$70,000

The Impact of the Shineman Foundation

Awarded a grant in support of the opening of its new childcare program for children ages 6 months to 5 years.
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The Fulton Family YMCA is an association united by a common goal to strengthen our communities and to develop the spirit, mind, and body of all persons, regardless of means, through activities guided by and based upon our core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. To live out our mission, our Y has been focused on supporting our local families by addressing the increased need of childcare in our local community.

For 20 years, the Fulton Family YMCA has been operating a successful, licensed childcare program for grades K-6th, known as our School Age Child Care (SACC) program. Throughout the pandemic, our Y has noticed the increasing gaps in quality childcare for younger children aged 6 weeks to 5 years old. As a result, the Y, along with multiple donors and other support, launched a new childcare center: Ready. Set. Grow.

The Shineman Foundation awarded the Fulton Family YMCA’s Ready. Set. Grow. Daycare a $70,000 grant for its 2021 program launch.

The award from the Shineman Foundation has provided the YMCA with capital to improve our childcare rooms. From funding dramatic play areas, furnishing cribs, cots, and shelving, to assisting with the purchasing and installation of a new playground system, which will be installed in November of 2021.

Since the opening of the daycare center, 34 young children are being served daily in our program. Ready. Set. Grow. allows these children to have a safe space to learn, play and grow while their caregivers are providing for the families. However, the support doesn’t stop there. Ready. Set. Grow has connected families to other programs within our Y: we have connected families to swim lessons, family and kid’s classes, as well as childcare for older children. Outside of our facility, we have connected families to intervention services and other supports families have needed to be successful.

The award from the Shineman Foundation has laid the foundational blocks for this program, and the ripple effect has proved to provide positive changes and a powerful impact to the entire community.