Newsroom - 2025
The Madison Area YMCA Celebrates 10 Years of Partnership with Project Community Pride
January 3, 2025
Pictured are Project Community Pride of the Madison Area YMCA Director Christine McIntyre, Staff Clinician Victoria Buckey, and Staff Clinician Kristin Perconte.
The Madison Area YMCA proudly celebrates the 10th anniversary of its partnership with Project Community Pride, a valued part of its organization, marking a decade of expanding youth development services and strengthening community well-being.
Pictured is an earlier logo used by Project Community Pride. Project Community Pride has been a vital part of the community since 1976, providing essential youth counseling and support services. The program joined the Madison Area YMCA in 2014, further expanding its reach and impact.
January 3, 2025 – The Madison Area YMCA proudly celebrates the 10th anniversary of its partnership with Project Community Pride, a valued part of its organization, marking a decade of expanding youth development services and strengthening community well-being. This milestone reflects the program’s unwavering commitment to providing accessible mental health support and proactive education for children, teens, and families.
Project Community Pride has been a vital part of the community since its founding in 1976. The program is made possible through the collaboration of community leaders and the municipalities, school districts, and law enforcement agencies of the Chathams, Florham Park, and Madison. Initially housed in the Madison Police Department, the program moved to their 28 Walnut Street office, and then finally at the Madison Area YMCA’s Family Center, joining the Y in 2014. Over the past 10 years, this collaboration has allowed Project Community Pride to significantly broaden its outreach and impact, offering individual and group counseling, mental health workshops, and support programs to meet evolving community needs.
"Over the past 10 years since joining the Madison Area YMCA, Christine and her team have strengthened Project Community Pride's impact and connections within the community. Their dedication and collaboration have enabled the program to adapt to our community’s evolving needs, delivering essential mental health services and education to children, teens, and families across our service area," said Ed Stoner, the Y's Senior Executive overseeing the program.
“Project Community Pride exemplifies the Y’s mission of nurturing youth potential, fostering community well-being, and providing support to families,” said Christine McIntyre, Director of Project Community Pride. “As a licensed clinical social worker who joined the program in 2014, I have seen firsthand how our work transforms lives. We are committed to supporting our community and ensuring families know we are here for them. Our dedicated team of licensed therapists, holding credentials such as Licensed Professional Counselors and Licensed Clinical Social Workers, ensure the highest standard of care here at Project Community Pride. I am so proud of the work we do, not only within these walls of the Madison Area YMCA, but in our community. We want people to know us in the community, that we are here to support them and their families.”
A cornerstone of this program’s success has been its partnerships with the local school districts, including those in Chatham, Florham Park, and Madison. By conducting mental health workshops, community service programs, and tabling events during school lunch periods, Project Community Pride directly engages students and reinforces the importance of mental well-being. Additionally, the program extends its expertise to Madison Area YMCA competitive sports teams, offering Teen Mental Health First Aid training that bridges the gap between youth sports and mental health awareness.
“Project Community Pride counselors have been incredible in supporting our athletes, especially with our Rosettes gymnastics team,” said Christina Lopez, Gymnastics Director at the Madison Area YMCA. “When our youth feel mentally strong and supported, it shows in their confidence, teamwork, and overall performance.”
This milestone highlights our Y’s broader mission to empower young people, improve community health, and serve our neighbors. “We are deeply grateful for the vision and leadership of the school districts and towns of Chatham, Florham Park, and Madison collaborating with our Y to strengthen the impact and growth of Project Community Pride over the years,” said Madison Area YMCA CEO Diane Mann. “Together, we are creating stronger, healthier futures for the children, teen,s and families across our community.”
About the Madison Area YMCA
As a mission-driven charitable organization, the Madison Area YMCA is dedicated to nurturing the potential of every child and teen, improving the community’s health and well-being, and giving back through programs that foster connection and inclusivity.
The partnership signifies a major step forward in furthering the Y’s commitment to youth development. Since integrating into the Madison Area YMCA in 2014, Project Community Pride has significantly expanded its outreach and impact, reflecting a decade of growth, collaboration, and community support.
To learn more about Project Community Pride visit www.madisonareaymca.org/ProjectCommunitPride or contact Christine McIntyre at cmcintyre@madisonymca.org. If you are experiencing a psychiatric or medical emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency room.