SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Inspiring action in our communities.
As an organization dedicated to serving and strengthening our community, we inspire members of the community to make a difference in the lives of others with small and large acts of kindness. Your support helps others who are less fortunate to access our life-changing opportunities. This year, we were able to provide over $800K in financial assistance and fundraised over $430K at our Annual Laugh Out Loud (LOL) Charity Auction alone to continue our mission to give back to our community and offer accessible programs to all, regardless of age, income and background.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Since 1886, we at the Summit Area YMCA have dedicated ourselves to serving everyone in our community, regardless of their ability to pay. In 2021, over 950 families received financial assistance to help alleviate the costs of membership, sports, childcare, and other fees. We are here to serve our community and thanks to our wonderful donors, we can do just that.
The SAY also offers a Military Outreach Initiative to address the needs of families of deployed military personnel who live far from a military installation and require access to child development, family strengthening, and health and well-being programming. This initiative awards these families FREE membership to our Y and its programs, and this year, we were able to give back to 20 military families in our area.
Since 1886, we at the Summit Area YMCA have dedicated ourselves to serving everyone in our community, regardless of their ability to pay. In 2021, over 950 families received financial assistance to help alleviate the costs of membership, sports, childcare, and other fees. We are here to serve our community and thanks to our wonderful donors, we can do just that.
The SAY also offers a Military Outreach Initiative to address the needs of families of deployed military personnel who live far from a military installation and require access to child development, family strengthening, and health and well-being programming. This initiative awards these families FREE membership to our Y and its programs, and this year, we were able to give back to 20 military families in our area.
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$847,462in financial assistance provided to over 977 local families in need for Y programming and memberships
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FOOD INSECURITY
Thanks to our community partners, we were able to donate thousands of pounds of food to local families in 2021. Year round, more than 300 families a month received nutritious food through our various food distribution programs. Our partnership with the Community Food Bank of New Jersey and The Junior League of Summit, allowed us to provide families with fresh and shelf stable foods weekly, via our Family Packs Program. As partners in the Summit Hunger Coalition, we worked with other local non-profits, such as GRACE, Bridges, and many more to fight hunger locally. Without our partners, we would not be able to continue fighting food insecurity in our community.
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VOLUNTEERING
At the Summit Area YMCA, we are a cause driven and volunteer led organization. Volunteers selflessly share their time to ensure that the Y’s mission can be fulfilled. In 2021, over 450 individuals, including children, teens, and adults, stepped in to assist during our Family Packs Program, Special Events, Fridays in Motion, Senior Spa Days, and the other numerous free programs we have to offer. We are grateful to all of our volunteers, without them we would not be able to continue meeting the needs of our community.
3,700+ HOURS
of service were given by volunteers who have become allies in furthering our mission
SPECIAL NEEDS
At the Summit Area YMCA we believe that everyone's needs should be met, regardless of their age, race, gender, and diverse abilities. Our Special Needs Program in 2021, allowed 50 youth and young adults to express themselves freely in a friendly and supportive environment. Participants enjoyed a variety of activities that promote health, wellness, socialization, and more.
50
young adults expressed themselves freely in our welcoming and all inclusive special needs programs
DIVERSITY, INCLUSION & GLOBAL INNOVATION (DIG)
The Summit Area YMCA is committed to creating a culture in which diversity and inclusion are integral to everyday operations. Our Y will empower communities through access to the support and connections all people need to learn, grow, and thrive. Through welcoming, inclusive practices and environments, we will welcome and engage all people from all diverse groups of the community to help and impact lasting, meaningful change. Our organization was the first Diversity, Inclusion and Global Innovation Network YMCA in New Jersey committed to creating a culture in which diversity and inclusion are integral to everyday operations.
With facilities opening, and people feeling more comfortable with going to social events, our popular Y events were back on and our neighbors couldn't have been more excited. We hosted a number of community events in 2021 including Welcoming Week, Holi Color Festival, Diwali Festival of Lights, Pride Celebration, and a virtual Lunar New Year Festival to celebrate all cultures and and traditions.
With facilities opening, and people feeling more comfortable with going to social events, our popular Y events were back on and our neighbors couldn't have been more excited. We hosted a number of community events in 2021 including Welcoming Week, Holi Color Festival, Diwali Festival of Lights, Pride Celebration, and a virtual Lunar New Year Festival to celebrate all cultures and and traditions.
860
attendees joined in on the fun, informational, and inclusive special events and DIG initiatives hosted by the YMCA and local partners
HOLIDAY ANGEL GIVING TREE
Although the Summit Area YMCA (SAY)'s annual Holiday Angel Giving Tree was virtual again for the 2021 holiday season, it did not lack participation. The Angel Giving Tree Program was created to assist those in our community who are struggling to provide for their families during the holidays. Intended recipients tell the Y what gifts their children want, anonymous Good Samaritans purchase said gift(s) to be sent to the Y, and the Y coordinates delivery of the gifts to the children and/or parents before the holidays.
For 2021, in true record-breaking SAY fashion, our community donated over $11,000 worth of gifts, supplies, gift cards and cash totaling almost 400 gifts distributed to 200 local children and students, and 150 families over the holiday break. Dozens of individuals donated, and the Y was thrilled to partner with several other generous local organizations to make the holidays special for our community members in need.
For 2021, in true record-breaking SAY fashion, our community donated over $11,000 worth of gifts, supplies, gift cards and cash totaling almost 400 gifts distributed to 200 local children and students, and 150 families over the holiday break. Dozens of individuals donated, and the Y was thrilled to partner with several other generous local organizations to make the holidays special for our community members in need.
$11,000
worth of gifts, supplies, gift cards, and cash were donated to over 200 local children and 150 families during the holiday season
SUMMIT ACHIEVE COMMUNITY GARDEN
In 2021, we dedicated 8 of the 56 plots in the Summit ACHIEVE Community Garden to grow produce to donate to the two Food Pantries in town – GRACE Food Pantry and Loaves + Fishes out of St. Teresa’s church in Summit. The Community Garden's contribution is unique in being freshly picked and organically grown. In addition to the plots dedicated to growing food for these programs, gardeners with personal plots regularly contribute from their bounty as well.
The Summit Area YMCA subsidized 4 plots to Summit residents that were identified through the GRACE Food Pantry. We continue to support a plot maintained by the Summit High School Planting Club, which was comprised of approximately 25 high school students who were active from start to finish in cleaning out beds, planting seedlings and harvesting produce. We also hosted the Berkeley Heights YMCA's Fun on the Farm summer camp introducing children to the garden where they spent the morning identifying vegetables and helped harvest for our Food Pantries in town.
The Summit Area YMCA subsidized 4 plots to Summit residents that were identified through the GRACE Food Pantry. We continue to support a plot maintained by the Summit High School Planting Club, which was comprised of approximately 25 high school students who were active from start to finish in cleaning out beds, planting seedlings and harvesting produce. We also hosted the Berkeley Heights YMCA's Fun on the Farm summer camp introducing children to the garden where they spent the morning identifying vegetables and helped harvest for our Food Pantries in town.
56
participants grew healthy foods, habits, and bonds with their neighbors at the Summit ACHIEVE Community Garden
BLOOD DRIVES
Every day, blood donors help patients of all ages including accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those battling cancer. To assist, the Summit Area YMCA, in partnership with the American Red Cross, hosted several emergency blood drives at the Berkeley Heights YMCA and Summit YMCA. Our community showed up and total blood donations estimated over 168 lives saved with 62 pints that were donated by selfless community members.
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186lives were saved thanks to blood donors who graciously donated
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