For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Lisa Vega
213.247.3075
Wilson-Gray YMCA Youth & Family Center Receives Grant from MDRT Foundation
The MDRT Foundation has awarded a $5,000 grant to the Wilson-Gray YMCA Youth & Family Center, a branch of the YMCA of Greater Hartford, to support the Y Achievers program.
Through its global grants programs, the MDRT Foundation is committed to building stronger families and communities around the globe. This year, the MDRT Foundation will award over $1.6 million in MDRT member-endorsed grants to over 300 charitable organizations worldwide.
Y Achievers teams young people and their families with inspiring role models to prepare the workforce of tomorrow. As a result of the commitments made by both child and parent—including twice monthly early-morning Saturday sessions at the Wilson-Gray YMCA—students who may never have been encouraged to pursue higher education are visualizing a future that includes college and vocational training as an avenue to achieve their dreams.
“Kids and families throughout Greater Hartford are building a stronger future through participation in Y Achievers. We are grateful to MDRT for its continued support of this innovative program that emphasizes the significance of academic and career success, all while helping youth develop leadership skills. Y Achievers is helping our youth become change agents in our community,” said Harold Sparrow, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Hartford.
This grant to the YMCA was awarded through the MDRT Foundation’s Global Grant Program and sponsored by MDRT Member Gary Wolff, CLU, ChFC, president of Wolff Wealth Advisors in Manchester, CT. Mr. Wolff presented this award to Valencia Williams, executive director of the Wilson-Gray YMCA, at an event on May 19, 2022.
The Achievers program began in 1971 at the Harlem branch YMCA of Greater New York. Hartford’s Y Achievers program, with the help of the adult volunteers who mentor and guide participants and their families, has fostered youth development in over 500 area students over the last decade.
Integral to the program are Parent Achievers who, through the Y Achievers Program, meet and share experiences with peers and participate in workshops, activities, and career resource programs designed to promote open and effective parenting and re-enforce academic success and empowerment for all ages.
About the YMCA of Greater Hartford:
The YMCA of Greater Hartford has been building stronger communities for 170 years. The non-profit is committed to providing resources in youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility to promote diversity, inclusion, and equity for all citizens of all ages. In 2021, the association served 56,000 community members and provided over $750,000 in financial assistance toward valuable resources that provided access to life changing programs. As our communities begin to recover from the pandemic, we will continue to offer foundational programs in education to mitigate lost learning; to fight food insecurity; to support seniors, children, and families; as well as swim lessons, childcare, summer camp, LIVESTRONG, and so much more. Join us at ghymca.org and Belong to Something Greater. www.ghymca.org
About the MDRT Foundation:
The MDRT Foundation was created in 1959 to provide MDRT members with a means to give back to their communities. Since its inception, the Foundation has donated more than $38 million in more than 72 countries throughout the world and in all 50 U.S. states. These funds were raised by MDRT members and industry partners. For more information, visit mdrtfoundation.org.
About MDRT:
Founded in 1927, Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), The Premier Association of Financial Professionals®, is a global, independent association of more than 86,000 of the world’s leading life insurance and financial services professionals from more than 500 companies in 70 nations and territories. MDRT members demonstrate exceptional professional knowledge, strict ethical conduct and outstanding client service. MDRT membership is recognized internationally as the standard of excellence in the life insurance and financial services business. For more information, please visit www.mdrt.org and follow them on Twitter @MDRtweet
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