NOVEMBER 2024In this issue:A Decade of Impact: The Charles H. Revson Foundation and the YScott Brindley’s Ironman 70.3 for the Dodge YTeam Y Champions Goes the Distance for NYCLeaders Who Lunch: An Empowering Afternoon with Jen Psaki GIVING TUESDAY IS DECEMBER 3!MATCH ALERT: Help us reach 900 gifts by December 3 to unlock a $50,000 matching gift!WAYS TO SUPPORTStart a fundraiserCheck for corporate match eligibilitySpread the word to support! @ymcanyc A Decade of Impact: The Charles H. Revson Foundation and the Y The YMCA of Greater New York is sincerely grateful to the Charles H. Revson Foundation for their decade-long partnership in our mission to strengthen communities. The Foundation has awarded the Y a total of more than $700,000 in grant funds over the course of our partnership. This includes $600,000 to support our Lifeguard Training and Certification program and the Lifeguard Interorganizational Task Force, funds to support the Y’s census outreach programs, and, most recently, a grant to establish the Sharon Greenberger Scholarship Fund.Thanks to the Foundation’s generous support, the Y has expanded our Lifeguard Training and Certification (LTC) program, supporting safe swimming for New Yorkers of all ages across the five boroughs. Amidst the lifeguard shortage, this work is critical. High drowning risks for communities of color persist, along with reduced access to safe swimming facilities. Intervention is needed to ensure that drowning disparities—already 1.5 times higher for Black individuals—do not grow further. Thanks in part to the Foundation, the Y offers free lifeguard certification courses year-round, often employing graduates to lifeguard at our branches. The Y provides participants with stipends during training and offers sign-on bonuses for new lifeguards. Since last November, we have certified nearly 300 new lifeguards and launched our first school-based certification at Fort Hamilton High School, marking the beginning of a citywide expansion that will create greater access to lifeguard certification opportunities for New Yorkers.The Revson Foundation’s contributions also support our work with the Lifeguard Interorganizational Task Force, which has made significant progress addressing New York City’s lifeguard shortage. This year, our advocacy and recruitment efforts helped organizations across New York City increase their lifeguard corps, including lifeguards who are shallow-water certified—a qualification that helps to address the shortage of lifeguards at public pools and beaches.As we look ahead, the Y will focus on further improving lifeguard recruitment, expanding our school-based outreach, and ensuring equitable access to these services across the five boroughs. Together with the Charles H. Revson Foundation, we make our communities safer. Scott Brindley’s Ironman 70.3 for the Dodge Y It’s not every day that someone completes a 2,000-yard swim, 56-mile bike ride, and 13.1-mile run in support of the Dodge Y’s community programs. That’s why we’re thrilled to highlight Scott Brindley— longtime Dodge member and advocate for the Y’s mission—who participated in the Half Ironman 70.3 New York at Jones Beach on September 28. This incredible feat wasn’t just a personal challenge, it was a race to support the countless youth who rely on the Y’s programs to learn, grow, and thrive.“I’ve seen firsthand how the Dodge YMCA transforms lives. It’s more than just a gym; it’s a lifeline for so many in our community.” - Scott Brindley We are so inspired by Scott’s dedication to supporting his neighbors (and training too!). Seven years ago, he put the meaning behind the miles at the NYC Triathlon by raising funds for the Dodge Y’s community programs as well. Thanks to supporters like you, he has raised over $22,000 and counting—together, we can go beyond the finish line. Visit Scott’s fundraising page. Team Y Champions Goes the Distance for NYC Our 19 Team Y Champions runners, many of whom are first-time marathoners, conquered 26.2 miles and surpassed their $70,000 goal, raising $82,000! Thanks to your generosity, we are feeding hundreds of NYC families, providing more immigrants with job training services, and supporting more teens in our college access programs. While we serve our communities, we also get to enjoy one of the best days of the year in the city—even better shared with our Y family. Thank you to everyone who came out to cheer with us; we had a blast bringing the team spirit to our Y Cheer Zones at the Prospect Park Y, Greenpoint Y, and Harlem Y.Feeling inspired to run? Go half the distance with all the fun. Join the team this spring for our half marathons, United Airlines NYC Half and NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half. Email Tessa Greenberg for more information or visit our team page. Leaders Who Lunch: An Empowering Afternoon with Jen Psaki MSNBC host and former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki joined the Y’s annual Women’s Leadership Luncheon on October 17, where New York City’s top women leaders in business and philanthropy gathered to empower young women and girls. Together, we raised over $78,000 to support young women in our youth leadership and college access programs. As part of our mission, the Y serves students from disadvantaged backgrounds who might otherwise not have access to high-quality enrichment programs.At the event, Jen shared insights on economic equity, inclusion, and today’s most pressing issues for women and girls in an inspiring conversation with Sharon Greenberger, YMCA of Greater New York President & CEO. With candid advice from Jen’s professional journey working in government and media positions at the highest levels, she left all of us feeling inspired, empowered, and motivated to drive change in our own lives and areas of expertise. We are steadfast in our commitment to advocate, empower, and support young women by providing them the resources and opportunities to become our future’s changemakers and thought leaders, and ultimately, whoever they aspire to be.