MIDDLESEX YMCA COMMUNITY SUPPORT CAMPAIGN KICKOFF: At Jackson Chevrolet

The Middlesex Y held the 2014 Community Support Campaign Kickoff this past Thursday at Jackson Chevrolet in Middletown. The Y has raised $71,000 already for their 2014 campaign, a first in Middlesex YMCA Campaign history.

Kelly Smith, Campaign Chairperson, said, “I fully believe in our mission at the Y. I exercise there and my kids learned how to swim there and went to camp at YMCA Camp Ingersoll.”

In attendance were Y program directors,  Kids Korner Director, Melanie Carfora, YMCA Camp Ingersoll Director, Tony Sharillo,  Aquatics Director, Bill Evison, Director of Member Services, Sue Dionne, and others. Many volunteers of the Middlesex Y were in attendance as well as major donors and business partners including May, Bonee & Walsh; Comcast; A&A Office Systems; and TJ, General Manager at Jackson Chevrolet, who hosted the event. Michele Rulnick, President and CEO of the Middlesex Y, thanked donors, board members, volunteers and staff for their efforts in raising funds to provide community access to the Y. David Flood, whose son, Jackson, was able to attend YMCA Camp Ingersoll thanks to the My Time scholarship fund, told the story of how helpful that assistance was to his family. The My Time fund is made possible by donations to the Annual Campaign and helps families who have been affected by cancer. Overall, the event was a huge success, with over $9,000 in donations pledged just that night. The Y gives away over $300,000 in scholarships each year.

The Middlesex Y offers a variety of programming including swim lessons, swim team, therapeutic mentoring, active older adult exercise programs, YMCA Camp Ingersoll day camp, and a variety of group exercise programs including yoga, zumba, hip hop, and cycling. The YMCA also offers a full time preschool program, which recently earned the Middlesex United Way Community Impact Award for 2014. The money raised through the Annual Campaign allows the Y to offer tiered pricing for YMCA Camp Ingersoll as well as scholarships for memberships and swim lessons. There is plenty of opportunity to donate. You can give today by visiting midymca.org.