A dedicated community

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To the Editor:

As part of the YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day initiative, the the YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard held its first annual Healthy Kids Day event on Saturday, April 9. The event is the nation’s largest health day for families and is held nationally at 1,600 YMCAs across the country. The goal: to teach healthy habits to kids and inspire a lifetime love of physical activity.

We all know the old adage “It takes a village to raise a child,” but in an era where you can explore the world at your fingertips without leaving home, I wonder how much that philosophy still resonates today.

As families gathered at the Y event this Saturday to participate in healthy activities and explore new opportunities for youth development on the Island, I realized how dedicated our community is to providing enriching educational opportunities for our children.

With that being said, I would like to thank the following organizations for being part of our big day: Pond View Farm, Cape and Islands Red Cross, Island Alpaca, The FARM Institute, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Vineyard Youth Tennis, Mary McDonough, Vineyard Smiles, Sail MV, Martha’s Vineyard Youth Soccer and Coco the Clown.

Thank you also to Vineyard Cash and Carry, Cronig’s Market, Stop & Shop, and Reliable Market for their ample donations of healthy snacks for our piñ;atas. I would also like to thank our wonderful staff and volunteers who graciously gave their time and talent to pull together such a fantastic day.

And lastly, but certainly not least, I would also like to thank all of our friends and families who joined us on Saturday, making our first Healthy Kids Day a huge success. In less than one year, our community has embraced the Y with open arms and warm hearts. We are so happy to provide our programs and services to so many, and to serve the cause that the YMCA organization represents: to strengthen communities and change lives. Few things are more important than a healthy lifestyle, strong community, positive role models, and quality time spent together as a family.

At the YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard, we strive to provide opportunities for children to make smarter life choices and cultivate the values, skills, and relationships that lead to positive behaviors and the pursuit of higher education and goal achievement. We do this by working side-by-side with our neighbors to make sure that everyone, regardless of age, income, or background, has the opportunity to learn and grow. At the heart of community life on this Island, our mission-driven YMCA is “a place to belong” and to live the values that guide and unite our members: caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.

Again, let me express my sincerest gratitude to all of you for making our work so meaningful. Please visit the YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard online at www.ymcamv.org to view photos of the event.

Emily Galligan

Director of Marketing and PR

YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard