Our Hispanic Heritage Celebration, a partnership with the Berkeley Heights Diversity Council, was a party like no other this past Sunday. More than 90 people came out to join in the fiesta.
Eight different countries were represented this past weekend, including Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Peru, and Puerto Rico.
In our first room, we proudly displayed each country with their respective foods, turning what was a plain space into a lively Hispanic café. Two guitar players from Strings for Music gave the crowd entertainment as they enjoyed a wide variety of cuisine. Local restaurants showed off their dishes, and their owners were proud to give back to our welcoming and thriving community.
In the gymnasium, children were treated with fun activities like make your own maracas and papel picado flags. The biggest hit, however, had to be the pinatas, which were full of candy and toys.
We were very happy to partner with the Berkeley Heights Diversity Council for our first annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration here at the Berkeley Heights YMCA,” said Tiffany Escott, the mission advancement and development director at the Summit Area YMCA. “The planning committee was made up of YMCA staff, a member of the Berkeley Heights Diversity Council, and a parent from the community. We offer an enormous thanks for their time, creativity, and passion for celebrating Hispanic culture. We look forward to bringing the event back next year on October 13, 2024, and will find ways to make it bigger and better!
OUR DIG COMMITMENT
The Summit Area YMCA is committed to serving the community by creating safe and welcoming programs and spaces for all. As a member of the Diversity, Inclusion and Global Innovation Network, the Summit Area YMCA is committed to bridge building and encouraging a welcoming atmosphere within the community. We are comprised of many individuals with the widest array of backgrounds and experiences, but all share the same passion: ensuring everyone has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. Supporting families and the community in their efforts to spread awareness, appreciation for diversity and a sense of inclusivity for everyone in the community is core to the Y’s mission to help every individual reach their highest potential.
Questions? Contact:
TIFFANY ESCOTT
Mission Advancement and Development Director
SUMMIT AREA YMCA
tiffany.escott@thesay.org
(908)464-8373
SUMMIT AREA YMCA
BERKELEY HEIGHTS YMCA | SUMMIT YMCA | THE LEARNING CIRCLE YMCA
In 1886, we were founded as the Young Men’s Christian Association, but today, we are The Y. An association that values, and is made stronger by, its diverse people. We stand for youth development, healthy living and social responsibility — For a better us. We are committed to creating equal opportunity for all regardless of gender, age, disability, income, ethnicity, sexual orientation or religious affiliation. We strive to create a welcoming and inclusive culture in which our four core values — responsibility, honesty, caring and respect — are integral to everyday operations.
Each year, as one of the area’s leading 501(c)3 charitable organizations, the Summit Area YMCA serves more than 15,000 individuals with our free and fee-based programs and services in an area spanning the New Jersey communities of Berkeley Heights, Gillette, Millburn, New Providence, Short Hills, Springfield, Stirling and Summit. Our history is rooted in working side-by-side with our neighbors to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. Through the generosity of our members, donors, and partners, we are able to offer financial assistance for our programs and services to those in need.
