SAS CHAMPIONSHIP BENEFITS Y LEARNING

Watch some of golf’s greatest players and help the YMCA of the Triangle's We Build People Campaign!

The SAS Championship returns to Prestonwood Country Club in Cary, Sept. 26 – Oct. 2. YMCA members are eligible to receive discounted tickets to the 11^th Annual Champions Tour golf event.

 

And Y members can receive 50% off daily and weekly tickets. In addition, you can also save $10 off the regular price for the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Deck. These tickets give patrons one day of access to an open-air, semi-private skybox that overlooks the 17^th green. For just $79, a catered lunch, snacks and drinks are included.

Click here to order tickets.

Use Promotional Code: YMCA-2011 at Checkout

Proceeds from the SAS Championship will benefit Y Learning, our standardized tutorial program funded through our annual We Build People program. 

We hope you take advantage of this wonderful offer and help children in our community who benefit from Y Learning!

SWIM FOR LIFE: OUTREACH SWIM MEET 2011

Ready! Set! Go!

“Go Xavier! Go Jahil!”

Just after 9 am, the skies cleared and more than 125 young swimmers dove into the 2nd Swim for Life Meet at the A.E. Finley YMCA pool. It’s always amazing to watch young people show off their skills. It’s even more amazing when you consider that most of these children didn’t know how to swim before the start of the summer.

Pep talk before the race


“You’ve got a fish on your hands,” a Y counselor told a proud dad. “I know it, I know it,” said his father as he watched his son touch the side of the pool.

The swim meet is the highlight of YMCA Camp High Hopes, the Y’s fully subsidized summer day camps. This year, campers from six YMCA branches (Alexander, Cary, Durham, Kraft, A.E. Finley and Kerr YMCAs) participated in the meet. Campers competed in the following races; Breast Stroke, Back Stroke, Free Style, Butterfly, and Mixed Medley races.

“At the Y, we consider swimming an important life skill. Most of these children didn’t know how to swim before they came to our Y camps,” said Anthony Hardison, Kerr Family YMCA Community Outreach Director. “Through daily lessons, they learn basic aquatics skills. We knew if we added the competition, campers would be more excited about learning to swim.”

Nearly 60 percent of African-American children can't swim, almost twice the figure for white children, according to 2008 USA Swimming study. The YMCA wants to bridge that gap.

“It was exciting to see the volunteers and families cheer on these kids,” said Anthony. “Ten-year-old Jahil placed first in the backstroke. He couldn’t wait to show me his ribbon. And he couldn’t wait to get back in the water! That is success.”

Anthony & Jahil

More than 800 children attend YMCA summer day camp on full or partial scholarship. Swim instruction is a part of each camper’s day. Donations to the YMCA’s Annual We Build People program fund those opportunities.

HIGH HOPES=BIG DREAMS

Camp High Hopes is a subsidized summer day camp funded through the YMCA's We Build People campaign. Jessica Russell and Sharlene Provilus, director and head counselor at the A.E. Finley Camp High Hopes, said, “We should do this.” So they did.

August 4 at the YMCA Association's Resource Center, two dozen Camp High Hopes campers, dressed sharply in business attire, met the eyes of college recruiters from ten local colleges and universities. They put out their hands for a handshake and then went with purpose to the business of talking education, college education.

Camp High Hopes College Day

Over the seven previous weeks of Camp High Hopes, Sharlene and her co-counselor, A.J. Johnson, coached and evaluated each of these students on etiquette, listening skills, leadership and an entire menu of skills for success.

The college reps reviewed the evaluations and grade point averages and then interviewed each student. The conversations were real and the students left with an envelope marked either ACCEPTED or DEFERRED.

The emotions were also real. Some students pumped the air and celebrated, others sat in serious discussions with their friends talking about the need to get higher grades to make their dream school a possibility in the future.

The whole experience really was a dream come true.
A dream that Jessica and Sharlene and A.J. made happen. Their vision has put a target in the future for these two dozen middle schoolers and that target is acceptance into college.

"It was like watching the light go on in two dozen pairs of eyes and with that light, a shot was fired at a target," said Patti Bryce, Finley's Outreach Director. "If you were lucky enough to be there, you know how I feel."

We cannot say thank you enough to these leaders!

Finley Frenzy: A.E. Finley Youth Triathlon

Mark your calendar for the 2011 Finley Frenzy, the A.E. Finley YMCA's Youth Triathlon on August 21.

Reagan at 2010 Finley Frenzy

Nine-year-old Reagan Leandro decided the summer of 2010 was going to be about more than movies, silly bands and friends. She set her goal to train for the Finley Frenzy, Finley’s youth triathlon.
 

Her mother, Jennifer, was excited about Reagan taking the initiative to create her own healthy lifestyle. Reagan even convinced her dad, Scott, to bring her to the Finley Y every Saturday morning to prepare for the race.

“I didn’t think she would actually go through with it until we were on our family vacation this summer,” said Jennifer. “Instead of playing in the pool, she was swimming laps,” Jennifer said.

Reagan began her training by concentrating on the two portions of the triathlon that she felt would be the most difficult: swimming and running. A slow, steady training schedule of running in her neighborhood and swimming laps at the Finley pool, and whenever she could get into the water, helped build her confidence. In addition to the physical training, Reagan made healthy eating choices to support her goal of finishing. Fruits and vegetables were the order of the day!

When Sunday morning, Aug. 22 came, Reagan was nervous, yet determined to finish the race. Volunteers welcomed her to the triathlon, and directed her in line with the other some 200 participants in the swimming portion. The nerves faded and Reagan told her dad, “I can finish this.”

By then, Reagan’s hard work had paid off in other areas of her life. At soccer, she played with more energy and her new found confidence could be seen on the field. She even decided that for Christmas, she wanted a new bike, “one with gears”, so she can start work on next year’s (2011) Frenzy. When she finished the final portion – the run – she crossed the finish line and received her medal with a great big smile!

Reagan was happy to have the opportunity to take responsibility for her own actions and accomplish something that she never thought possible. Now she can incorporate her eating and workout habits into a long-range strategy for healthy living and carry over her newfound confidence into other areas that affect her life. Congratulations to her and all our other Finley participants for a job well done!

The Finley Frenzy is just one example of how the YMCA strengthens community through youth development and healthy living. We’re looking forward to another wonderful race in 2011!

To find out more about this year's 7th Annual Finley Frenzy or to sign up contact: Caitlin Palczuk.

Kraft Y Brings Out the Best in Camper

This spring semester, a 4th grader named Joseph was referred to the Kraft Y after being expelled from another youth program in the community. Program Director Brian Skilton tells us how he and his staff worked together to bring out the best in Joseph.

 

After speaking with Joseph’s grandmother, I learned that his situation was a tough one. His home life wasn’t picture perfect, and he was also heavy and living a very unhealthy lifestyle.

 

When Joseph arrived at our early arrivals and after school programs, we learned that he had trouble interacting with others, didn’t handle change well, and struggled with quick transitions. Within his first two weeks, he had started a fight, yelled profanity at other children and counselors, and arrived at the point of having a conference with myself and his grandmother to discuss if the program was the right fit.

 

Following the Y mission and not giving up on him, the program staff and I decided to invest in Joseph and his family to let the Kraft Y try to make a change in his life. At our next staff meeting, we discussed how to best serve Joseph and let the great child inside of him find a way to come out for good! 



We decided to each take on a specific role:

 

• I committed to being a strong male role model to teach him how to be a good leader as he grows older.
• Taylor, the site coordinator, committed herself to guiding him through conversations about life, good character and friendship.
• Kelsie, a huddle counselor, decided to use knowledge she had gained through classes in child nutrition and wellness to help him begin a healthier lifestyle and lose weight.
• And Marc, a huddle counselor, promised to use skills he had gained through obtaining a teaching certification to help Joseph get back on track scholastically and improve his grades.

That next day, we all got to work!

After months of hard work by the staff and Joseph, things started to change. He began making friends. He started participating in games and activities. He began bringing healthier snacks and being more active. Most important, his attitude towards life and others changed for the better. We started seeing Joseph ask to help as a leader in the program. We saw him setting great examples with his behavior for other children in the program. We also saw a happy side of Joseph that didn’t come out before.

 

One day, his grandmother notified us that she would be sending a therapist to our after school program once a week to work with Joseph and help him continue to find ways to keep his life moving on the right track. By early May, we witnessed a huge breakthrough.

 

He and his therapist were sitting at a table by themselves in the cafeteria, and Taylor just so happened to overhear their conversation.

 

“How are things going, Joseph?” asked the therapist.

 

“Oh, they’re going a lot better!” replied Joseph.

 

“Oh really,” said the therapist, “and why do you think that is?”

 

“Well, it’s definitely because of the YMCA. They help me stay active, and that’s gotta be a good thing! I’ve made more friends, and I like to play in all of the fun games. And the last time I went to my doctor, he told me I’ve lost 10 pounds. ”

 

Taylor began to feel a sense of pride and happiness at the sound of this news, and as she looked at Joseph and his therapist, they could do nothing but talk with smiles on their faces.

 

Since then, Joseph has continued to stay active, lose weight, and be an invested camper before and after school. His grades and behavior in his classroom have improved dramatically, and it’s been more than four months since he has been sent to the principal’s office.

 

Who knows where Joseph may be without the Y, but thanks to the dedication of the staff and his willingness to try, Joseph is on a path to success!

 

SWIM FOR LIFE

Last year, Barry Bowling was searching for a way to make a real impact in his community.

"I told my wife there is something God wants us to do. I just didn’t know what it was," says Barry. “She said to pray about it.”

Barry got his answer as listened to a radio report on the way to the beach. Six teenagers drowned in Louisiana’s Red River trying to save a friend who slipped into deeper water. None of the teenagers or adults watching from the riverbank could swim. The tragedy highlighted a startling statistic. Some 70 percent of African-American youth can’t swim, and drowning rates for young blacks are far higher than for whites.

To Barry, swimming is a rudimentary skill he can’t even remember learning, like walking or riding a bike. He taught his children to respect and feel comfortable around the water at a young age. Hearing the report about the Louisiana drownings led Barry to what he calls his epiphany.

"The light bulb went off," says Barry. "You need to create a program that teaches parents, children, people of any age, how to swim. We have to provide that outlet for folks who don't have the opportunity or funds to pay for swim lessons. I was so excited going down the road. The first thing that popped in my head was the YMCA."

Barry has been a member of the Alexander Family Y in downtown Raleigh for nearly 20 years. He participated in fund-raising efforts, but says he wasn’t a heavily involved volunteer. That changed when Barry pulled to the side of the road and called Brad Davis, YMCA of the Triangle Vice President of Development.

Getting started

“I can’t give enough credit to Brad for turning the idea around and giving it direction. Jon Mills (the Alexander YMCA Branch Director) called me within days and we went to lunch,” says Barry. “I told him I’ll find the money somewhere. Let’s get going.”

Within weeks, the Alexander Y staff developed a business plan and solicited staff members who were experts in aquatics and outreach efforts. Barry made a few tweaks and solicited donors who have a real commitment to the community. Joe Davis (Davis Wealth Management) Ven and Lisa Poole (C3 Foundation) and Karl Blackley (Preston Development Company) now sit on the steering committee. Barry describes the whole process as “lightning quick.”

Swim for Life class June 13

In March, the first free Swim for Life session was held at the YMCA’s pool on Oberlin Road. Barry, his wife and two children were there. Barry got in the pool on the fourth day.

“I helped six adult women who were between 30 and 60 years old. At the end of the lesson, they were able to swim the length of the pool unassisted,” exclaims Barry. “One of the instructors told me that at the beginning of the session, they were terrified of the water.”

This week, more than 65 children and adults are participating in the second Swim for Life sessions operated by the Alexander Family YMCA. Staff and community volunteers say they’re learning as much as participants.

"It was moving to see folks who were afraid of the water get in and have fun." says Jon Mills, Alexander Y Branch Director. "I worked with six teens and children who started the session hanging on the side of the pool and ended up swimming halfway across the pool later in the day!"

And don’t think Barry is done dreaming about the possibilities.

“At the end of three years, I’d like to see this swim program folded into the annual We Build People program through the Alexander Family Y,” says Barry. “There are other people who have the same goal, but just don’t know where to start. Let’s make it easy for other organizations. Hold this up as a model to the YMCA of the Triangle, any Y and any other organization. Here’s a program that works, that’s tested and implemented.”

Community HOPE: Live the Dream

Too many students in our schools struggle to make the grade because they can't read. For years, our Y has been bridging the education gap through tutorial programs. One of our most successful literacy programs is Community HOPE, a one-on-one mentoring curriculum operated in the communities where children need extra educational support.

Read this end-of-school report from Jessica Russell, Community HOPE Director for the A.E. Finley YMCA. The Finley Y serves 55 children through two Community HOPE sites, Raleigh Gardens and The Oaks.

Our theme for the spring semester of Community HOPE was “Live the Dream.”

As our students met with their mentors each week, they had an activity in their folder that focused on developing their dreams - what they want to do and be in the future. Students and mentors talked about how being an independent reader is important to pursuing dreams. They also discussed why it is important to help others as we pursue our dreams.

While the activities directed our students to focus on their dreams, they also created the opportunity for mentors to get to know students on a deeper level.

Each week as we walked around the room, we would hear children say they wanted to be to become a dancer, a fashion designer or a surfer.

These conversations paved a path for a different future. Students learned that they have great potential. They also learned that there are many volunteers who want them to develop their skills, talens and goals.

At the Y, we  strengthen the foundations of our community. Through our “Live the Dream” theme this semester, there was tremendous growth in the depth of relationships shared between mentors and students.

Children and volunteers learned the small steps we take each day help us live out our dreams. 

The YMCA of the Triangle serves nearly 150 children through four Community HOPE sites in the Triangle. Click here to volunteer as a Community HOPE mentor through the Alexander Family YMCA. Click here if you're interesting in serving through the A.E. Finley YMCA.

YMCA Youth Rally 2011: We're Ready for Summer!

Y Youth Staff Paying Attention

What happens when you gather 850 YMCA Staff, add some fun videos, play loud music and learn new cheers? You have the 2011 Youth Rally!

On June 4, all of our Y Youth Staff (before school, after school, summer day camp, tracking out and nursery) met at the Raleigh Convention Center to get motivated and energized about the summer season.

We Like Skits @ the Y

They also had a lot of fun. (Sorry the pictures aren't so great. That's what happens when you're laughing hard!)

You may have seen the comment on this blog from one of our Y friends last week.

Caryn wrote, "There is no organization I trust more with my child!"

What a great compliment, Caryn. We take this youth stuff pretty seriously.

Click here to watch one of the videos Y staff created. Just another reason to be a part of the Y! 

Camp Seafarer Celebrates 50 Years

Time sure flies when you're having fun. Camp Seafarer turns 50 this year!

The "official" party is Sept. 30 - Oct 2 in Arapahoe. But, we're trying to track down some old friends on June 7.

Join us on Facebook for a chat at 7 pm. And be sure to send us your camp pictures. 

Ahoy there!

Getting ready to celebrate

Learn more about Camp Sea Gull for Boys and Camp Seafarer for Girls. It's much more than a vacation!

Perfect Timing = Perfect Fit

At the Y, we know families need all the support they can get. That’s why our youth programs focus on nurturing the potential of all children. Read this post about Brandon who attends a Y After School program operated through the A.E. Finley YMCA.

Brandon Jones' kindergarten teachers informed his mom, Paige, about his hitting, kicking and impulsive behavior. And soon the Y counselors at the Hilburn Elementary school site were concerned too.

Paige scanned the Internet and decided ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) was probably the culprit, but it would be several weeks before an evaluation was complete. Paige worried. Would Brandon get kicked out of school? Would he be singled out? In the meantime, would she be able to keep her job? She prayed for the answers.

Brandon & Carly

That’s when Carly Gravinese, Hilburn onsite coordinator, volunteered to switch hours so she could be with Brandon in the afternoons. She took time to interact with him, brought coloring books and activities for him to complete. She took walks with him outside.

“Brandon took to Carly right away. She knew how to calm him and gave him opportunities to interact with others,” said Paige. “He was so attached to her that when his father dropped him off once, Brandon couldn't wait to introduce him to her.”

A month later, when the diagnosis was official and Brandon was put on medication, Paige breathed a sigh of relief. And Carly saw an instant turnaround.

“It was amazing to see the transformation,” said Carly. “I saw changes even before he was diagnosed. After he got to know me and I understood what was going on, when he got upset, and started hitting or acting out, I told him how disappointed I was."

“I explained the Y’s expectations and pointed out how it feels when he hurt another child. When he did well, I praised him and helped him understand the differences.”

A month later, Carly called Paige with the bad news that she was moving to the Tracking Out program.

“I told her that I wasn't going to tell Brandon because I knew it would break his heart,” Paige said.

When Paige got used to the idea, she realized that the timing was perfect. “I believe it was God working,” she said. “Carly was there just long enough to get us through this situation. Then God said 'You've done your job.' I told Brandon that's how God works.”

“Communication is the key. The counselors take the time to communicate with us, understand and accommodate our children’s needs and always let us know what’s going on.”

Brandon is doing better at school, interacting well with others, and controlling his behavior. Now when she picks him up he's not sitting by himself, but happily playing with the other children in a group.

"Brandon’s probably touched me more than anyone in my eight years at the Y," said Carly.

Zach Hinton: Ready for Success

We develop the next generation of leaders at the Y!  Just read this article by Stacy Chandler that ran in the May 31 edition of the News & Observer's Thumbs Up section. The Clarence E. Lightner YMCA Achievers Program is a leadership development program for area middle and high school teens.


When Zachary Hinton graduated from Southeast Raleigh High School last weekend, he had a little extra preparation for college and life beyond thanks to the Y Achievers program.

For four years in the local Clarence E. Lightner YMCA Achievers Program, Zach has gotten to know mentors in the community, gone on college tours and polished his interview skills both for college and a future career.

"It's a program that tries to help a minority kid to make it in the global arena," he explained.

Zach Hinton

Along the way, he also learned a thing or two about leadership while serving as the chapter's president.

And he's learned that working hard and serving the community has its rewards. Zach was selected for a nationalYMCA Five-Star Ambassador Award, which comes with a $10,000 scholarship.

The award's application process required Zach to take courses on financial literacy, something he thought was emphasized by award sponsor U.S. Bank "so you won't get caught up in the scams," he said. He learned how credit works, tips for finding housing after college and more.

"I figure it's very important for anyone my age to learn about where your money should go," he said.

It's also important, he said, to learn about where a young person can go if he or she works hard and stays on the right path.

The Y Achievers mentoring program gave him and other participants that chance by partnering with black and Latino role models from the community.

"I thought that was really cool, to see someone that looks like me and they were doing well in society," Zach said.

Zach plans to attend Hampton University in Virginia this fall, and he credits Y Achievers for helping to get him there.

"Not only because of the money they are offering me," he said, "but also because of all the skills that I've learned from Y Achievers, from the college essays to the interviews to the college tours. ... Just everything that I've learned, I think it's definitely going to help me figure out my future."

In 2010, the YMCA of Triangle Y Achievers Program and the Clarence E. Lightner Youth Leadership Foundation joined forces. The Lightner Foundation was founded to pay tribute to the life of Clarence E. Lightner, the first African-American mayor of Raleigh. In continuing his positive community efforts, the Clarence E. Lightner Leadership Endowment Fund was established to provide leadership development programs aimed at making a positive impact on youth throughout the Triangle region.

Young Swimmer's Disability is Her Strength

Amazing things happen every day at our YMCAs. Just ask the folks at the A.E. Finley YMCA who watch Hannah Aspden train. This article about the young YMCA of the Triangle (YOTA) swimmer was featured in the May 3 edition of the News & Observer. Click here to learn more about the YOTA program.

Hannah Aspden was born to break rules.

She has been bucking conventional wisdom since she was old enough to walk. Except for Hannah, learning to walk was a challenge. She was born with just one leg.

Hannah is 10 but seems older. She's tall and athletic, with blonde hair and blue eyes. She possesses a wry sense of humor and smiles often, flashing a set of braces. She's not at all self-conscious as she perches, flamingo-like, at the edge of a pool on one leg.

Hannah Trains at the A.E. Finley Pool

Hannah's parents, Jennifer and TJ Aspden, believe their daughter was born to overcome challenges, and they're just along for the ride.

"From the beginning, we decided to let Hannah be independent and to give her every opportunity to succeed," her father said.

Hannah was born premature and missing her entire left leg.

"It's called a congenital hip disarticulation, as she has no leg at all on her left side," Jennifer Aspden said.

Even a decade ago, information on how to deal with babies like Hannah was scarce. In the stressful six months following Hannah's birth, her parents feared for their baby's future. But as Hannah grew stronger, her fighting spirit emerged. Today, her parents' fears are gone.

"Once Hannah started trying to climb out of her crib, we knew everything would be OK," TJ Aspden said.

Eager to succeed
As with all babies old enough to start walking, Hannah started pulling up on furniture. But when she tried to take her first steps, she simply fell down.
While doctors discouraged the use of a prosthetic to help her walk, her parents insisted they try. Success was immediate.

"She was able to balance right away and then started walking," her dad said. "She taught the doctors a lot."
Teachers, friends and complete strangers who encounter Hannah learn from her every day.

Hannah started leading by example the day she followed her older brother off a diving board into a neighborhood pool when she was 4. She came up swimming and has not stopped since.

"Compared to other 10-year-olds, Hannah is a very good swimmer," said Patrick Curran, her coach with the YMCA of the Triangle Swim Team. "She's fully confident that she can compete on the same level as her peers. She is starting to see herself as an international athlete."

High-level competitor
Hannah recently returned from her first international competition, the U.S. Paralympics Spring Nationals/2011 Spring Can-Am Meet, held April 7-9 in Minneapolis. She was the youngest swimmer at the meet, according to results posted on the event website.The event was significant for Hannah because it was the first time she had seen other athletes with disabilities like hers.

"It was cool. Everyone had something different, but we didn't see each other for their disabilities because everyone was like that," Hannah said. "I saw how others deal with their challenges and saw that they were all just glad to be there and happy."

Hannah has been able to turn an obvious disability into strengths that are not visible to the eye, Curran said.

"Hannah's biggest strength as an athlete is her self-confidence," he said.
She also has tremendous core strength and upper body power. Although Hannah uses a prosthetic some of the time, she mostly gets around on crutches and by hopping.

"Using crutches has caused her arms and upper body to become very solid," her coach said. "She engages her core by hopping. Her sense of balance comes from her core strength, and high level swimming is about the core."

She climbs monkey bars, plays soccer and roller-skates, using crutches to propel herself at top speeds around the rink. She would love to try track and field, and she fully believes she can learn to jump hurdles.
Her upper-body strength pays off during games of tag, too.

"When someone's about to tag me, I can just jump up a tree and get away," she said, laughing.

At ease with herself
Hannah, a fifth-grader at North Raleigh Christian Academy, enjoys reading, making jewelry and playing the guitar. She would like to swim in the Paralympics or even the Olympics someday.

Spring Break Offers Lasting Lessons

This article by Stacy Chandler appeared in the May 17 edition of the News & Observer's Thumbs Up section.

While many of her classmates were looking forward to getting a tan on spring break, Kim Geiger was eager to get something else during her time off from school: perspective.

With about 40 fellow members of the Leaders Club from YMCAs across the Triangle, she traveled to Washington, D.C., for a volunteer mission to help that city's hungry and homeless.



Feeding Others

 
The volunteers packed meals and toiletries and served dinners, but their work went beyond handouts. They also engaged with the people they helped, sitting down for one-on-one conversations that helped pass the time but also told the stories of lives gone off-course.



YMCA Spring Break

 "Over my trip I learned that these people grew up maybe not just like I did, but similar, and one bad choice and they ended up like this," Kim, 16, said a couple weeks after returning to her home in Cary. "So I learned that these people were not any less of a human than I was, and I really appreciated that fact by the time I was heading home."

The Leaders Club students worked hard during their trip, but Kim said the hardest part of their mission was when the work was over. 

"The hardest part was walking away," she said. "We would be doing something that was really beneficial and really making a person happy, and then the activity was over and they would go back to being on the streets, not knowing when their next meal would be."

One night, she added, the volunteers cooked dinner for a group of homeless people.

"When we walked home that night, back to our hostel," she said, "we saw some of the people who had eaten dinner with us still with their nametags on, sleeping on benches."
 
Heartwrenching as that scene was for Kim, she knows she gained as much from the trip as the people she was able to help.

"I feel that if I'm helping another person and helping to benefit another one's life, I've done something with my life that's meaningful," she said.

The YMCA of the Triangle's Leaders Club provides middle and high school students with opportunities to receive leadership training that enhances personal growth while teaching the importance of social responsibility and service to others. Click here to learn more.