to come.

To all our employees, members, volunteers, partners and friends – we thank you for your continued hard work, dedication and commitment to the YMCA. Cheers to another 77 years providing youth development, healthy living and social development programs for the Greater Wallingford Community.

Let’s Celebrate!

Sean Doherty Executive Director

Courtney Grimm YMCA Board Chair

CHANGING LIVES THEN | NOW | ALWAYS

Our mission is to strengthen the foundation of the community through programs, services and relationships that build a healthy spirit, mind and body.

We aim to be an effective resource and influential community partner by building meaningful, caring relationships and promoting healthy, productive lifestyles for generations.

Over 77 years ago, the Wallingford Family YMCA opened its doors to welcome our community in its collective pursuit of a healthy lifestyle. Day after day, year after year, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to delivering lasting personal and social change to every individual, regardless of ability. Pursuits develop and needs evolve, yet our responsibility to bring together and strengthen our community has endured with clarity and purpose.

Our Y has been a cornerstone of the community since 1944. We have woven the story of how individuals and families learned to swim, prepared for school through early childcare programs, were safe and nurtured through before & after school programs, adopted healthy habits and rehabilitated from the discomfort of chronic disease. With two locations in Wallingford, it is a hub of wellness where 7,900 members come together to collectively strengthen mind, body and spirit. Each year, over 10,000 people come through the doors to connect with their "Y Family" in pursuit of a healthy lifestyle. Today, our community seeks solutions to complex challenges as individuals pursue the same goals of healthy mind, body and spirit. The Y will respond with the same unwavering commitment to community wellness that inspired the establishment of our organization.

To all of our childcare & camp families and staff over the years,

From the Youth Development Leadership Staff

Holy Trinity School congratulates the Wallingford Family YMCA on their 77th Anniversary!

We are proud to have the YMCA as a vital part of our teaching team at HTS! We wish you continued success in changing lives!

Va l e nt i Aut oGr oup. c om •WALLI NGFORD •WATERTOWN •HARTFORD

PAST BOARD CHAIRS We would like to thank the following individuals for serving as Board Chairs and their guidance in furthering the work of the Wallingford Family YMCA

George St. John Jr

Ferdinand Valenti

Philip B. Watson

Eric A. Hillbom

1944-1946

1947-1951

1952-1953

1954

J. Alexander Brown

Clifford M. Cowles

John J. Collins

George F. Porter

1955-1956

1957

1958

1959

Louis Isakson

Robert L. Fay

William A. Hutchinson

James H. Johnson

1960

1961-1963

1964-1966

1967

Frederick M. Killam

Robert M. McGregor

Charles E. Lirot

Charles R. Mitchell

1968

1969

1970-1971

1972-1973

Harold E. Ginter Jr

Fred A. Valenti Jr

Francis P. Feeney

Thomas B. Groves

1974-1975

1976-1978

1979-1981

1982-1983

Christopher McLaughlin

Sally C. Newton

Charles Rood

John Shortell

1984

1985-1986

1987-1988

1989

Mark Gingras

Mark Miller

Art DeVellis

Susan Porter

1990-1991

1992

1993-1994

1995-1996

Joseph Rubertone

Tarn Granucci

Charles P. Lewis

Peter Struble

1997-1999

2000-2001

2002-2004

2005-2008

Larry Wood

John McGuire

Patricia Dyer-Powers

Joshua Wyatt

2009-2010

2011-2013

2014-2016

2017-2020

77 YEARS

O F

D E D I C A T I O N

THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE Y STAFF FOR YOUR HARD WORK & COMMITMENT FROM THE KANELL FAMILY

Wallingford Family YMCA founded

1944 1945 YMCA moves to Town Hall

1946

1947

1948

1949

! s n o i t a l Congratu FROM MARIO AND JOYCE PETRELLA Calculus of Talent, LLC

1950 1951 1952

YMCA moves into new facility located at 81 South Elm Street

1953

1954

1955 1956 1957 1958 1959

Basketball gymnasium & locker rooms constructed as the building expands

1960 1961 1962 1963 1964

1965

1966 1967 1968

As a newly promoted black belt in Judo, Phyllis went to the Wallingford Family YMCA and asked to teach a children’s class. This was in 1970 and it was her first teaching job. There were 100 children registered and eighty of them showed up for class. The gym was covered with wall to wall mats and the kids shoes were lined up neatly against the wall. With that many in class, safety was her priority so that no one would get hurt. The children were taught respect, safety in the class and how to take care of their partner when doing throws and wrestling on the mats. This was a fun class for everyone.

Elizabeth Leigh joins the YMCA

She hasn't stopped teaching classes since! Among them are Floor Exercise, Reebok Step, Y’s Way to a Healthy Back, Mom and Tot (And Pop) gym and swim classes, pre school sports class, Karate, Silver Splash, Silver Sneakers, Tai Chi, Cardiac Rehab and Personal Training. Thank you Phyllis for all that you do!

Phyllis Drescher hired

Dolphins Swim Team founded

1969 1970 1971 1972 Lap pool built and the YMCA begins offering swim lessons to the community

A member of the Wallingford Family YMCA since 1971, Elizabeth Leigh is the longestterm female member. Elizabeth grew up in Southington, and moved to Wallingford after marrying David Leigh. Elizabeth remembers when the lap pool at the East Side Branch was constructed; she says that the Y was hoping for a pool with more lanes, but they were limited due to Wallace Street. When her kids were old enough, she brought them to the Y for swim lessons. Watching their progress, Elizabeth decided that she wanted to hone her own swimming skills, and she joined in the fun! She learned to do rotary breathing, and was soon hooked! To this day, she continues to swim laps, faithfully keeping her routine of coming to the Y every Tuesday and Friday. Elizabeth says the Y has made her feel better about life, and has helped her to stay healthy. The Y has given her a place to make friends, and many have become longtime friends, staying in contact even as they retire and leave the area.

1973 1974

1975 1976 1977

1978

1979 1980

Teen Outreach program starts

CONGRATS ON 77 YEARS r L Rogers & Sons

Partnership with Gaylord Hospital established to provide daycare

1981

1982 1983 1984

Learn to Swim Week starts, offering youth water safety classes to the community

1985 1986

Partnership with Choate Rosemary Hall established to provide preschool

1987

1988

YMCA starts to provide Before & After school programming in elementary schools

1989 1990 1991

Nancy Early hired

1992 1993

Nancy joined the Wallingford Family YMCA in Partnership with October 1989. She was new to the area, and, as a Holy Trinity School young mom, she was seeking friends for herself established to and for her children. One day, her friend Laurie, who had been working in the YMCA’s child watch provide physical program, asked if Nancy would be interested in education classes working for the Y. This was the start of over 30 years as a Wallingford Family YMCA employee!

Nancy has worked her way through the YMCA’s childcare programs, including child catch, Kinderhouse, SAGE and TLC, and she spent time working at the Welcome Center, caring for members of all ages! Nancy believes in the YMCA’s mission and in the core values, incorporating caring, honesty, respect and responsibility into her everyday life. As Emily Walter says, “Miss Nancy is our moral compass.”

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Cheshire | Cromwell | Madison | North Haven | Wallingford

Congratulations on Celebrating 77 Years

All Day Kindergarten program begins

1994

1995

1996

Tammi Mastroianni hired

When Tammi first joined the YMCA in 1994, it was as a social work intern.

She had every intention of moving on to a career with the CT State Department of Children & Families, but there was something about the YMCA that held her. Twenty-eight years later, she’s still with us, and the difference she has made during that time has been tremendous. These days, Tammi cares for almost every one of our members in some way, whether simply to make sure that their account is processed properly, or to help a parent through one of the most difficult times in their lives. Thank you Tammi!

Teaching pool constructed

1997 1998

1999

2000

Rotary/YMCA Teen Center opens

Camp name changes to Camp Ulbrich in honor of our first YMCA member, Fred Ulbrich Jr

2001 2002

2003 2004

2005 2006

YMCA constructs 3,000 square foot Health and Wellness Center addition

YMCA is awarded a Pioneering Healthier Communities grant, starting the Fit to Go program

2007 2008

2009

2010

2011 2012 YMCA is awarded a grant from the Livestrong Foundation to provide cancer survivor programs

The YMCA expands to the West Side at 8 North Turnpike Road

2013

2014

2015

YMCA is a recipient of a grant from the CMAK Foundation to become a Race 4 Chase program site

2016

2017 2018 2019

raise a glass

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE YMCA FOR

77

years DR. MICHAEL SANTACROCE

Congrats on 77 Years! from Norman Gaudet

YMCA takes over management of the Child Development Center at Masonicare

2020 2021 2022 Ulbrich Steel Playscape built for our members & campers

77th Anniversary Gala

ALWAYS WORKING FOR A CLEANER TOMORROW. We care about the communities we serve.

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JUST ADD WATER With our capital campaign, we want to Just Add Water to the West Side Branch and bring a state-of-the-art aquatic center to Wallingford.

OUR VISION Our pools inspire our members to achieve their goals, whether it is a competitive athlete, first time swimmer, or member of our special needs community. They provide the opportunity to strengthen the body while building character.

They are a place where the community comes together to pursue ambitions.

Our pools change the lives of everyone who dives in.

OUR COMMUNITY The Y is the premier aquatics facility in town and supports almost 1,000 individuals per week. Both our four lane lap pool as well as our warm water teaching & therapy pool allow us to develop programs which serve the ever changing needs of our greater community.

These pools facilitate our Safety Around Water partnership with the Spanish Community of Wallingford and the Ulbrich Boys & Girls Club, in addition to swim lessons for Benhaven School. The Y is the home for the nationally recognized competitive Dolphins Swim Team. Our commitment to the aquatics community is wide & deep and we must provide a facility that can exceed its expectations.

1425

Swim Lessons Taught Per Year

489

Water Aerobics Participants

5300

Swimmers In Our Pools Each Year

103

Competitive Swim Team Athletes

OUR NEED Usage in both of our pools has consistently outpaced capacity throughout the last decade. In addition, each year we rent pool space from our local high school and country club to support programmatic needs. This demand continues to increase rapidly, thus requiring a larger aquatics facility whose operations perform to the highest of standards. Each & every individual who enters our YMCA facility should have the confidence that their experience at the Y is nothing short of excellent.

WHAT AREA RESIDENTS WANT In a recent Community Needs Assessment & Membership Feasibility Study, participants were asked how interested they are in each of 20 major YMCA programs & facilities. Of the factors tested, those most likely to attract usage are:

Warm Water Exercise & Therapy Pool

Whirlpool

Indoor MultiPurpose Pool

Sauna & Steam

OUR PLAN Our goal is to create a modern, vibrant, gathering place for all, providing educational opportunities, childcare, youth development, wellness and chronic disease prevention for those who live & work in Wallingford and the surrounding communities. The phased construction and fundraising plans will allow us to retain, expand and renovate both community centers, while being fiscally responsible ensuring sustainable YMCA operations. Our West Side Aquatics Facility plans include construction of an eight lane, 25-yard lap pool, warm water family/therapy pool and accessible locker rooms.

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We are proud to sponsor the Wallingford Family YMCA’s 77th Anniversary Gala.

We support the mission to strengthen the community through programs, services and relationships that build a healthy spirit, mind and body. www.rc.com

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