YMCA NEWS

OF PARK SLOPE

Prospect Park YMCA

357 Ninth Street, Brooklyn 11215

718-768-7100

ymcanyc.org/prospectpark

Park Slope Armory YMCA

361 15th Street, Brooklyn 11215

212-912-2580

ymcanyc.org/parkslopearmory

The Prospect Park YMCA has been a proud staple in Park Slope since 1941, serving

hundreds of thousands of neighbors and community members. This past June, our

community lost one of its beloved Lifetime Members, Thomas Gallagher.

Born in Brooklyn, Tom grew up in Queens with his brother Pascal and sisters, Martha

and Ellen. He returned to live in Park Slope for the rest of his life after marrying Mary

Malone, his wife of 51 years. Their beloved family consists of his sons and daughter;

Tom and his wife Gail, Kevin and his wife Christine, Maureen and her husband John

Farah, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. His family

tree extended to the Prospect Park YMCA.

Tom joined the Air Force during World War II, where he acquired

his life-long passion for aviation. He was a professional basketball

player for Brooklyn’s St. Francis College before the NBA existed,

and was a fan of the game ever after. Tom was a math teacher and

mentor for over 35 years. A Lifetime Member of the YMCA and a

fixture at the Prospect Park YMCA, Tom was known for playing the

harmonica and giving lessons on how to master the Rubik’s cube.

Tom was a true reflection of the vibrant and eclectic city in which

he lived for the 88 years of his life.

Tom will be missed by all those fortunate to have known him.

Thoughts and prayers are with the Gallagher family. His spirit will

truly remain part of the Park Slope community.

The Heart of a Community:

Remembering Thomas Gallagher

Photos and information courtesy of the Gallagher

family and Joseph Duffy Funeral Home.

Fall 2013 Newsletter

Prospect Park YMCA Park Slope Armory YMCA

Prospect Park YMCA Fall 2013 Newsletter Park Slope Armory YMCA

For the Prospect Park

YMCA, 2013 proved to be

another successful camp

year. The branch served

over 1000 participants from

Bensonhurst to Park Slope,

and approximately 50% of

those campers attended for

free or with financial aid.

Our Y Day Camps offer

theme based sessions that

incorporated individual

and group activities, enhanced by local outings and trips.

Some of the many camps attended this summer in-

cluded Progressive Swim Camp, Teen Camp, Sports

Camp, and Lisa Beth Gerstman Camp for children with

special needs.

In our day camp programs we provide creative and edu-

cational experiences utilizing a diverse curriculum, and

all camps incorporate a Summer Learning Initiative to

prevent summer learning loss. Research shows that stu-

dents lose academic skills and knowledge over the

course of summer vacation (Cooper, 1996). However,

summer education opportunities, like day camp, can

help to supplement students’ scholastic achievement in

both reading and math (Denton, 2002). Campers were

given continuous access to age appropriate reading ma-

terials and were inspired to read and write for recrea-

tion. Finally, campers also engaged in hands-on STEM

activities (Science, Engineering, Technology and Math),

with the goal of increasing their interest in these core

areas.

Our Y campers traveled to the Museum of the Moving

Image in Queens, the Transit Museum here in their

home borough of Brooklyn, and the Alice Austen House

in Staten Island, among many other excursions. All trips

provided a rich cultural experience that often cannot be

taught in a traditional classroom setting.

QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, IDEAS?

CONTACT NICOLE POLDIAK

FUND DEVELOPMENT & COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE

AT (212) 912-2364 OR NPOLDIAK@YMCANYC.ORG

Summer Camp Success!

Smiles all around for a Prospect

Park Y Summer Camper.

Our counselors worked with campers to help them

achieve their fullest potential in terms of their mental

development, physical well-being, social growth and self

awareness. While summer learning is certainly a focus,

one of our favorite parts of summer camp is watching

our campers build new and lasting friendships. Seeing

the smiles and waves from the children each morning is

inspiring to all who are fortunate enough to witness it.

We here at the Prospect Park YMCA, feel privileged to

have worked with such a terrific and dynamic group of

young people this summer, and eagerly look forward to

summer 2014!

In fulfillment of Alvin Ailey’s long-standing dictum “dance

is for everybody”, the AileyDance Kids residencies give

young people all over the tri-state area the opportunity

to explore their creative potential while also imparting

life-skills like teamwork and self-discipline.

Ailey Arts in Education will provide 3, eight week program

cycles, serving all 150 students at PS 200 this school year.

Students will have the opportunity to choose from two

disciplines to study, West African Dance, and a Percus-

sion Workshop. Each cycle will culminate in a full per-

formance for parents, partners and school officials.

PS 200 students learn how to drum in their Percussion Workshop.

PS 200 Y Afterschool

Partners with Ailey Arts