Somerset Hills YMCA Awarded $15,000 Grant From the Toys "R" Us Children's Fund

Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund Grant is Part of $1 Million New Jersey Initiative to Benefit

Nonprofit Organizations Supporting Children in the State

(BASKING RIDGE NJ) -- November 21, 2011 – The Somerset Hills YMCA has been awarded a $15,000 grant from the Toys “R” Us Children’s Fund through its 2011 New Jersey grant initiative. The one-time grants were given by the Fund to alleviate economic challenges and sustain organizations that favorably impact children across New Jersey. The Somerset Hills YMCA was one of 54 organizations selected from a pool of more than 500 proposals from charities requesting funding from across the state.

“The Somerset Hills YMCA takes pride in offering all children the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. The role of any Y is to support its community, and our programs are based on the unique needs and interests of our members and neighbors. We have designed more than twenty programs that offer our special needs population a range of activities and interests, many of which are free or subsidized. This Toys ”R” Us grant means that we will be able to reach out to more children with special needs in our neighborhoods and provide them with the kind of experienced and nurturing care that they need,” said Fred Wasiak, Chief Operating Officer at the Somerset Hills YMCA.

The Somerset Hills YMCA has been offering programs and services to children for sixty years, believing that the values and skills learned early on are vital building blocks for quality of life and that confident kids today become contributing and engaged adults tomorrow.

“Of the many proposals we received, the Somerset Hills YMCA demonstrated a distinctive commitment to supporting children in New Jersey,” said Kathleen Waugh, Chairman, Toys “R” Us Children’s Fund. “With additional support from the Toys “R” Us Children’s Fund this year, we hope that the impact of its meaningful work will be even greater to further our collective efforts in our state to keep kids safe and help them in times of need.”

Grants will support a wide array of unique programs and services aligned with the Toys “R” Us Children’s Fund mission of keeping children safe and helping them in times of need. Funding was awarded to nonprofit organizations that demonstrated an immediate and specific need and directly impacted children in the state. Kids in each of New Jersey’s 21 counties will benefit from the impact of the grant initiative through community-based and statewide charities. To view the complete list of recipients, please visit: Toysrusinc.com/charitable-giving/2011NJGrants

The $15,000 grant for the Somerset Hills YMCA was earmarked to support two specific programs: Carousel Kids that offers a self-contained program for children with disabilities with a 1:1 or 1:2 aide to participant ratio, and the Summer Camp Inclusion program that enables children with disabilities to be mainstreamed into traditional summer camp, also with the help of trained aides or ‘shadows.’ The funding will be used to expand these programs in order to serve more children with disabilities in Somerset County.

Toys “R” Us, Inc. has a long history of giving back to the communities it serves by keeping kids safe and helping them in times of need. The company and the Toys “R” Us Children’s Fund together have given hundreds of thousands of dollars in product donations and monetary grants annually to a wide range of nonprofit organizations in New Jersey. For 38 years, Toys “R” Us, Inc. has been based in New Jersey with more than 4,500 employees across more than 45 stores, regional offices, the corporate headquarters and the company’s largest retail distribution center in the country.  For more information about Toys “R” Us, Inc. charitable giving and the Toys “R” Us Children’s Fund, please visit Toysrusinc.com/charitable-giving.

The Somerset Hills YMCA is a charitable community service organization, rooted in Christian values and dedicated to helping all people grow in spirit, mind and body.  We are guided by our core principles of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.

About the Toys “R” Us Children’s Fund

The Toys “R” Us Children’s Fund is a public charity affiliated with Toys “R” Us, Inc., a company that unabashedly declares “We love kids!” The core mission of the Toys “R” Us Children’s Fund is to keep children safe and help them in times of need. Since it was founded in 1992, the Toys “R” Us Children’s Fund has contributed millions of dollars to qualified organizations that support that mission, including those providing disaster relief to children and families who are victims of large-scale crises. The Toys “R” Us Children’s Fund also provides grants to leading organizations that support children with special needs.  Primary fundraising activities include the annual Toys “R” Us Children’s Fund Gala, a private, invitation-only event that showcases the work of the Fund and raises money to support its many beneficiaries. This annual benefit has raised more than $95 million since its inception in 1985 and is one of the largest single-night fundraising events held in New York City.

Health Summit Offers Day of Health and Education

BASKING RIDGE, NJ – A group of area health and community organizations is once again hosting a one day Senior Health Summit on Thursday, October 20 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Somerset County Senior Wellness Center, 202 Mt. Airy Road, Basking Ridge. The $10 non-refundable fee includes a continental breakfast, lunch, workshops and exercise classes.  Keynote speaker Dr. Deborah Neiman, will present “Prescription Exercise.” 

           

“Seniors make up a large portion of our population which is why learning about the latest health trends and resources is so important. We welcome everyone as they pursue a healthy and rewarding lifestyle,” said Kate Russo, Senior Director of Membership Services at the Somerset Hills YMCA. 

Morning and afternoon workshop topics include Balance and Fall Prevention; Gentle Yoga for Strength and Flexibility; Internet 101; Exercise for Mental Health; Back Care; Nutrition for Diabetes; Healthy Aging Brain; Guided Imagery for Stress Reduction; ‘Choosing the Medicare Plan that Works Best For Me;’ Travel and Safety for Seniors; It’s 21 For a Reason – how to educate your grandchildren on the proper age for drinking. Participants may also participate in five health screenings: Balance; Respiratory; Hearing; Bone Density; and Flu Shots. 

The event, developed to empower, educate and engage seniors in the Somerset Hills area on the use of local health and community resources to promote optimal health and well-being, is sponsored by Bernards Township Health Department, Bernards Township Recreation, Somerset County Office on Aging, Somerset Hills YMCA, and the Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills. It is also supported by Atlantic Health Systems, the Somerset Medical Center and St. Barnabas Medical Center. Registration forms are available at above listed local organizations. More information may be obtained by calling the Somerset County Office on (908) 704 6346.

The Somerset Hills YMCA is a charitable community service organization, rooted in Christian values and dedicated to helping all people grow in spirit, mind and body.  We are guided by our core principles of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.somersethillsymca.org/, and follow us on Facebook.

Somerset Hills YMCA’s International Festival Celebrates Diversity in the Somerset Hills Community.

Marking the sixteenth year in this festival’s history, the Somerset Hills YMCA will present the International Festival on Sunday, October 9th, 1:00-4:00pm at

140 Mt. Airy Road

in Basking Ridge. This exciting event brings together community organizations and individuals who represent the diverse people of the world and of our community.

Themed ‘One World, One Family’ to highlight the many colors of diversity in the Somerset Hills community, the festival is supported by a strong committee of enthusiastic volunteers, and will feature music and dance performances, food and art that represent more than twenty countries. Door prizes will be offered. Additionally, people from the community will showcase samples of international cuisine, clothing, pottery, books and more from their own countries.

International outreach will be highlighted, with the Somerset Hills YMCA sharing information on its official partnership with the YCS YMCA in Skopje, Macedonia. Information on an upcoming travel opportunity for young adults to attend a trip to Macedonia will be available.

The event is open to members and non members of the Y.  A donation of $10 per family or $5 per individual is suggested to benefit the YMCA World Service Fund, which supports YMCA outreach in developing countries. For more information, please visit www.somersethillsymca.org or call Sylvia Velez on 908-630 3530.

The Somerset Hills YMCA is a charitable community service organization, rooted in Christian values and dedicated to helping all people grow in spirit, mind and body.  We are guided by our core principles of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.

10th Annual Flag Day 5K Race at Somerset Hills YMCA

The rescheduled 10^th Annual Flag Day 5K took place Saturday, September 24^th hosted by the Somerset Hills YMCA, Basking Ridge NJ. This year’s Flag Day 5K marked the 9^th year that the Y is donating all event proceeds to benefit Community Hope’s Hope for Veterans Transitional Housing Program ® for homeless veterans. Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen, a documented advocate for veterans and Community Hope, is a frequent visitor to the event when he is in district.

Somerset Hills YMCA Invites Everyone to "Party Animals Wanted"!

This Saturday, September 24th, the Somerset Hills YMCA invites all members of the community to Party Animals Wanted, a full day of fun and celebration! There are many things to celebrate here at the Y!

Kicking off at 10 a.m. our Strong Dogs Day will take place in the backyard of our facility. Strong Dogs Day will include several activities such as a dog wash, obstacle course, pet grooming, and fun for all two and four legged friends! At 11 a.m., Father Rick Morley from St. Mark’s Episcopal Church will bless the hounds. This year’s "Top Dog" sponsor is TD Bank. Camp Bow-Wow is the "Good Dog" sponsor, Tarheel Total Pet Care is our “Wagging Tail” sponsor, and The Stables, Ltd., K-9 Miracles, Value Pet Care and Bernardsville Animal Hospital are "Belly Scratch" sponsors. Wegman’s Bridgewater store is also a food donor for the event.

Following our Strong Dogs Day, our rescheduled Flag Day 5K race and 1-mile walk will begin at 3 p.m. This 10th annual event benefits Community Hope’s Hope for Veterans Transitional Housing Program for homeless veterans. If you previously registered for our race back in June, when it was rescheduled due to excessive heat, you are automatically re-registered for this Saturday’s race. If you’re a new runner, you’re welcome to sign up online at Community Hope's website. (http://www.communityhope-nj.org/)

After the race, join us for us for a free community-wide family picnic, celebrating our 60th anniversary! Shop Rite has donated food for the race & picnic, and our local Ridge Tavern is also a sponsor of the picnic. We welcome your family and friends to our event, where we’ll have a picnic, games & giveaways, face painting, sack races, spin art, an animal balloonist (donated by Currier’s Magical Mania), and a fun DJ!

We hope everyone has a chance to stop by the Y this Saturday for our biggest family event of the year! Feel free to call our Welcome Center for more information on any of these events (908) 766-7898, or visit our website http://www.somersethillsymca.org/.

For more information about Strong Dogs Day and opportunities to sponsor or be a vendor at the event, please visit the Somerset Hills website, or contact Peter at pbarry@somersethillsymca.org or 908-630-3531.

For more information about the 5K run and one-mile mile walk and the 60th anniversary celebration, please contact Jackie, at jsurette@somersethillsymca.org or 908-766-7898, ext. 362.

The Somerset Hills YMCA is a charitable community service organization, rooted in Christian values and dedicated to helping all people grow in spirit, mind and body.  We are guided by our core principles of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.

Summer Camp for Two Russian Orphans through YMCA's Camp Inspiration Program

Camp Inspiration at the Somerset Hills YMCA, in partnership with the Bernardsville News, is sponsoring two Russian orphan brothers, Kirill, aged 7, and Alexander, aged 5. The boys arrived in N.J. this week and are staying with a local family for the summer. Clothing donations are needed for the two brothers, and we have high hopes that we can find a loving family willing to adopt these sweet boys.

The two brothers live in an orphanage in Russia’s Far East, about a ten hour flight east of Moscow. They will spend nearly four weeks with Janet and Brian of Bernardsville, giving the boys a golden opportunity to experience life in a functional family, broadening their horizons and giving them a platform to learn about another culture, particularly through play with other children close to their age.

“Kirill and Alexander will arrive with nothing more than a backpack holding their toothbrush, comb, and possibly a spare change of clothes,” said Janet. “We will be responsible for all food, clothing and medical expenses they incur while here. During their stay, we will also be working closely with the adoption agency to find them a forever family.” So, Janet and Brian who are members of the Somerset Hills YMCA, reached out to the Y and asked for their support in providing a summer camp experience for the two boys. Bob Lomauro, President and CEO of the Y said, “Supporting Janet and Brian’s compassion for these young boys is not only the right thing to do but is a privilege. This is a wonderful story of a local family giving two boys, who obviously have been through so much, an opportunity to be hopeful for a better life.”

On July 11^th the two boys will begin Adventure Camp at the Y which offers each camper the opportunity to participate in Sports & Games, Science & Nature, and Arts & Crafts led by a specialist in these areas.

Camp Inspiration can help make sure that Kirill and Alexander enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience at a YMCA summer camp. Camp Inspiration is a scholarship program, sponsored by the Bernardsville News and the Somerset Hills YMCA, designed to give children in need the opportunity to attend a YMCA day or resident summer camp. With a focus on caring, honesty, respect and responsibility, camp counselors encourage children to try new experiences, make friends, learn new skills and, most of all, to have fun.

Tax deductible contributions to Camp Inspiration can be made online the Somerset Hills YMCA website, or by sending at your check to Camp Inspiration, c/o Somerset Hills YMCA, 140 Mount Airy Rd, Basking Ridge N.J., 07920. Please earmark your gift ‘Camp Inspiration’. Every dollar donated goes toward camping costs. All administrative expenses are handled by the Bernardsville News and the Somerset Hills YMCA.

Unless anonymous, donors will be recognized each week in the newspaper in gratitude for their gift.

The six levels of giving include: Caring: up to $50, Honesty: up to $100, Respect: up to $150, Responsibility: up to $200, Leadership: up to $500, and Inspiration: $500 and above

For more information about Alexander and Kirill, or hosting children for the summer, please contact Janet at janbriC@yahoo.com

Free Fridays at the Somerset Hills YMCA during July and August

Free Fridays at the Somerset Hills YMCA during July and August.

The Somerset Hills YMCA is offering all members of the community the opportunity to ‘Try the Y For Free’ every Friday during the months of July and August. Families and individuals can enjoy full access to both facilities at Riverwalk and Mount Airy, as well as enjoying programs such as spinning, zumba, group classes, basketball, swimming, rock climbing and much more for free.

“If you have been wanting to give us a try, it’s a perfect time,” said Kate Russo, Senior Director of Membership Services. “Come alone or bring a friend – either way, you’ll find a warm welcome and a wonderful selection of programs from which to choose.”

For more information, please contact Jackie Surette on 908.766.7898 ext 362 or jsurette@somersethillsycma.org

The Somerset Hills YMCA is a charitable community service organization, rooted in Christian values and dedicated to helping all people grow in spirit, mind and body.  We are guided by our core principles of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.

For more information, please visit www.somersethillsymca.org or call 908-766-7898.