By: centraljersey.com
The Somerset Valley YMCA launched its 2011 Strong Kids Campaign at the Somerville Family YMCA on Feb. 3, with more than 100 people attending the western-themed event.
CEO Paul Kieltyka spoke of the Y’s many programs that serve the community and how requests for financial assistance have increased over the last year, prompting a need to increase the Strong Kids Campaign goal over last year’s amount.
The Somerset Valley YMCA provided more than $659,000 in financial assistance and community subsidies, helping more than 1,000 children, families and senior citizens.
Branch executives Tim Dry, Valerie Giacopelli and Dan Levitt introduced their branch chairs and spoke of their Strong Kid campaign goals. Storytellers for each branch engaged everyone at the event with their mission stories about what the Somerset Valley YMCA has meant to them.
Bridgewater Family YMCA Branch Executive Tim Dry spoke for Catherine Reilly. Dry had taught Catherine how to swim when she was a child, and she is now a swim instructor at the Y and works with Special Olympics. Dry read a letter from Special Olympics stating how wonderful Catherine was as a swim coach and how she’s helped so many people.
Alex Voitovich, a Hillsborough board member for the last four years, said he moved from Texas 20 years ago and joined the Y. "The Y is much more then just a gym and swim. It’s a family," said Voitovich. "The Y does so much and we need to get our story out."
Co-Chair Steve Emr of Team Capital Bank spoke of how important it is for the Y to reach the goal for financial assistance. Co-chair Pete Schoberl of Community First Bank was unable to attend.
The Strong Kids Campaign will run through March 15 when the Y will hold its annual meeting and victory celebration at the Somerville Elks. Even though the campaign ends in March, donations are welcome throughout the year.

