Free YMCA membership offered to local 7th-graders Membership drive part of three local YMCA's 'Strong Kids' initiative BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer METUCHEN - The YMCAs of Edison, Metuchen and Woodbridge announced a new initiative on Monday focusing on young teens. The Metuchen Branch YMCA will kick off the Strong Kids Membership Program on Dec. 1, while the Edison and Woodbridge YMCAs will kick off the program on Jan. 2, 2008. The program provides a free YMCA membership for seventh-graders in both public and parochial schools. "We came together and we realized that the YMCA has not effectively catered to the age group of 13- and 14-year-olds," said William Lovett, CEO of the Edison, Metuchen and Woodbridge YMCAs. Lovett announced the new initiative with Helene Zahn, development director of the three YMCAs; Kendall Warsaw, executive director of the Provident Bank Foundation in New Jersey; Gary Ostermueller, the YMCA's volunteer representative; Lorraine Mulligan, board president of the Metuchen YMCA; the executive directors of the three branches of the YMCAs; Metuchen Superintendent Theresa Sinatra, and Edgar Middle School Principal Kathy Glutz at the Metuchen YMCA on Nov. 26. Lovett added that in a time when levels of child obesity are rising and research showing that the middle school years are traditionally the time when a child's level of physical activity drops off, it is important for programs like this to be put in place. "The age of 13, especially for females, is the time when the child makes the decision to continue with competitive athletics or decides to completely stop," said Megan Powers, executive director of the Metuchen YMCA. "This program gives the child an alternative to stay healthy and active." Lovett added that students tend to begin making decisions on their diet around the seventh grade. Warsaw presented a $10,000 check to the YMCAs from the Provident Bank Foundation in New Jersey, based in Jersey City, to fund the Strong Kids Membership Program. "We have given over $10 million back to the communities since 2003," said Warsaw. "We have helped with all aspects of the Y's needs, and this is one way we give back to the communities." The Provident Bank Foundation was established to support not-for-profit groups, institutions, schools and other organizations that provide services in New Jersey communities. The Strong Kids Membership program has already been implemented in YMCAs in Ocean County, Red Bank, Westfield, Fanwood and Scotch Plains. The Metuchen YMCA's program will differ slightly from its neighboring branches, in that the program will kick in when a child turns 13 years old. "As students turn 13 years old, they can come into the Y with their parents and sign up for a membership," said Powers. The Metuchen YMCA program will host the Metuchen and South Edison schools. "We are in our second year of our wellness initiative in the school district, and with our wellness center at the high school, we are thinking of ways to bring fitness into the middle school," said Sinatra. The Edison and Woodbridge YMCAs' program will cater to the seventh-graders. "We will host two orientations in December for the students and their parents," said Cindy Archambault, executive director of the Edison YMCA. "In addition to the membership, we will host 'tween' nights and supervised pickup volleyball and basketball games where the kids could stay physical and active." Archambault added that the Jewish Community Center of Middlesex County, which is next to the Edison Branch YMCA on Oak Tree Road, would provide their space for activities like swimming. The Edison YMCA will cater to the schools in North Edison. Sherrill Rudy, executive director of the Woodbridge YMCA, said she is looking forward to serving the seventh-graders of Woodbridge Township. "We have already met with Superintendent Vincent Smith and Assistant Superintendent Lois Rotella," she said. Students will receive information on the Strong Kids Membership Program through their schools.