The CEO Spot 

This past month, I had the opportunity to attend my first Advocacy Day at the State Capitol, and it was a truly meaningful experience. I joined the Connecticut YMCA Alliance alongside fellow YMCA CEOs and leaders from across the state to engage directly with legislators and advocate for the communities we serve. It was a strong reminder that the YMCA is not just a place for health and wellness, but a leading voice for youth development, family support, and community impact. 

Our conversations focused on several key issues. Early childcare funding remains one of the most urgent needs. While the creation of the Early Childhood Endowment was an important step, there is still a significant gap in making childcare accessible and affordable for working families, especially with thousands of children still on the Care4Kids waitlist. 

We also advocated for expanded access to water safety and swim instruction. Drowning continues to be a leading cause of accidental death among young children, and increasing access to swim lessons is critical to protecting lives and supporting families. 

In addition, we addressed the growing challenge of rising property and casualty insurance costs, which are placing increased strain on nonprofits and impacting our ability to maintain safe, accessible spaces. 

This experience reinforced the importance of showing up, building relationships, and sharing the real stories of impact from our community. It’s essential that our members understand our work extends beyond our walls—we are actively advocating for policies and resources that strengthen families and improve quality of life across greater Waterbury. 

Anthony Ireland

Chief Executive Director

We are stronger together, and this year’s Connecticut Community Foundation Give Local Greater Waterbury & Litchfield Hills is a great reflection of that. In just 36 hours, 34 donors contributed $8,235 to support the greater Waterbury community. 

Because of your support, the Greater Waterbury YMCA can continue creating meaningful opportunities that impact the whole person, from summer camp experiences that build confidence and belonging, to youth and teen programs that foster leadership and wellness, to Truancy Prevention services that help keep young people on track for success. 

As we look ahead, we encourage even greater participation in next year’s Give Local. Every gift, every share, and every connection helps expand our reach and deepen our impact across the community. 

Thank you for being part of this collective effort to build a stronger future. 

Camperships Available Until May 15 

Summer is right around the corner, which means so is camp!  
 
Here at the Greater Waterbury YMCA we want to make sure that if you have a camper in your life, they’re able to attend. With the support of the United Way of Greater Waterbury, we can make two weeks of camp a possibility.

Camperships are available, even if you already registered, until May 15 and are awarded on a first come, first serve basis. 


Apply is easy as one, two, three, four. 

1. Stop by the Front Desk of the Greater Waterbury YMCA before May 15th! (You will need proof of income- SNAP recipients are automatically pre-qualified for a campership!)  
2. Complete the Campership Application AND YMCA Camp Mataucha or Oakasha registration form.
3. Begin working on completing all Camp Forms (you can find our camp forms at waterburyymca.org/camps) 
4. Staff from the Greater Waterbury YMCA will contact families as they are approved by the Campership Fund!

Did you know that other financial assistance is available for camp? And if you qualify, you can use all three to help pay for camp?  

• United Way Camperships – For all the information, see above
• Care4Kids – This program is sponsored by the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood. CLICK HERE to see if you’re eligible.
• Open Doors – This program is provided by the Greater Waterbury YMCA. CLICK HERE for details.

We look forward to seeing you at camp this summer! 

Teacher of the Month! Meet Diana Olmedo

Since joining us in March 2024, Diana has consistently brought heart, energy, and dedication to her role. As a toddler teacher, she meets children where they are developmentally, getting down to their level, embracing the joy and messiness of early learning, and turning everyday moments into meaningful learning experiences through creativity, movement, and play. 

Whether she’s dancing, singing, or leading simple yoga poses, Diana fills her classroom with joy, warmth, and genuine connection. She fosters a nurturing environment where children feel safe, supported, and excited to explore and learn each day. 

Over the past year, Diana has continued to grow in her role and consistently shows initiative in supporting both her students and their families. One of her greatest strengths is her ability to incorporate her first language, Spanish, into her teaching. By seamlessly blending English and Spanish in the classroom, she provides her students with the invaluable foundation of early bilingual learning. 

Celebrating the Week of the Young Child

Each April, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) brings together educators, families, and communities to celebrate early learning, young children, and the important adults in their lives. 

At the Y, our youngest learners enjoyed a week full of engaging, themed activities including Music Monday, Tasty Tuesday, and Artsy Thursday, each designed to spark creativity, exploration, and joy in learning. 

A highlight of the week was the Fifth Annual Fashion Show, led by Miss Phyllis. This special event celebrated confidence, self-expression, and joy as our youngest learners took to the runway in front of their families, friends, and teachers, proudly showcasing their individuality and spirit. 

Read Across America with Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

In March, during Read Across America Week, students enrolled in the Greater Waterbury YMCA School Age Child Care (SACC) program were visited by members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Lambda Rho Chapter. 

At each SACC site, the fraternity brothers engaged students through interactive storytime, reading aloud and encouraging a love of books. They also emphasized the importance of literacy and consistent reading as a foundation for lifelong learning. 

4-H Field Trip to UCONN

Several students had the opportunity to visit the University of Connecticut, Storrs Campus during spring break to participate in their Farm Day. UConn Farm Days invites students, community members, and clubs to participate in agricultural experiences. During the trip, students explored the campus farm, met a variety of animals, learned about nutrition, and ended the day by enjoying ice cream from UConn’s Dairy Bar.  

Congratulations CAC!

Congratulations to the Child Advocacy Center (CAC) Interdisciplinary Team on being selected as recipients of a prestigious Purple Ribbon Award medallion in the category of Interdisciplinary Team of the Year. 

The CAC team is made up of dedicated professionals who work collaboratively to investigate and prosecute cases involving suspected or alleged child sexual abuse and serious physical abuse. Their coordinated approach brings together all key partners involved in the process, including law enforcement, the Department of Children and Families (DCF), prosecutors, medical professionals, and treatment providers, ensuring a comprehensive and child-centered response. 

Launched in 2021, the Purple Ribbon Awards (PRA), presented by Alliance for HOPE International, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that operates DomesticShelters.org, recognize excellence in the field of domestic violence and child advocacy. Award recipients include advocates, programs, shelters, organizations, survivors, and community partners who make a meaningful impact in supporting and protecting those affected by abuse. 

Calling All Young Athletes

Ready to level up your game this summer? 

The Greater Waterbury YMCA is excited to offer Strength to Succeed, a high-energy training program built specifically for young athletes who want to get faster, stronger, and more confident before summer leagues and camps kick off. 

This isn’t just workouts, it’s sport-focused training designed to improve speed, agility, strength, and overall performance for athletes in any sport. Whether you’re on the field, court, or track, this program helps you build the skills that translate directly into better play and long-term success.

• Build strength 
• Improve agility 
• Gain a competitive edge 
• Train like an athlete 

Spots are now open, but they won’t last long!

Have questions? Reach out to Jerome at jcunningham@waterburyymca.org   

Get ready to train hard, have fun, and take your game to the next level this summer! 

Youth Gambling Awareness Project

We live in a time where gambling has become normalized because it is at our fingertips. This accessibility makes it easier for youth to engage in gambling and its addictive qualities. Eight youth in the Journalism Group at Waterbury Youth Services, a branch of the Greater Waterbury YMCA, are raising their voices to this concern. 

Working with the Western CT Coalition, a Regional Health Action Organization (RBHAO), the goals of the Program Gambling Awareness Team are to raise awareness, as well as to understand and address problem gambling by:

• Integrate gambling awareness into all prevention programs in the region across the lifespan 
• Gather region-specific community awareness and readiness data 
• Provide gambling-specific educational presentations and trainings 
• Engage youth in peer-to-peer education that addresses gambling awareness 

As a group, they created a two-minute PSA that was shown during the state-wide showcase in March.  Their video will be featured shortly on the Youth Gambling Awareness Project website.  We are proud of the time and creativity these youth put into this project.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Red Cross Blood Drive

Thursday, June 25

11 AM – 4 PM