The YMCA of Greenwich hosted its 2022 annual gala, A Starry Night, Friday, May 6, honoring long-time board member and Chair, Shahryar Oveissi and Lynn Hagerbrant, co-founder Shaker’s Anonymous and Parkinson’s Body and Mind Program. The gala, held at Burning Tree Country Club, raised over $275,000 and was the first time the YMCA of Greenwich hosted an in-person gala since the pandemic.
The gala is the YMCA of Greenwich’s largest annual fundraiser. Monies raised help fund programs and services for their 5,000+ members and their community wellness initiatives such as: Summer Camp and Vacation Camp Scholarship Program, providing scholarships to over 45 local children; their Membership for All Program, ensuring that no one is turned away due to financial reasons; Learn-to-Swim Programs, promoting water safety skills to community members of all ages; Safe & Strong Adaptive Swim Program for children with special needs; LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA, a program helping adult cancer survivors reclaim their health and well-being following a cancer diagnosis; Parkinson’s Body and Mind Program; among other and upcoming initiatives.
“I want to thank everyone who attended A Starry Night and opened their hearts to donate so generously,” said Matthew Skaarup, Chief Executive Officer, YMCA of Greenwich. “Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we can fulfill our mission to bring together and strengthen the community through programs and services that build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all men, women and children. Guided by our core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility, we are dedicated to giving people of all ages, backgrounds and walks of life the opportunity to reach their full potential.”
“I am so grateful to all of those who have supported me and our Y throughout the years,” stated Shahryar Oveissi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the YMCA of Greenwich. “Your generous donations have allowed the Y to upgrade and modernize its facility; moreover, through monies raised, the Y has been able to develop programs and scholarships that have helped some of the neediest and deserving members of our community. None of this would be possible without your generosity.”
“In 2018, I had a vision to launch a program at the YMCA of Greenwich called Parkinson’s Body and Mind (PBM), which recognizes exercise as a potent, non-pharmacological treatment for PD,” said Lynn Hagerbrant, co-founder Shaker’s Anonymous. “The YMCA’s ability to strengthen communities through collaboration is what has made the Parkinson’s Body and Mind Program a success, providing people with PD and their partners a system of community-based, peer-led, support groups and comprehensive exercise and wellness programs to improve the symptoms and fight the progression of Parkinson’s. Thanks to everyone’s largesse, we can continue to support and improve the lives of this rapidly growing community.”
The Friday night gala brought together over 300 guests.
