WORCESTER —  The Montachusett Regional YMCA in Fitchburg has merged with the YMCA of Central Massachusetts, creating an association that serves more than 35,000 members in about 60 communities.

The merger comes nearly two years after the boards of directors at both nonprofits started exploring sharing resources. Collaboration will give members access to more facilities and services, said Sharon Henderson, marketing director for the YMCA of Central Massachusetts.

“It makes sense for all of us,” she said. “We can give more to the community, because now they can use all of the four branches, depending on what they want to do.”

The YMCA of Central Massachusetts includes the Greendale and Central branches in Worcester, and the Boroughs branch in Westboro.

Each location has different facilities. Greendale, for instance, has clay tennis courts, while Boroughs has a rock climbing wall.

According to the merger, which was completed Sept. 30, executives from the Fitchburg location will join the leadership team of the parent association. No employees will lose their jobs in the transition, Ms. Henderson said.

David Connell, regional executive director, will manage day-to-day operations at the Fitchburg branch and continue to oversee the Central branch in Worcester.

With the addition of the Fitchburg branch, the YMCA of Central Massachusetts has 550 employees.

It is funded through membership fees, activity fees, donations and government grants. YMCAs offer exercise facilities, youth programming and other services.

One benefit of the merger, Ms. Henderson noted, is that successful programs, like one that helps minority high school students in Worcester prepare for college, could be expanded to the Fitchburg branch. “It just makes sense for us to do it together,” she said.

Membership prices will not change for at least a year, she added. At that time, executives will consider changes to pricing, as well as programming.

The roots of YMCAs in Central Massachusetts date back to the 1800s.

Source: Telegram.com

Summer Shouldn’t Mean
Children are Hungry

YMCA is ‘Serving Up Summer’ with the Walmart Foundation to Fight Child Hunger

The Y joins national effort to serve 5 million healthy meals and snacks to

100,000 children to help keep them well-nourished

Worcester, MA, Tuesday, June 26, 2012, announces major partnership with WalMart Foundation to help fight child hunger this summer.   While summer should be a time of fun, exploration and relaxation, many children are left without the nutrition they need to learn, grow and thrive. More than 21 million children lose access to free or reduced-cost meals once the school year ends, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). To ensure that children in Worcester County and Central Massachusetts have access to food year-round, the YMCA of Central Massachusetts is offering free healthy meals and snacks through its summer food program, thanks to a substantial grant funded by the Walmart Foundation.

The Y has partnered with the Walmart Foundation to address child hunger in communities, with a focus on increasing participation in the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), which provides free meals to children aged 18 and under while school is out. According to the Food Research and Action Center, only in one in seven children who depend on free or reduced-cost meals during the school year received meals though the SFSP last summer. This summer, more than 300 Ys nationwide will offer summer food programs with a collective goal to serve 5 million healthy meals and snacks to 100,000 children. The Central Community Branch YMCA onMain Streetand Greendale Family Branch,Shore Drive,Worcester,MAplan to serve a substantial amount of meals and snacks to help hundreds of children stay well-nourished.

“For some children in our communities, the end of the school year means end of meals,” said Sharon Henderson, Marketing and Communication Director, YMCA of Central Massachusetts. “At the Y, we are focused on making sure children stay healthy and well-nourished. Thanks to the partnership with the Walmart Foundation, our Y will be able to provide meals to children in the community who need them most.”

“At Walmart, we recognize the need to support the development of our nation’s youth,” said Sylvia Mathews Burwell, president of the Walmart Foundation. “We know that providing access to healthy meals during the summer months will enable students to return to school healthy, prepared and ready to succeed. By working closely with the YMCA of Central Massachusetts, we can help kids have better summers and, ultimately, better lives.”

The program unfolds as follows:  Summer Camp and summer program participants: As part of the YMCA of Central Massachusetts’ summer food program, children aged 18 and under will continue to receive one meal and a snack a day. Not only will this help hundreds of children stay well-nourished, active and energized all summer long, but it also will alleviate the strain on family food budgets when school is out. As a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Y is focused on ensuring that all children have access to food and maintain good health.

Nationally, the Y is a partner in the Walmart Foundation’s 2012 Summer Giving Campaign, which has committed more than $20 million in grants to expand nutrition, learning and employment programs for elementary, middle and high school students in more than 350 communities. The Walmart Foundation contributed a $5 million grant to YMCA of the USA (Y-USA) to address child hunger. Y-USA, in turn, passes the funding along in the form of grants to participating YMCAs. To learn more about the YMCA of Central Massachusetts summer food program, visit www.ymcaofcm.org

The 13th annual Minority Achievers Program gala was held June 13 at the Central Community Branch of the YMCA of Central Massachusetts in Worcester. Mark P. Bilotta, CEO of the Colleges of Worcester Consortium, was the guest speaker.

College-bound students recognized as Minority Achievers Program graduates were, from Burncoat, Roberta Afutu, Anika Ampadu, Reinesha Bailey, Aimee Finecountry, Gladys Frimpong, Sanjana Jude, Ashley LaDou and Daisy Mungai; from South High Community School, Latoya Berger and Paul Equsquiza; from Doherty Memorial High School, Shadea Blyther, Taylor Dupree, Markus Hargrove, Toni Pham, Nia Plummer, Lina Rosario, Chardem Taylor and Paulyn Zinsonni; from Wellesley High School, Shayair Hall; and from Abby Kelley Foster Charter School, Lexie Hernandez.

Source: Telegram.com