We were proud to host Micron and Governor Kathy Hochul at our North Area Family branch in Liverpool on Wednesday, along with a full audience of community leaders. Thank you to Board Chair and Chief Volunteer Officer Bishop Colette Matthews-Carter for your eloquence in speaking about our Y during the introduction of Governor Hochul!
“It was a great day for the YMCA of CNY,” shared Bishop Carter. “We are grateful for the investment that Micron continues to make in the childcare infrastructure of our region.”
Micron pledged $500,000 to us last October to support the expansion of access to high-quality child care and early learning for more families in our region. $250,000 of that investment has already impacted nearly 2000 kids in our service area. The next $250,000 will support us in expanding access to services for kids up to age five. This funding is being applied in a wide variety of ways including scholarships for families with financial needs, continuing to expand programs and services, and more.
It was also an honor to hear Kerrie Wenham speak directly about her experience as one of our Sweetheart Daycare parents. Kerrie shared that “Sweetheart to me was always more than just a daycare. The YMCA became family to us.”
“Sweetheart daycare didn’t just care for my child’s day-to-day needs, they also conducted regular developmental assessments and held parent/teacher meetings to discuss how our children were doing. They also invited us to talk to the staff about how our children were doing at home and offered advice and suggestions as needed. Sweetheart follows a fun, creative curriculum that encourages children to learn. This place was more than just a daycare.”
After the main program ended, our Sweetheart Daycare children welcomed Governor Hochul and Micron’s April Arzen to talk about a wide variety of topics, including favorite animals and books.
“We’re excited to work alongside Micron and our other community partners to support early childhood development and child care in our community,” shared Josh Royce, Interim President & CEO of the YMCA of Central New York. “We appreciate that they have identified this work as a priority.”
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