Funds raised will help residents of Hobart and surrounding communities learn, grow and thrive!

Everyday, the Hobart Family YMCA serves as a gathering place for the community. Kids pour in after school to play and do homework, seniors meet for exercise, backgammon, group activities and to connect with one another. To ensure that the Y can continue to provide our residents with life enhancing services, the Hobart Family YMCA is launching it annual Community Support Campaign.

As a leading non-profit for strengthening community, financial gifts to the Hobart Y will help advance programming and services that support youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. More importantly, gifts to the Hobart Family YMCA make a direct impact on residents right here in our community.

Last year, financial support made it possible for elementary age kids to have a safe place to learn and build confidence after school and at summer day camps; for families to reconnect, get healthier and grow together; and for seniors to access educational, social and wellness programs to reach their full potential.

"We all need the Y because our organization works every day to nurture the potential of kids, improve health and well-being and help neighbors support one another," said Dale Polomchak, CEO. "With our Community Support Campaign, we want more people to understand that we are more than where to go to exercise or swim - and that we rely on their financial support to do our vital work."   

This year, the Hobart Family YMCA hopes to raise $22,000. Funds raised will support memberships for individuals and families, vital programs including youth sports, water exercise classes, arthritis classes, preschool and school-age childcare.

The "Changing Lives" annual fund campaign kick-off event will take place on Thursday May 10th at 5:30pm at the Hobart Family YMCA, 601 W 40th Place, and will feature donor recognition, special presentations, and light refreshments.

To learn more about how you can support the Y's cause, please contact:

Dale Polomchak, CEO at (219) 942-2183, ext. 13, or email at dpolomchak@hobartymca.orgor visit www.hobartymca.org

Hobart Family YMCA Developmental Preschoolers learn about social responsibility by supporting community service projects sponsored by the Y. Preschoolers "show they care" by supporting the Y's Annual "Loving is Sharing" Food Drive for the Hobart Food Pantry and "Pennies for Friends from Friends." The preschoolers and their families brought in canned goods and nonperishable food items to the Y before their class-time. We delivered a truck-load of canned food to the Food Pantry. Theresia Larimore, Director of the Hobart Food Pantry wrote the following in a thank you letter to our preschoolers and their parents, "Caring donors like you help eliminate hunger in Hobart. The people that receive your gifts and our services are so grateful. Your commitment to our community is the key to the Hobart Food Pantry's success."

From September to March the preschoolers also brought their pennies for the Hobart Food Pantry and the Y's Annual Campaign, Changing Lives. This year the preschoolers and their parents raised more than $1,000 for these worthy causes. Their contributions will make a difference in the lives of the many people who depend on the Hobart Food Pantry each week. We also know that many young people don't experience the kind of opportunities for growth, leadership and a sense of community that come from being part of the Y. Our parents, who supported their preschooler's participation in bringing their pennies each day ensures that more kids learn, grow and thrive through the many children we support through the Y's Annual Campaign, Changing Lives. The Changing Lives Campaign has already touched several lives this year.  

Melissa shares that if it wasn't for the Changing Lives Campaign my son would not have been able to continue preschool due to financial circumstances. She explains that preschool is very important to a child, but when I had to choose between paying for preschool or the rent, food , transportation and the other necessities in life, the important like my son's preschool has to sometimes go to the wayside. Thank you so much for offering this financial assistance to our community.

Another young mother , Amy, who has two young girls in our 1st Choice Before and After school program was so excited to share about being a recipient of funds generated by the Changing Lives Campaign. Amy shares that because of a divorce I uprooted my girls and brought them to Hobart. Prior to our move, my girls did not have to go to day care because I didn't work outside the home. I of course found a job and had to find child care for my girls. I found out about the Y's 1st Choice Program and signed them up for it. But I found myself in a dilemma, when I realized that the extra expense was putting a strain on my budget. I had to decide what I was going to do. Should I quit my job to care for my girls or what? I heard about the financial assistance the Y offered; I applied and received it. A huge burden lifted from my shoulders. My girls are in a caring and safe environment and I don't have to decide whether to go to the grocery store or pay for my child care bill. I just want to let you know that you have helped our family tremendously and we will be forever grateful. Thank you for truly changing lives.

Y GIVES BACK THROUGH REBUILDING TOGETHER

 

As part of our employee Well Workplace Program, employees can earn points toward their WWP goals and rewards by getting involved in community events and activities as volunteers. This gets our employees to become more active in their community and helps out community organizations who need volunteers. Giving back to our community is what the Social Responsibility is all about.

Our employee team (and sometimes their spouses) have been helping Rebuilding Together (formerly Christmas In April) first with their fundraiser back in March and then taking on a house project on the April 28th work day. The Y team was assigned a house owned by an 87 year old lady in Lake Station, that had fallen into a bit of disrepair. Our job was to insulate her attic space in order to save her money on her enormous heating bills. Ten Y staff worked not only to make her house more energy efficient, but also to give back and be part of our community.  

MEET THE STAFF -  

MICKIE PISCIONE

 

 

If you look up the word "special" in the dictionary (or Wikipedia) there would simply be a picture of Mickie Piscione.  

Mickie has worked in our First Choice School-Age Childcare program ALMOST as long as her mother, Shirley Scott. It is hard to believe it has been 21 years and 4 months, but who's counting! (especially since she looks like she is 29 years old).

Mickie has been married to her husband Thomas for 35 years. They have 3 children; Chasity, who lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with her husband Clint and their son, Benjamin; Dawn, who is married to Dan and has 3 children, Colin, Tyler and Allie and live in Winfield; and son Eric who is single and lives in Hobart.

Mickie has been a Site Leader at our YMCA morning program making sure the kids get off to a good start for their learning day, and is now serving in a capacity of First Choice Coordinator. Her administrative duties include signing new families into our First Choice program, preparing daily transportation and attendance sheets, and managing our KidTrax attendance software.

In her non-working hours, Mickie enjoys her grandchildren of course, but also likes to read books, walk, bike and flower garden. She would set her Pandora Radio on the "oldies" station, says blue is her favorite color and loves to watch her grandkids play sports. The Hobart Y is thankful to have an employee with the dedication to children and the YMCA Mission that Mickie has.  

In this newsletter we have tried to stress the importance of supporting the Y's annual fund campaign which provides opportunities for families and individuals to participate in Y programs and activities. Sometimes, especially in this tough economy, it is impossible for some families to have the extra financial resources to make a donation to our campaign, quite possibly the same families we are providing financial assistance for. But there are other ways YOU can help the Y including being a volunteer. Our Youth Sports Programs DEPEND upon volunteer coaches to be successful. You do not need to have experience coaching youth sports or even have a working knowledge of the sport. Our sports team will give you all the tools and guidance you will need to lead a team. Remember, we need you TIME, TALENT or TREASURE to support your Y and make it the best it can be!

CURRENT JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Office Manager

Sports Coordinator

Maintenance

Custodial

Front Desk

Lifeguard

For more information, visit 

www.hobartymca.org/about-us/opportunities