Take a Hike Across the Pike – West Suburban YMCA in Newton

Take a Hike Across the Pike – West Suburban YMCA in Newton Corner

The West Suburban YMCA is a wonderful resource for people of all ages in and around Newton. Their commitment to healthy living and social responsibility is over the top. So this year, our KW Culture Committee decided to name the YMCA as the beneficiary of our anual giving day, Red Day. We started in January collected camping paraphenalia for the benefit of the hundreds of campers attending several YMCA Camps. Read about Camp Chicamee below. Our efforts far exceeded our goals and included a decent financial contribution.

Thank you to the YMCA staff for their caring, hard work, and enthusiam. The story below is from the Y’s August newsletter.

West Suburban YMCA

Donor Spotlight: Keller Williams Realty
~from the August newsletter from the West Suburban YMCA

This year the West Suburban YMCA gained a new community partner in Keller Williams Chestnut Hill Market Center, which supported the Y through their annual day of service, RED Day (Renew, Energize, and Donate). Janet Porcaro, a member of the Keller Williams team, shared with us how the Y has made an impact in her own life. A few years ago, when Lanelle, who was a friend of Janet’s son and a constant figure in their family’s life, seemed to be at a low point and lacked opportunities to lead a healthy lifestyle, Janet wanted to help. Knowing that Lanelle loved basketball, she approached members of the Y staff and told them of Lanelle’s story, and they did not need to hear any more to know how they could help. Lanelle gained a gym membership and immediately began to thrive in his new Y community. Years later when Janet saw Lanelle looking healthier and stronger, he told her “I will always be thankful to you and to the YMCA because that membership that summer absolutely changed my life!”

Janet used her own story to energize her team. Together with their clients, Keller Williams Chestnut Hill Market Center collected thousands of dollars worth of goods – toiletries, craft supplies, games, and more – for our camps and youth service programs. Coupled with a financial gift, they made a significant impact! Keller Williams hopes to energize members of the community through the service they give. By partnering with the West Suburban YMCA, the sense of betterment they gained by becoming a member of our Y’s giving community is one that they, and we, will always value.

My family has enjoyed our membership to the West Suburban YMCA for many years. The fabulous culture strikes you as soon as you enter the turnstyle. The friendly staff always greets you by name. The building itself is historic and complemented with the many updates over the years.

The West Suburban YMCA has a wide variety of programs for all ages including the many amazing camp programs. Read below about Camp Chickami, for Grades 1-10 and Ages 6-15.

DAY CAMP IN WAYLAND, MA
CAMP CHICKAMI
Summer after summer, Chickami campers build meaningful relationships, learn new skills and discover their most authentic selves through creative play and enjoyment of nature on our beautiful 22 acres of wooded land in Wayland, MA. The camp was founded in 1955 and has been owned and operated by the West Suburban YMCA since. ~Camp Chickami