Ys Works: Impact Made Possible By You

JULY 2025

In this issue:

• Empowering Youth with The Pinkerton Foundation
• Rowe Scholars Are College-Bound and Y Proud
• How Prospect Park Y Shaped a Life—and Inspired a $4.5M Legacy
• Meet Amari, A Lifesaver at La Central Y

IN REVIEW: Empowering Youth with The Pinkerton Foundation

Across New York City, thousands of young people are taking bold steps toward brighter futures—thanks in no small part to the generosity of The Pinkerton Foundation. Through their visionary support, teens are discovering new pathways to college, careers, and leadership, while building the skills they need to thrive both in and out of the classroom.

With a lifetime investment of over $1.2 million, the Foundation has been a powerful force behind two of our most transformative initiatives: the Rowe Scholars program and the Lifeguard Training & Certification program.

Through the Foundation’s support, we’re creating pathways to college and future employment for more than 1,000 public and charter high school students across the five boroughs. In 2024, their gift of $75,000 helped power individualized academic planning, college tours, curriculum-based workshops, and financial literacy education.  

Our scholars—two-thirds of whom identify as Black or Hispanic—come from under-resourced schools where college may feel out of reach. The Rowe Scholars program changes that. Students receive hands-on support navigating the FAFSA, prepping for admissions exams, and exploring career paths. This is more than a program; it’s a lifeline. And it’s closing the achievement gap for hundreds of young people every year.

The Foundation’s impact doesn’t stop in the classroom. It extends to the pool deck, where young people are gaining the skills to save lives and step into leadership roles.

With a citywide lifeguard shortage and rising concerns about water safety, their recent grant of $100,000 is helping to strengthen and expand our Lifeguard Training and Certification program. Thanks in part to the Foundation, we’re on track to certify 235 new lifeguards this year, equipping young people with the tools they need for meaningful employment and future career pathways.

This work goes hand-in-hand with our Second Grade Swim program, which served over 1,200 children last year alone, laying the groundwork for a lifetime of confidence and safety in the water.

Together, these efforts represent a powerful investment not just in youth development—but in public safety, economic mobility, and workforce development citywide.

On behalf of the thousands of teens whose lives you have touched, thank you. Your belief in their potential and commitment to empowering the next generation of scholars, lifeguards, and community leaders is making a real difference in this city. 

Rowe Scholars Are College-Bound and Y Proud 

College Decision Day is one of our favorite days of the year – a momentous time where we get to celebrate our senior Y Rowe Scholar graduates. On Friday, June 20, we gathered at Capital Group’s office with 85 of our Y teens to celebrate their pursuit of post-secondary success and higher education.  

The Y’s Rowe Scholars program is a comprehensive college and career access program offered at no cost to New York City teens throughout the five boroughs. This year, we provided more than $75,000 in scholarships, thanks to our donors and partners who help make this possible. 

Joined by family and Y staff, students announced the colleges they will be attending in the fall, such as SUNY Albany, Brooklyn College, Temple University, Syracuse University, Fordham University, Northeastern University, Hunter College, and the University of Pittsburgh.  

“I’m deeply grateful to everyone who has supported me throughout my high school journey – especially my Rowe Scholars family – and I will carry their wisdom and encouragement with me as I head to Brooklyn College,” said Omar Perez, graduating senior. “From organizing career events to offering personalized academic and application support, the Y’s investment in my education has been invaluable in preparing me for this next chapter.” 

The Rowe Scholars program has served tens of thousands of public and charter school students enrolled in grades 9-12 since 2009, offering continued support throughout college and beyond. Our Rowe Scholars receive curriculum-based workshops, college tours, SAT/ACT test prep, career counseling, and financial literacy. In 2024, 95% of Rowe Scholars graduated from high school (compared to a citywide average of 83%) and 83% of Rowe Scholars matriculated into college.  
  
Learn more about the Rowe Scholars program.

IN REVIEW: How Prospect Park Y Shaped a Life—and Inspired a $4.5M Legacy 

Last year, on the 10th anniversary of the Prospect Park Y’s large pool opening, we celebrated more than a milestone—we honored a legacy. The Prospect Park Y’s beloved pool now bears the names of Jack and Eva Watson, whose extraordinary $4.5 million bequest will strengthen and sustain the Y’s programs for generations to come.

Jack Watson’s connection to the Y goes back nearly a century. As a young man growing up in Brooklyn in the late 1930s, he found refuge at the Prospect Park Y, especially during a difficult time at home. The Y became a place where he could be active, find community, and build confidence. "Jack was active in many sports, and I believe it was the Y that gave him his direction in life," shared the executor of their estate. “That early support stayed with him, and it’s no surprise that the Y remained so important to him even decades later.”

Jack went on to build a successful career in civil engineering, and in 1955, he married Eva at the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church—the beginning of a beautiful 50-year marriage before Jack's passing. Despite facing challenges—including Jack’s vision loss in his 40s and his battle with Alzheimer’s later in life—the Watsons remained deeply committed to giving back.

Their estate honored five institutions that shaped their lives: Cornell University, the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, the Foundation Fighting Blindness, the Alzheimer’s Association—and the Prospect Park Y.

The Watsons never sought recognition during their lifetime. They lived modestly so their savings could go further in service of others.  

Their bequest—the largest in Prospect Park Y history—is unrestricted, ensuring that it can support the area of greatest need. From swim lessons to afterschool care, from teen mentoring to chronic disease prevention, their gift will make it possible for thousands of New Yorkers to access the life-changing programs Jack once relied on.

As we honor Jack and Eva’s incredible legacy, we are reminded of the quiet power of planned giving. A simple decision made during one’s lifetime can echo far into the future. For the Watsons, it meant investing in the values they held dear: community, health, and opportunity.

Their story is a powerful invitation—to remember where we came from, and to consider how we might give back in ways that will matter long after we’re gone.

Learn more about legacy giving at the Y and our Heritage Society. 

Meet Amari, A Lifesaver at La Central Y

Amari Williams has always felt at home in the water. She’s been swimming since she was six months old. But it wasn’t until a high school counselor introduced her to the Y’s Lifeguard Certification Program that her passion became her purpose.

Now 21, Amari is not only a certified lifeguard but also a swim instructor and lifeguard at the La Central Y, where she helps others feel safe and confident in the water. “Swimming is my peace,” she says. “It’s my happy place, and now I get to share that with people who never thought they could swim.”

Amari’s journey hasn’t been easy. After the loss of a loved one and a difficult stretch in school, she found herself at a crossroads. The Y gave her more than just a job—it gave her stability, mentorship, and a sense of purpose. "I'm glad I'm doing this because it saved me from a lot of things.”

Amari has built confidence, career skills, and lasting connections at the Y. She’s taught dozens of children and adults to swim and hopes to become an Aquatics Supervisor someday.  

Thanks to supporters like you, young people like Amari can access life-saving skills, meaningful employment, and a strong foundation for the future. “I want to be a role model,” she says. “To show that no matter what you go through, you can come out stronger—and help others do the same.” 

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR HEROES OF NEW YORK GALA SPONSORS