In an election year often overshadowed by divisiveness, the YMCA of Greater Brandywine is proud to endorse a candidate who unites, bringing together the entire community, regardless of party, or even age. A few weeks ago, the Y of Greater Brandywine announced our support of Zoe for President – in 2064. Zoe, a 1-year-old toddler, embodies the hopes, dreams, and potential of every single child in Chester County and we are proud to offer her our endorsement.
There is often a perception that as the wealthiest county in Pennsylvania, Chester County does not have children that need our help. However, this could not be more wrong. According to a study from Public Citizens for Youth and Children, child poverty in Chester County rose by 55 percent between 2008 and 2014, increasing a widening gap between those at the high-end and low-end of the income spectrum.
The Y of Greater Brandywine is supporting Zoe as our presidential candidate to shine a light on youth development issues, and specifically youth in need, right here in Chester County. We believe it is critical to truly focus in on all that still needs to be done to ensure that every Zoe has the tools he or she needs to be a successful adult or one day run for President – if they want to.
Zoe’s platform in Chester County speaks to some of the basic building blocks for successful youth development – foundational elements that the Y of Greater Brandywine and many other great non-profits focus on every single day.
We believe every child in Chester County needs access to early childhood education. More than half of three and four year olds do not attend preschool, although studies demonstrate this is one of the most critical times in their development. At the Y of Greater Brandywine, we provide early learning programs to over 550 kids inside and outside our buildings every year at eight locations.
We believe every child in Chester County needs to have access to learning all summer long. In Chester County, one in 10 kids is home alone in the summer. At the Y of Greater Brandywine, we provide summer camp programs to nearly 5,000 children through our eight branches across the County with a summer camp experience full of adventure, learning, and fun. And with our Power Scholars Academy™, in 2016, we debuted a six-week summer program for students to not only mitigate summer learning loss in math and reading, but to also foster physical and social-emotional growth. This program provided 83 children in the Oxford Area School District with support, meals, field trips, and full financial assistance.
Every child in Chester County needs to have a safe place and an enriched environment after school. Every day, one in 4 kids is left unsupervised after school. At the Y of Greater Brandywine, we provide after and before school programs to nearly 1,000 children, providing them with academic intervention, healthy activities, and enrichment opportunities that help to improve their grades, increase social and emotional competencies, and reduce risk-taking activities.
Zoe, and every child like her, needs this support to have the best chance for success, whether that be for a Presidential bid or any other dreams and aspirations.
* Denise Day,
President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Brandywine
** The opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the ownership or management of Chadds Ford Live. We welcome opposing viewpoints. Readers may comment in the comments section or they may submit a Letter to the Editor to: editor@chaddsfordlive.com
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