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.

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.

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.

Splash into Safety at the Somerset Hills YMCA: A Week-long Program of Safety and Swimming

In an effort to help save lives, the Somerset Hills YMCA is offering all children ages 3 - 10 yrs in our community Y-Splash – a week-long program of swimming designed to help kids stay safe in and around water. The program will run Monday through Friday, from June 20 – 24^th at the participant’s choice of one of these times: 1:00pm; 1:30pm; 3:45pm; 4:20 pm; 4:55 pm and 5:30pm. This program, inspired by the Y’s mission of serving all individuals regardless of their ability to pay, costs just $20 per child and is open to every child in the community, members and non members alike.

This program will be held at the Somerset Hills YMCA,

140 Mt. Airy Road

. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the second leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 14 years. “YMCAs have traditionally been the places where young people learned not only swimming skills, but also the importance of playing safely in the water to prevent injury,” said Erica Schaefer, Director of Youth Aquatic Programs, “That’s why Y-Splash is so important, because it teaches kids basic swimming skills and safety practices, so they can have fun in the water and know how to play safely.”

Online registration for Y-Splash will begin June 1^st at 10:00am at www.somersethillsymca.org. YMCA membership is not required, however, a login and password are needed to register and can be obtained by emailing kdigiovanni@somersethillsymca.org. For more information, please call 908.766.7898 x 503.

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.

 

Swim For Richard Raises Funds and Awareness of Bipolar Disorder

Three Y’s Guys with One Common Cause

On April 23^rd, 2011, for the second consecutive year, the Three Y’s Guys of the Somerset Hills YMCA will embark on a challenging 24 mile marathon swim in the waters of Tampa Bay, FL to raise funds and awareness about bipolar disorder. Martino Caretto of Basking Ridge, Paul Kiell of Far Hills and Doug Munch of Morristown, their ages averaging 68 years, will swim the 24-mile distance as a relay. Funds raised will benefit Saturdays in Motion. Held at the Somerset Hills YMCA for the past nineteen years, it is a recreational program benefiting children with autism and their families.

Caretto’s son tragically lost his life in April 2009 after waging a valiant and painful battle with bipolar disorder. A 2005 graduate of Lawrenceville, and a Bloustein scholar that recognizes academic excellence, Richard Caretto was a volunteer at Saturdays in Motion and will always be remembered for his generosity, sharp sense of humor and his sensitivity to social problems. “Richard also tutored special needs children and volunteered over 200 hours of community service assisting patients with dementia,” said Richard’s father, Martino.

The Three Y’s Guys are hopeful that Swim For Richard will generate interest and dialogue about bipolar disorder. “Richard had his whole life ahead of him,” said Caretto. “If our efforts bring relief to another individual or spare other families the devastating pain that has been inflicted on mine, then the Three Y’s Guys will feel a great sense of achievement. No matter how much we raise, the friendship and support of those around us has been of great comfort to me and my family. A lack of understanding about this disorder often leads to it being swept under the carpet. The stigma generally attached to mental disorders needs to be dispelled so that progress in research can be made and more support can be offered to individuals and families in need,” added Caretto.

Contributions of $50 or more will receive an autographed copy of Dr. Paul Kiell’s new book Exercise and the Mind and all contributors will receive an honorary blue ribbon. Please make (tax deductible) checks payable to the Somerset Hills YMCA. Mail to Somerset Hills YMCA, Development Department – Swim For Richard, 140 Mount Airy Rd, Basking Ridge NJ 07920.  

For more information, please visit www.somersethillsymca.org or contact Kelly Castro at 908.766.7898 or kcastro@somersethillsymca.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.

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