Updates from Our CEO

Updated May 4, 2020

Dear Summit Area YMCA Members & Friends,

We hope you are doing well physically, mentally and emotionally during these uncertain times. As always, we appreciate your ongoing support of the Summit Area YMCA and want to let you know that we at the Y are working hard to ensure your safety and security when the day comes that we can open our doors again. Our mantra of ‘Our doors may be closed but our mission is open’ remains true.

Approximately 2 months ago we asked you to stay with us as a YMCA member, and your overwhelming support and kindness astounded us. While we are closed, our staff and amazing volunteers are working every day to upgrade and deeply sanitize our facilities, connect with seniors and at-risk members over the phone, fight food insecurity by donating, sorting and packing bags of groceries for families and individuals in need, host blood drives and more. Members can get excited and enjoy a slew of all-new live stream classes by joining our SAY Virtual Fitness Studio Facebook Group, as well as a variety of other free on-demand virtual programming and workout options, and resources for our youth to stay active while at home. We are also moving along with final our construction projects in Berkeley Heights, and look optimistically to providing Summer Camp and possibly Child Care for our families once it is absolutely and totally safe in our facilities and community.

#GivingTuesdayNow will be taking place tomorrow, on Tuesday May 5. At the Y, we’d like to #GIVETHANKS instead. To all our members, staff, volunteers and community, we thank you for all that you have done in support of the Y, and we hope you tune in with us on Facebook tomorrow to see how we are showing our appreciation for YOU!

As a reminder, during the period of the closure, since April 1:

We have stopped ALL upcoming charges (either scheduled for the 1st or 15th of each month) for your membership until we are confirmed to open.

All memberships are on a temporary HOLD.

• Many of you have told us you would like to donate your membership dues to the Y while we are closed. Thank you for your commitment to our Y and your generosity! Now, more than ever, your continued support means everything and we truly appreciate your tax-deductible gift which will help us continue providing services and programs to members and the community.

Please click here to donate your membership dues and we’ll take care of the rest. If you’d like to make a one-time gift, please click here.

All program fees are on HOLD including those for youth sports classes, leagues, clinics, enrichment classes, swim lessons etc. until we open again. We will apply a credit to your account for any classes/sessions that were cancelled due to the facility closure. If you would prefer a refund, please click here.

We want to thank you again for your support. Please stay healthy and be well. We can’t wait for you to walk through our doors again.

Sincerely,

Paul Kieltyka
President & CEO
Summit Area YMCA

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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.