Yonkers Family YMCA

Pre-Father’s Day Gala

John — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:21:06 +0000

The Yonkers Family YMCA and 5K Media cordially invite you to its first annual Pre-Father’s Day Gala on Saturday, June 16, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. This is an opportunity to celebrate the relationship between fathers (or significant men of influence) and daughters in a festive setting at the YMCA.

Formal attire is required and the cost is $10.00 per person.

For more information contact: Rodney “Bowtie” Harraway at (646) 712-6939.

YMCA Teen College Tours-April 2012

John — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:14:48 +0000

The Yonkers Family YMCA Youth Development Program staff and participants took on a new journey this year. With the help of the YMCA of the USA Higher Education Initiative, the Youth Development Program embarked on third annual college tour. Last year, the Y teens visited Syracuse, Cortland, and Binghamton University in Central New York. During the 2012 spring break, the youth development program took a group of 15 students on a 4 day college tour to Pennsylvania. During our trip, we visited Penn State University’s Berks Campus, La Salle University, Temple University, and Lincoln University. The schools were selected to meet the wants of the teens. While some teens wanted to visit small student population schools others were interested in experiencing universities with a large student population or a historically black college or university. The schools selected met their criteria. All the schools gave the youth a tour of their campus. During each tour the teens received information on academic and sport programs, financial aid, scholarships, and campus life. To make the experience more realistic for the Y teens, we interview students on campus, visited residential halls, and dined at schools’ dining halls.

As part of our higher education and life skills curriculum, our partners at Planned Parenthood invited the group to the Philadelphia office where the Y teens received a “healthy life styles while in college” presentation. The teens also visited historical sites and city landmarks. Overall, we had a safe, fun, and productive experience. As a result, several of our youth will be applying to Temple and Lincoln University where their application fee will be waived due to their participation on the tour. With the support of our stakeholders, we are hoping to increase the number of teens to attend the next year’s tour.

YMCA Staff Member Justin Wins the Northeast Natural Muscle Association Competition

John — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 23:44:45 +0000

Justin Baker, who serves as a member of the YMCA’s school age child care staff recently participated in the Northeast Natural Muscle Association Competition for the first time in April 2012. He came in first place in the Novice Division. He also became a finalist in the Heavyweight Division.

Justin was inspired by his family and friends do this because he hs been a serious bodybuilder since he was 13 years old. He loves to participate in bodybuilding and other exercises and finds it a bigger challenge than group sports because you have to achieve high levels on your own. No slacking. he has also participated in marathons.

Justin is 21 years of age and is looking at the possibility of a professional career in fitness.

Go Justin! Go Justin! Go Justin! We are proud of you!

City Council President Maintains his Quality of Life

John — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 19:26:58 +0000

City Council President Chuch Lesnick is known for caring about Yonkers. On Saturday, March 24, 2012, his office hosted a Quality of Life fair at the Riverfront Library. The YMCA was invited to share information regarding its health and wellness programs as well as its violence prevention programs.

Chuck really got involved. He rolled the exercise dice and challenged several children to do the same. He had to do push ups. Go President Lesnick!

Christella Cepeda Ranks #3 in the Golden Gloves

John — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 17:06:41 +0000

“This girl is good,” says Coach John Morrison Christella Cepeda’s boxing coach. “She’s been doing this for three years and gets better all the time.”

Christella recently attended the national Golden Gloves tournament in Colorado and became a semi-finalist and is now ranked third int he nation.

Christella is a Yonkers resident and has been an avid sports participant for several years in many athletic activities. She became interested in boxing at the Yonkers Family YMCA about two years ago and has been a successful participant since. In 2011 she became a Golden Gloves Silver Champion and a USA Metro Boxing Champion.

Christella is a freshman pre-med/biology major at Lehman College.

Keep it up Christella! We are proud of you!