May 21, 2018

AUERBACH WINS 12TH ANNUAL BEAUFORT RIVER SWIM

 

Gabrielle Auerbach, 16 wins the 2018 Beaufort River Swim.

 

 

On Saturday, May 19, Gabrielle Auerbach finished the 12th Annual Beaufort River Swim (BRS) with a time of 51:00:05 to become the first female to win the event in its history. Auerback hails from Kennesaw, GA and is sixteen years old. Top male finisher was Charles Michael, age 19, of Bluffton with a time of 51:23:65. All results for the 3.3-Mile race can be found at runsignup.com.

The 3.2-mile Beaufort River Swim is the only competitive open water swim held in Beaufort County. This year’s competitors ranged in age from 13 to73 and traveled from as far away as Rhode Island.

The BRS is a fundraiser for the Wardle Family YMCA Learn to Swim program, which provides swim lessons to local children and adults who would not otherwise have the means or opportunity to learn to swim. In 2017 alone, the Y taught over 1,500 swim lessons with more than half of these being a direct result of scholarship assistance provided by the Learn to Swim Program and the BRS.

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February 19, 2018

YMCA ANNUAL MEETING CELEBRATES A SUCCESSFUL 2017

 

On Thursday, February 15, 2018 the Wardle Family YMCA welcomed members and guests to their Annual Meeting, which recognized volunteers, donors and staff who helped advance the Y’s cause to strengthen the foundation of our community.

The Y celebrated the positive impact made through Y programs and services as $350,000 in scholarship funds were raised and distributed in 2017.  This assistance helped thousands of youth and families through YMCA membership, sports, summer camps, childcare, preschool, youth boating and swimming lessons. The annual Boots & Bling Fundraiser and Silent Auction raised over $48,000 for the annual Y capital campaign.

The meeting was presided over by incoming YMCA Board Chair, Jennifer Tuckwiller, and Y CEO, Michael Bostwick. The Y celebrated the many programs, services and opportunities they provide and, most importantly, gave thanks to the volunteers that truly bring magic to the non-profit.

The Y welcomed four new board members: Dr. N’kia Campbell, Director of Academic Initiatives for Beaufort County School District; retired educator Andy Thacker, State Farm insurance agent Taylor Malphrus; Chris Bowman, branch manager at South State Bank. Outgoing board members, Dr. Gregory McCord and Cheryl Comes were thanked for their many years of service to the Y. Also, Bostwick recognized past board member Peter Post, who was inducted into the National YMCA Hall of Fame.

Kaylin Garst, Y Branch Executive Director of the Wardle Family YMCA reported on the improvements and changes made at the Wardle Family YMCA during 2017. These included refinishing the basketball gym floor, new pool heater and filter, new membership software, a new bus for childcare and implementation of a stoplight report for Y staff and members. YMCA senior-specific programming was highlighted by Wellness Director Denice Fanning, and Y member and volunteer Larry Schaefer reported via video on Togetherhood, the Y member-driven service committee.

During the Annual Meeting, two volunteers received special recognition for their service to the Y. Larry Schaefer received the 2017 Robert V. Wardle Service to Youth Award.  This award is given in honor of Robert V. Wardle, whose donations were significant in the founding and continued operation of the Beaufort-Jasper YMCA of the Lowcountry. Larry Schaefer has been the Togetherhood committee chair for the past 2 years and has been instrumental in leading this volunteer group in projects ranging from the Postal Carriers Food Drive benefiting HELP of Beaufort to building custom flower boxes for the Senior Center on St. Helena Island to building and installing a little lending library for the Y. In 2017 their volunteer hours exceeded 500 hours and included a fundraiser for the Y, raising $500 for our Learn to Swim Program.

Bethany Byrne was named the annual Youth Sports Volunteer Coach for 2017. Ms. Byrne has been a volunteer aquatics coach over the past several years volunteering her time to assist with the BYAC Tiger Sharks Swim Team and aquatics department.

Tuckwiller also reviewed the YMCA association name change to Beaufort-Jasper YMCA of the Lowcountry, which better communicates the Y’s original charter to serve both Beaufort and Jasper counties. She also announced that the YMCA now offers nationwide membership, which allows any active Y member to visit any participating Y in the USA, free of charge.  beaufort-jasperymca.org

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January 8, 2018

YMCA CHANGES NAME TO BEAUFORT-JASPER YMCA OF THE LOWCOUNTRY

(Port Royal, January 8, 2018): The YMCA of Beaufort County announces that it is changing its association name to the Beaufort-Jasper YMCA of the Lowcountry to reflect the organizations’ programs that operate and serve residents of Jasper and Beaufort counties. The Y facility located in Port Royal will continue to be recognized as the Wardle Family YMCA.

“Over the past several years we have provided on-site and off-site programs including summer camp, afterschool programming and swim lessons to hundreds of residents of Jasper County, said Michael Bostwick, YMCA CEO. “In the spirit in inclusivity, of which the Y is well-known, and to better describe our impact geographically we are excited to now be known as the Beaufort-Jasper YMCA of the Lowcountry.”

The Wardle Family YMCA was charted in 1990 and opened its doors in June 1996.  The YMCA is a locally autonomous non-profit organization made up of voluntary membership that is open to individuals of all ages, race, religion, incomes and abilities. The mission of the Beaufort-Jasper YMCA of the Lowcountry is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.  The Y believes in helping all people lead healthier, happier lives and at the Y, no one is turned away due to their inability to pay. In 2017 the Y awarded approximately $350,000 in financial assistance.

Programs and services incorporate the values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility and the YMCA encourages and challenges its staff, members, volunteers and program participants to accept and demonstrate these values. The Beaufort-Jasper YMCA of the Lowcountry currently serves approximately 10,000 individuals annually through the programs and services provided in Beaufort and Jasper counties.  beaufort-jasperymca.org

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