Editor’s Note: The Town Topics Mailbox policy is that letters with negative content are shared with the person/group in question in order to allow the courtesy of a response. The YMCA was not given the opportunity to respond on December 21st and we apologize for that oversight.
Contrary to Claims of Discrimination Against Disabled, Princeton Family YMCA Provides Widespread Access
To the Editor:
The Board of Directors of the Princeton Family YMCA would like to respond to a letter in the December 21 Mailbox that falsely claims that our organization discriminates against individuals with disabilities. To the contrary, the Princeton Family YMCA has provided widespread access to our facility and programs to ALL of our citizens for 60 years, since the facilities were first constructed. We are proud of the undisputed fact that generations of children and adults with a wide range of abilities — physical and intellectual — have participated and enjoyed our various programs, ranging from swim and group exercise classes for adults and children, youth sports, a free LIVESTRONG program for individuals living with cancer, group mentoring, summer camps, and after school programs including Princeton Young Achievers (just to name a few!). Indeed, the Princeton Family YMCA is a beacon in our community by providing first-rate educational and healthy living support to all individuals — regardless of race, age, national origin, ability, or socioeconomic standing.
It is important to note that the Princeton Family YMCA is a charitable non-profit, cause-driven organization that depends entirely on revenues from membership and program fees and contributions from generous donors. The YMCA also provides more than $500,000 each year in subsidized programs that are free or low cost to our neighbors who are most in need, as well as in direct financial assistance to individuals and families. Every dollar the YMCA receives is reinvested back into the community.
With that said, we wholeheartedly agree that our aging facility is in dire need of significant upgrades to provide better access to individuals with disabilities, as well as to other members of the greater Princeton community. As a board, we are in the midst of a campaign to raise awareness of this need, and to raise the necessary funds so we can provide a top-notch facility that our entire community can enjoy and take pride in. We are very proud that we successfully completed the first step of three for our planned “refresh.” The first step, that encompasses the main level, includes a new reception desk with an accessible counter, two new handicapped-accessible restrooms and family changing area, renovations to the women’s locker room that include accessible counters and lockers, and throughout the spaces, all new doorways, doors, lever sets, and electrical switches that meet accessibility standards. And it’s important to acknowledge that these improvements were funded through individual charitable donations from caring people here in our community.
In the coming months, in addition to the “refresh” campaign, our board will be leading a needs assessment to determine how our YMCA can best serve our community, as we prepare to develop a comprehensive strategic plan which will include a larger vision and master plan for our facilities. We look forward to welcoming our neighbors’ input and participation as we embark on this journey, and to continuing our efforts to strengthen the foundations of this community with a focus on youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. We also invite everyone to visit us soon, take a tour, and see how the YMCA is making a difference in the lives of so many here in the Princeton region — and please consider joining us!
Merilyn Rovira,
Chair Board of Directors, Princeton Family YMCA