The YMCA of Greater New York Launches Cabins of Hope, a Program to Send Children from Haiti to Summer Camp in the U.S.

Campers from the YMCA in Port-au-Prince Will Participate In Education and Counseling Programs While Enjoying a Month of Summer Fun, Including Canoeing, Sports and Hiking;

Haitian-American Campers from New York City Will Serve as “Friendship Ambassadors”; Children Will Return to Haiti Recharged and Empowered To Help Rebuild Their Y

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The YMCA of Greater New York today announced the launch of Cabins of Hope, a program that will provide scholarships for ten Haitian children and two counselors to spend a month at the New York YMCA Camp, a 1,100 acre sleep away camp in Huguenot, New York. The YMCA of Greater New York developed the program with the support of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) and Continental Airlines (NYSE:CAL) with additional contributions from Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT).

“if the Americans like people from other places”

The children were selected from teen members of the YMCA Youth Centre in Port-au-Prince, which was destroyed in the January 12 earthquake. Six months later, many continue to cope with emotional and physical trauma from the disaster and lack a clean, safe place to live. In addition to offering relief from the stress of their everyday lives, Cabins of Hope will help these kids recapture some of the simple joys of childhood. The program also will aim to strengthen their social, physical and linguist skills so they may return to Haiti more empowered to help rebuild the youth programs at their Y in Port-au-Prince. Among the children whose lives will be touched by Cabins of Hope:

• Vanessa Vellard plans to walk the tightrope. The ballerina-like fourteen-year-old lost five friends in the earthquake and these days just concentrates on working hard. She’s curious to see “if the Americans like people from other places,” she says, adding that she’s looking forward to eating meat more than once a week. . .and to trying a bagel with cream cheese.
• Gaëlle Lubin, who lost her mother in the earthquake, is looking forward to teaching her new American friends how to play osselets, a jacks-like game that Haitians play with goat knuckles. An aspiring nurse, fifteen-year-old Gaëlle was studying at a friend’s place when the quake hit. Since their Port-au-Prince home was destroyed, she and her sisters are staying with an uncle and his family outside of town.

These intrepid Haitian youngsters will be joined at the camp by Cabins of Hope Friendship Ambassadors from the Flatbush, Brooklyn community. These children were nominated for their posts by local NYC elected officials including New York City Council Member Jumaane D. Williams and New York State Assembly Member Rhoda Jacobs.

UnitedHealth Group funding will go toward special camp activities, including a field trip to New York City, and logistical and transportation support. Continental Airlines will provide the round-trip airfare for the campers and two counselors, while Target will provide a gift card to outfit them with essential clothing and supplies for their trip. While at sleep away camp, the children will enjoy summer fun activities alongside the other campers, such as canoeing, arts & crafts, swimming, field trips and rock climbing, all under the safety and supervision of certified YMCA counselors. They also will partake in English-language immersion as well as meet with counselors from the YMCA Counseling Center in Staten Island.

“Like all Americans, our hearts went out to the people of Haiti during the devastating earthquake, especially our friends at the YMCA Youth Centre in Port-au-Prince,” said Jack Lund, President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater New York. “It is our hope that Cabins of Hope not only will give these children a much-needed, fun-filled respite from their everyday lives, but also will help them return to Haiti recharged, empowered and stronger in spirit, mind and body.”

“UnitedHealth Group is proud to be a leading sponsor of the YMCA of Greater New York’s Cabins of Hope, which will connect these children with life-changing resources and give them the tools to help make an impact at their local YMCA in Haiti,” said Bill Golden, CEO, UnitedHealthcare of New York. “We see this as a great opportunity to lend the children emotional and physical support so that they may return to their homes and benefit their communities.”

Gwenael Apollon, General Secretary of the Haiti YMCA, said, “Our heartfelt thanks go out to our friends at the YMCA of Greater New York, UnitedHealth Group, Continental Airlines, Target Corporation and all of the private donors who made this program possible. One of the most devastating effects of the earthquake was that it robbed so many of our children of the simple pleasures of childhood. It is our wish that Cabins of Hope will help them recapture some of that joy, while strengthening their spirits and inspiring them to be part of our efforts to rebuild our Y in Port-au-Prince.”

Wheaton Griffin, Executive Director of the New York YMCA Camp, said, “No one needs a break from their everyday routine more than these kids and we promise them a summer they’ll never forget - full of games, relaxation, new experiences and great friends. Our camp includes kids and counselors from over 25 countries around the world and we’re thrilled to add the campers from Haiti to our community and share our summer with them.”

To learn more about the Cabins of Hope program, visit www.ymcanyc.org/ymca-of-greater-new-york/support-your-ymca/cabins-of-hope.

About The YMCA of Greater New York

The YMCA of Greater New York is a community service organization which promotes positive values through programs that build spirit, mind and body, welcoming all people, with a focus on youth. The largest private youth-serving organization in New York City, the YMCA of Greater New York encompasses 19 branches and 180 program sites throughout the five boroughs, plus three camps upstate, serving 350,000 New Yorkers of all ages each year, including 175,000 children in a variety of educational, social, health and wellness, as well as recreational and child development programs, each of which reinforce the YMCA values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. Supported in part through contributions to the Strong Kids Campaign, the YMCA provides membership assistance and scholarships, so that no one is turned away due to an inability to pay. Visit ymcanyc.org to learn more.

About UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group (www.unitedhealthgroup.com) is a diversified health and well-being company dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and making health care work better. With headquarters in Minnetonka, Minn., UnitedHealth Group offers a broad spectrum of health benefit programs through UnitedHealthcare, Ovations and AmeriChoice, and health services through Ingenix, OptumHealth and Prescription Solutions. Through its family of businesses, UnitedHealth Group serves more than 75 million people worldwide.

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