Too Busy for Gangs, Drugs and Video Games: Thanks To Funders, Pre-Teen and Teens are Off The Streets and at The Y

LongIsland.com

From October to May, the YMCA of Long Island offer pre-teens and teens a safe, supervised and fun place to congregate on Friday and Saturday nights.

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Long Island, NY - November 5th, 2013 -  Today’s youngsters have a lot of negative influence to deal with – whether it’s the lure of drugs, the rise of gangs on Long Island, or even hours in front of a video screen with little social interaction.  A positive alternative takes more than common sense – it must be more alluring and engaging than the alternatives – And thanks to the generosity of underwriters and donors, the YMCA of Long Island has just the thing: FREE Pre-Teen and Teen Centers every Friday and Saturday.

From October to May, the YMCA of Long Island offer pre-teens and teens a safe, supervised and fun place to congregate on Friday and Saturday nights, respectively.  Youngsters between the ages of 11 and 19 who sign up for Pre-Teen or Teen Centers are granted full access to YMCA facilities – FREE of charge, whether or not they are members of the Y.  “At the Y, we truly believe that all pre-teens and teens should be able to gather in a safe and structured environment to socialize, and explore their interests,” says Anne N. Brigis, President and CEO of the YMCA of Long Island.

Since its inception in 1995, more than 260,000 youngsters have made the most of the Y’s Pre-Teen and Teen Centers – enjoying recreational swimming, fitness facilities, dance classes, aerobics, computers, basketball and more. Most importantly, these kids have created bonds, built lasting friendships, and felt welcomed and supported by our Pre-Teen & Teen Center staff each and every week. 

FREE doesn’t come cheap.
While kids and their families don’t have to pay to participate, there is a cost to run the teen centers across our 5 main facilities in Glen Cove, Huntington, Patchogue, Bay Shore, and East Hampton.  A fundraiser is held every year to support the centers.  This year, the YMCA of Long Island, Inc. will be hosting a “Giving Thanks by Giving Back” event on November 16th to raise funds and awareness about our community-based teen and pre-teen programs. We expect more than 200 people at the fundraiser and 100% of the proceeds will be used to underwrite the cost of our Island-Wide Pre-Teen and Teen Centers. The event will be held at the YMCA Boulton Center for the Performing Arts, in Bay Shore, NY. All the details can be found at www.ybeinvolved.org.  Capital One Bank  is a major funder of this program.

About the YMCA of Long Island
The YMCA of Long Island is a cause-driven, community-based nonprofit organization that works to foster Youth Development, Healthy Living, and Social Responsibility. The YMCA of Long Island operates facilities in Glen Cove, Bay Shore, Patchogue, Huntington, Brookhaven, and East Hampton. It also has a number of Family Services counseling sites and operates 27 child care sites across Long Island.  In total, the Y offers hundreds of programs and activities to improve the quality of life for more than 60,000 children, families and individuals year-round.  Learn more at www.ymcali.org.

 

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