NEW YORK - (Business Wire) The New York Life Foundation announced today a $200,000 grant to support the YMCA of Greater New York’s new curriculum driven by the Salvadori Method, which provides afterschool staff with “hands-on/minds-on” activities that engage students through architecture, engineering and design to explore math, science, arts and humanities. The YMCA is currently piloting the program at 28 of its 140 Y After School sites, with a focus on the areas of highest need. “Thanks to the generosity of the New York Life Foundation, our Y After School programs will be a model of interactive learning that nurtures social connectedness, improves literacy and encourages problem solving skills,” Jack Lund, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater New York. “This funding is critical to helping us increase the impact our afterschool programs can make in the lives of our kids.”
“We are pleased to support the YMCA’s unique high quality programming, which offers students consistent educational support that can make a difference in their academic success,” said Chris Park, president, New York Life Foundation.
“Our afterschool programs, like all of our youth programs, focus on social development, academic success, self-esteem and developing healthy lifestyles,” said Diane Rizzolo, senior director of youth and family programs for the YMCA of Greater New York. “Offering parents a safe place for their kids to go is just the beginning of our work. We strive to help the ‘whole child’ grow stronger — through academics, recreation and values.”
More than 15,000 New York City kids spend the critical 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. hours in the YMCA’s safe, enriching afterschool care. The YMCA expects to have all of its Y After School sites in the city aligned under the Salvadori Method by the beginning of the 2011-12 school year.
About the YMCA of Greater New York
The largest private youth-serving organization in New York City, the YMCA of Greater New York encompasses 19 branches and 180 program sites throughout the five boroughs, plus three camps upstate, serving 350,000 New Yorkers of all ages each year, including 175,000 children in a variety of educational, social, health and wellness, as well as recreational and child development programs, each of which reinforce the YMCA values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. At the YMCA of Greater New York, our annual Strong Kids Campaign ensures no one is turned away for an inability to pay. Last year, we helped more than 350,000 kids and adults grow strong in spirit, mind and body thanks to more than $46.6 million in free, subsidized or sponsored programs and services. Visit ymcanyc.org to learn more.
About The New York Life Foundation
Inspired by New York Life’s tradition of service and humanity, the New York Life Foundation has, since its founding in 1979, provided more than $120 million in charitable contributions to national and local nonprofit organizations. Through its focus on “Nurturing the Children,” the Foundation supports programs that benefit young people, particularly in the areas of mentoring, safe places to learn and grow, educational enhancement opportunities and childhood bereavement. The Foundation also encourages and facilitates the community involvement of employees, agents, and retirees of New York Life through its Volunteers for Life program. To learn more, please visit the Foundation's Web site at newyorklifefoundation.org.
New York Life
Lacey Siegel, 212-576-7937
lacey_s_siegel@newyorklife.com
or
YMCA
Ellen Murphy, 212-630-9699
emurphy@ymcanyc.org
