Cross Island Y camp gets honor

It’s summer camp season and for the fifth year in a row, the Cross Island YMCA is running The Lisa Beth Gerstman YMCA Summer Day Camp program which serves children with physical disabilities, in addition to its regular summer camp for ages three to 17.
When school ends each year, there are few options for the families of physically challenged children since the necessary facilities and equipment are very expensive. The Gerstman family recognized this shortfall.
They established the Lisa Beth Gerstman Foundation, to offset the expenses of equipment, transportation and staffing required to serve youngsters with physical disabilities. Their first such camp was set up in 2003, at the Y in Bellerose.
The children receive wheelchair-accessible transportation, one-on-one swimming instruction, adaptive physical activities and equipment. One coordinator and a minimum of five personal assistants are available for every 10 campers.
For more information about this program, contact Dianne Di Peri at 718-551-9319 or email ddiperi@ymcanyc.org.
For more than 52 years, the Y has been providing vital programs and services to the Queens neighborhoods of Bellerose, Far Rockaway and South Ozone Park to Cambria Heights and Laurelton to Bayside and Flushing.
Their good work was recognized this year when the Cross Island Y’s Early Childhood Center received the Outstanding Early Childhood Program award at the thirteenth annual induction ceremony sponsored by the University of the State of New York, The State Education Department, New York City Department of Education and NYC Office of School Improvement & Community Services.
The award, which was issued to only two other New York City early childhood education programs, was given to The Cross Island Y for successfully meeting both New York State and New York City standards after a site visit, review of their program, documents and credentials.
For more information about enrolling your child in our Early Childhood Program or Summer Early Childhood Camp contact Patricia Matos at 718-551-9313 or pmatos@ymcanyc.org.