Newsroom - 2025
Madison Area YMCA Awarded $10,000 Grant from The Summit Foundation to Expand Special Needs Programming
April 21, 2025
(Madison, NJ) – April 21, 2025– The Madison Area YMCA is proud to announce it has been awarded a $10,000 grant from The Summit Foundation to support its Special Needs Programming and Super Saturdays initiative, a vital recreational and social program designed for children with special needs, ages 4-12.
Jessica Gray, Senior Director of Youth Sports & Specialty Programs at the Madison Area YMCA, expressed her enthusiasm for the program and its impact on our community:
"Super Saturdays is more than just a program—it’s a place where children with special needs can feel included, supported, and celebrated. Seeing the joy on their faces as they connect with their volunteer Assistive Buddies and engage in activities is truly inspiring. This program not only enriches the lives of the children who participate but also strengthens our entire community by fostering understanding, empathy, and meaningful connections. I am honored to be part of something that makes such a lasting impact on both our participants and their families."
A Program That Makes an Impact
Super Saturdays is a unique program that matches children with special needs with high school and college-aged volunteer buddies for an hour of fun-filled activities one Saturday a month in the Madison Area YMCA’s program spaces, including the Gymnastics Center, Kids Central, and Gymnasium. The program provides:
- A safe and inclusive space for children to socialize and engage in recreational activities.
- An opportunity for volunteers to develop empathy and understanding by building connections with participants.
- A respite for parents, who can relax while their children are cared for by trained staff and volunteers.
With no similar programs currently available in the Madison/Chatham/Florham Park area, Super Saturdays plays a crucial role in fostering inclusion and connection. The program serves 20-30 families from across Morris County and runs monthly from September through June. With this grant, the Madison Area YMCA aims to offer the program more frequently, provide subsidized funding for families in need, and expand its reach to serve even more families in our community.
Commitment to Inclusion
In alignment with the Madison Area YMCA’s current five-year strategic plan, this grant supports the Y’s mission to foster an inclusive culture that welcomes individuals of all abilities. The long-term goal is to expand the program through enhanced outreach and marketing to reach even more families in need.
“With this funding, we are excited to expand our Super Saturdays program, ensuring more children and families in our community have access to meaningful social experiences in an inclusive and supportive environment,” said Madison Area YMCA Vice President, Advancement & Strategic Initiatives Ed Stoner.
For more information about the Madison Area YMCA’s Special Needs Programming and Super Saturdays, please contact Madison Area YMCA’s Senior Director, Youth Sports & Specialty Programs Jessica Gray at JGray@madisonymca.org or by calling (973)-822-YMCA x2267.
About the Madison Area YMCA
As a mission-driven charitable organization and community wellness center, the Madison Area YMCA is dedicated to nurturing the potential of our youth, providing a safe space for teens, improving the community’s health and well-being, and giving back by providing support to our neighbors. Learn more here: www.madisonareaymca.org.
About The Summit Foundation
The Summit Foundation fosters philanthropy and strengthens resources to address local needs and enhance lives in the Summit, NJ area. In the past 10 years, it has invested over $10 million in the community through grants, scholarships, donor-advised distributions, and special purpose funds. Learn more here: www.summitforever.org.
Pictured enjoying the Super Saturdays program at the Madison Area YMCA’s Family Center are: (Back Row Left to Right) Madison Area YMCA School of Performing Arts and Y Ninja Gym Director Gus Ibranyi, Volunteer Sadie Chase age 15 from Madison, Volunteer Amelie Tallinder age 18 from Madison, Mom Michele Long from Chatham, Madison Area YMCA Senior Director, Youth Sports & Specialty Programs Jessica Gray, Volunteer Jessica Van Slyck age 12 from Chatham, Madison Area YMCA President & CEO Diane Mann, and The Summit Foundation President Dana Turk.
(Middle Row LtoR) Sienna Mcateer age 7 and Dad Brendan Mcateer from Florham Park, Henry Maloney age 11 from Morristown, Teddy Feliciano age 12 from Wyckoff, Sean (Declan) Cochran age 7, Mom Laura Cochran, and Daisy Cochran age 1.5 from Morristown, Ava Luangpakdy age 5 from Chatham, Dylan Long age 6 from Chatham, Volunteer Cameron Walter age 13 from Chatham, Bianca Santos age 7 from Madison, Henry Luangpakdy age 4 from Chatham, Lila Maloney age 5 from Morristown, Volunteer Caraline Delikaris age 15 from Summit, Joseph Bie age 6 and Dad Joe Bie from Morris Plains.
(Front Row LtoR) Volunteer Ella Pugsley-Crigler age 18 from Madison, Joey Demarzo age 5 from Madison, Andrew (AJ) Salerno age 5 from Madison, Jackson Bie age 5 from Morristown, and Volunteer Elizabeth Salamone age 13 from Madison.
Pictured at a Super Saturdays event are Madison Area YMCA School of Performing Arts and Y Ninja Gym Director Gus Ibranyi, Madison Area YMCA Senior Director, Youth Sports & Specialty Programs Jessica Gray, The Summit Foundation President Dana Turk, and Madison Area YMCA President & CEO Diane Mann.
###