YMCASPBC - Y Adcenture Guides - YMCA South Palm Beach County

N O W R E G I S T E R I N G !
Hey Dads/Moms!
Are you looking for a program
that will provide activities for
you and your child to enjoy
together?
The Great Sun Nation – Adventure Guides
program provides you with many fun outdoor experiences. Adventure Guides’ Circles
typically meet once a month at a member’s home. Meetings provide time to socialize
with other parents and kids. It is also a chance to enjoy crafts, stories and music. In
addition to monthly meetings, exciting “Nation” events are held throughout the year,
including picnics, canoeing trips, Disney overnights, sleepovers, sporting events, fishing,
camping and much more.
From left: Gigi Snow, Addison Soch, Emily Bonitatibus,
Erin Tracy, and Katie Northrop
know the BEST friend you’ll ever have – your child!
Britanny Gentile kayaking on an Adventure
Guide overnight
You may join the Adventure Guides
program any time. Once you register,
you will have the option of joining an
existing or new “circle.” Circles usually
have eight to 15 parent/child members
and may meet monthly. The groups
also participate in Great Sun Nationsponsored
events throughout the year.
Many lasting friendships often evolve
from the Adventure Guides program.
Most important, you’ll be getting to
For more information, contact Janice Labat at (561) 237-0949 or jlabat@ymcaspbc.org.
THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF LAUGHTER
The joke may be on you if you are not chuckling enough through the day. An
increasing number of studies tout the health benefits of laughter and, while a good
laugh may not cure what ails you, it does appear to benefit the heart, lungs and
immune system. In addition to the physical and emotional release laughter offers,
laughing lessens stress by reducing the level of certain hormones and increasing
healthful hormones like endorphins and neurotransmitters. A hearty belly laugh works
the diaphragm, the abs and even the shoulders, while relaxing muscles. Laughter can
also help reframe our perspective, giving us a more positive approach to problem-solving or
challenging events.
Need to be proactive about incorporating more laughs into your life?
• Make time to spend with friends and family you enjoy.
• Rent a favorite comedy, or go to a comedy club
• Have a party or game night.
• Practice laughing at yourself or telling slightly embarrassing stories.
• Pay attention – there is absurdity all around us.
• Fake it – you can reap the benefits even when you force yourself to laugh.
Butterflies and Beauty Abound in
New Preschool Garden
Tiffanie Story, Alex Bidoli, Majida Garcia and Josh Bidoli
The teachers and staff of the Countess de
Hoernle Youth Learning Center at the Peter
Blum Family YMCA of Boca Raton wish to
thank Tiffanie Story and her son Wyatt
Steffens; Cydney Bidoli and her children
Alex and Josh; Majida Garcia and her
daughter Abigail; Robin Saltz and her
daughter Haley; Chris Voss and his daughter
Hailey; Tony Alea and his son Ryan; and
Rebecca Mancini and her son Devin for
creating a beautiful butterfly garden for
preschool families to enjoy. The garden will
be a place for exploration and learning.
THANKSGIVING AT THE Y
Our preschool children and their families
really enjoyed Thanksgiving festivities.
Tiffanie Story
and her son
Wyatt
Steffens
Giselle Funes

YMCA of South
Palm Beach County
6631 Palmetto Circle South
Boca Raton, FL 33433
Santa Claus joins the Grand
Reopening celebration at the Y -
Florida style
DID YOU KNOW?
IRA Distributions can directly benefit you and the YMCA
Don't forget to take advantage of the new tax free IRA rollover charitable incentive included in
pension legislation this year, and only good until the end of 2007. Donors can write a tax free
donation to the YMCA directly from their IRA.
NON PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
WEST PALM BEACH, FL
PERMIT NO. 3580
The Pension Protection Act of 2006 includes some of the most sweeping changes to retirement plans in
30 years and has provisions that may benefit you and the YMCA. It allows an individual to roll-over a
portion or all of one's Individual Retirement Account (IRA) into a donation to a nonprofit charity. That
donation would be tax free, and therefore not subject to one's annual federal income tax. However, the
provision is effective only through 2007, it includes a $100,000 ceiling on the amount that is tax-free,
and the donor must be at least 70.5 years of age. Any amount up to $100,000 distributed from a
traditional IRA or a Roth IRA, which would otherwise be included in the definition of taxable income, is
now tax-free when given to a tax exempt organization to which deductible contributions can be made.
For more information, please consult your tax advisor and estate planner, or
call Vicki Pugh, Vice President of Philanthropy at (561) 237-0929 or e-mail
vpugh@ymcaspbc.org.

Winter Issue 2006 YMCA of South Palm Beach County
YMCA Partners with Youth Program Gives
Families Healthy Opportunities
E
ach year, thanks to the Partners with Youth
scholarship program, more than 1,700
people, who would not otherwise be able to
afford it, enjoy the privileges of participating
in programs and membership at the YMCA
of South Palm Beach County’s branches, the
DeVos-Blum Family YMCA of Boynton
Beach and the Peter Blum Family YMCA of
Boca Raton. An annual fundraising drive was
conducted to raise funds to support the
program, which provided more than
$745,000 in scholarships to needy families
and individuals in 2006.
Volunteers and staff members of the
YMCA of South Palm Beach County
gathered recently at the Delray Beach
Marriott to kick off the 2006 Partners
with Youth scholarship
program fundraising
campaign. Chairs David
Beaumont from the DeVos-
Blum Family YMCA of
Boynton Beach and Russell
Lisk of the Peter Blum Family
YMCA of Boca Raton
introduced volunteer fundraisers
and announced this year's goal
of $543,000.
Scholarships are provided to
children, families, adults and
seniors, who would otherwise not be able to
participate in YMCA programs or membership.
For a family, a scholarship may mean
affording a quality after school program at
the Y, rather than allowing their children to
go home to an empty house every day. For
a child, a scholarship can provide access to
swimming lessons and help him/her develop
an important life-saving skill. For senior
adults, a scholarship can offer opportunities
for improved health and socialization.
Anyone with financial need is offered the
opportunity to apply for scholarship
assistance.
The Partners with Youth scholarship
program fundraising campaign
concluded on December 5th with a
victory celebration at the
Delray Beach Golf and
Country Club. For more
information on how you can
support the Partners with
Youth program, please contact Joann
Foster at the Peter Blum Family
YMCA of Boca Raton at (561)
237-0969 or jfoster@ymcaspbc.org
or Beverly Johnson at the DeVos-
Blum Family YMCA of Boynton
Beach at (561) 536-1402 or
bjohnson@ymcaspbc.org
Thank you Scott Hernley,
managing partner of Carrabba’s Italian Grill in Boynton Beach, for hosting a luncheon to
benefit the DeVos-Blum Family YMCA of Boynton Beach’s Partners with Youth Scholarship
Program. Through Carrabba’s support, the YMCA raised more than $1,200!
Peter Blum
Family YMCA
of Boca Raton
DeVos-Blum
Family
YMCA of
Boynton Beach

Peter Blum Family
YMCA of Boca Raton
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
David Aucamp, Chairman of the Board
Paul Adkins
Peter Blum
Yvonne S. Boice
Tony Bonitatibus
John Cappeller, Jr.
James E. Chaney
Timothy Devlin
Janice E. DiLorenzo
Father Michael T. Driscoll
John Duffy
David K. Edwards
Susan E. Harris
Countess Henrietta deHoernle
Lyn Houston
J. Randy Justice
Marc Kaiser
Bradley Kitchens
Harriet R. Lewis-Mooney
Russell Lisk
Emily Miller
John T. Mulhall III
Randy B. Nobles
Robert J. Parlow
John Prokos, Jr.
Nico P. Pronk
Dan Regan (Board of Trustees)
Madelyn Savarick
Thomas E. Schiedel
Judith L. Schipani
William R. Schipani
Richard Smith
Michael Sparks
John A. Warner, III
Mission Statement:
To put Christian principles into practice through
programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body
for all.
OPERATING HOURS
Monday-Thursday 6:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Friday 6:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday Noon - 5:00 p.m.
CHILD WATCH HOURS
Open to all members between the ages of six
weeks and five years old, while their parents
participate in YMCA activities.
Monday - Friday 8:15 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Monday/Wednesday/Friday 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Tuesday/Thursday 4:15 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Saturday 8:00 a.m. - Noon
Sunday Closed
Bethesda Outpatient
Rehabilitation
Bethesda Outpatient Rehabilitation is proud
to announce the expansion of our services
at the Peter Blum Family YMCA of Boca
Raton. While Bethesda has provided
aquatic physical therapy for the last three
years in the YMCA’s existing indoor pool,
Bethesda now offers traditional physical
therapy in the YMCA’s new rehabilitation
clinic. The modern, 2,900-square-foot facility
features licensed and certified therapists, who work with patients on an individual basis,
using all new, state-of-the-art equipment. Aquatic therapy has now moved to the new
heated, easy access YMCA pool.
Aquatic therapists and rehab staff: Bobbie Parkens, Marisa
Martinez, Sharon Opkins, Ginny Koplo, Jackie Burton
The program treats people with all types of injuries, functional impairments and limitations.
The quality programs include:
• Aquatic Physical Therapy
• Orthopedic and Sports Rehabilitation
• Balance/Vestibular Rehabilitation
• Movement Disorders Rehabilitation
• Cancer Rebound Therapy
• Most Neurological Conditions
Bethesda Outpatient Rehabilitation has been named one of
the “2005 Top 10 clinics among 1,000 hospitals and clinics
nationwide” by Focus on Therapeutic Outcomes, Inc. (FOTO).
FOTO is a national functional outcomes reporting company
that recognizes rehabilitation clinics for their excellence and
effectiveness of treatment during the last 12 months.
Bethesday Outpatient equipment Patients of Bethesda Outpatient Rehabilitation in the Peter Blum
Family YMCA of Boca Raton, receive quality treatment throughout
their entire rehabilitation process. At the completion of therapy, patients are also eligible to
join the YMCA, where the membership initiation fee will be waived. Bethesda Outpatient
Rehabilitation accepts traditional insurance, Medicare, Medicaid and most managed care plans.
During the month of January 2007, Bethesda Outpatient Rehabilitation is offering
complimentary injury assessments. For more information about scheduling an injury assessment
or a tour, please call (561) 274-8511. Please stop by and see our new facility soon.
Tiles of Love Wall Dedicated
The Peter Blum Family YMCA recently dedicated
its new Tiles of Love wall. Board Members, staff
members, YMCA after school children and
community VIPs attended the ceremony to pay
tribute to friends, family members and loved ones
recognized on the wall.
Funds raised from the sale of tiles help fund
Friendship Place, a playground for children of all
abilities at the Peter Blum Family YMCA. Since
the playground was installed in 2004, children of
all abilities have been able to play together on
equipment, which is specially configured to
encourage independence and self-direction for
children with a wide variety of abilities and
disabilities. To make the playground even more
accessible to wheelchairs, the YMCA is trying to
raise an additional $40,000 to install a “poured in
place rubber surface”.
From left: Rosemary Krieger, David Aucamp and
Commissioner Mary McCarty in front of the Tiles of Love
wall.
Tiles may be purchased anytime. Prices range
from $55 - $200, depending on the size. For
more information, please contact Dana Brookes
at (561) 237-0944.

DeVos-Blum Family YMCA
of Boynton Beach
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Charles F. Hill Jr., Chairman of the Board
Stacey Accardi-Cox
David Beaumont
William Earnhart, M.D.
Mike Ferguson
Carl Foster
Kenneth M. Kaleel
William R. Martin
Bob Miller
Anthony Newbold
Warren Newell
Brenda Pumilia
W. Keith Seago
Patrick Shepherd
Ernest G. Simon
Christopher Storkerson
Robert B. Taylor, Jr.
Dorian B. Trauger
Gregory Zink
Mission Statement:
To put Christian principles into practice through
programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body
for all.
OPERATING HOURS
Monday - Thursday 5:30 a.m. -10:00 p.m.
Friday 5:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday Noon - 5:00 p.m.
CHILD WATCH HOURS
Open to all members between the ages of six weeks
and five years old while their parents participate in
YMCA activities.
Monday - Friday mornings 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Monday - Thursday evenings 4:15 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Friday evening 4:15 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday morning 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Sunday Closed
KID'S CLUB HOURS
Open to all members between five (should already
be enrolled in Kindergarten) and 11 years old, while
their parents participate in YMCA activities. The
children will enjoy games, swimming and sports. This
program is supervised by YMCA staff and volunteers.
There is a two-hour limit for Kid's Club care.
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 4:15 a.m.-8:30 p.m. at the pool
Tuesday, Thursday 4:15 a.m.-6:30 p.m. at the pool
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
in Preschool Classroom #2
Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
in the Teen Center
Sunday Closed
Beverly Johnson Named Executive Director of
DeVos-Blum Family YMCA
The YMCA of South Palm Beach County is pleased to
announce that Beverly Johnson has been named Executive
Director of the DeVos-Blum Family YMCA of Boynton
Beach.
Beverly has held positions with the YMCA for the past five
years, including Senior Community Wellness Director and
Associate Executive Director. In her work with the YMCA,
Bev Johnson, Executive
Director, DeVos-Blum
Family YMCA
Beverly has spearheaded new programs including Senior Wellness, Activate America
and Schools of Wellness and has been responsible for overall operations of Childcare,
Teen and Family Services, Health and Wellness, Community Wellness and Massage
Therapy.
Prior to her work with the YMCA, Beverly worked for Aventura Hospital and Medical
Center as Executive Director of the Senior Health Center, and Administrative Director of
Outpatient Services. She was senior area manager for the Florida Institute for
Neurologic Rehabilitation and has been an adjunct faculty member at Palm Beach
Atlantic University and San Diego Community College.
In 2003, Beverly was nominated by her peers at the YMCA to receive the Luther
Gulick Award, for living the YMCA mission of building spirit, mind and body. She also
holds her YMCA “Director” and “Senior Director” certifications and is a master trainer in
the SPARK (Sports Play and Active Recreation for Kids) curriculum.
A graduate of University of Florida, Beverly holds Bachelor of Science
and Master of Health Administration degrees and received a Master
of Science in Exercise Physiology from San Diego State University.
In 2006, Beverly was recognized for her work with the Schools of
Wellness Program by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation by being
asked to be a part of the lead presenting team at their annual
conference in Phoenix.
The Board and staff of the YMCA of South Palm Beach County
congratulate Beverly Johnson on completing the Chicago Marathon on Sunday,
October 22, 2006.
DeVos-Blum Family YMCA of Boynton Beach
Promotes Molly McGuire to Teen and Family Services Director
Molly McGuire, Teen and
Family Services Director,
DeVos-Blum
A YMCA counselor and program coordinator for the past three
years, Molly McGuire has been promoted to Teen and Family
Services Director at the DeVos-Blum Family YMCA in Boynton
Beach. Among her responsibilities will be managing all of the
Y’s after school programs and summer camp. She plans to
implement such new programs as family mailboxes, a parent
handbook and a new teen program, in addition to supervising
the renovation of the teen center at the YMCA.
Prior to working at the YMCA, McGuire worked at The
Breakers in Palm Beach. She earned an associate’s degree in
visual communications from Brown College and completed
course work at Palm Beach Community College.
For more information on YMCA after school and summer camp
programs, please contact Molly at (561) 536-1434.

Community Drum Circles at the
DeVos-Blum Family YMCA
T S
he purpose of the drum
circles at the DeVos-Blum
Family YMCA is for community
members to connect with
each other on many levels -
and have lots of fun. The
event is offered the first and
third Tuesdays of each month
from 7:00-8:30 p.m. and is
open to the public at no cost.
All are welcome (you don’t
have to be a Y member),
regardless of musical experience.
by Russell Solomon, MT-BC
A community drum circle is a group recreational music making experience that
unites people regardless of their backgrounds, ethnicity, age, ability or prior experience.
Participants are engaged in playing a variety of percussion instruments. No
prior musical experience of any sort is required to enjoy
complete success. People interact on a basic human level in a light-hearted environment.
The facilitator provides structure and guides the group on its musical
journey, ultimately extending beyond music and leading to important insights into
group dynamics and increased wellness.
Drum circles are a lot of fun, but are a lot more, too. Numerous published
research studies outline the health benefits of Recreational Music-Making, such as
the positive biological effects of group drumming, reduction of stress, improvement
in mood, and strengthening the immune system. To learn more about these
studies, visit www.mind-body.org and click on “research”. For more information on
drumming, please visit www.drumexperience.org or www.remo.com, and click on
“HealthRhythms”. Bring your family, friends and neighbors and find out what
great benefits a drum circle might bring to you.
Lights On Afterschool
On Thursday, October 12, the YMCA
and Kids in New Directions (KIND) hosted
a "bus" tour of three after school sites
in Boca Raton as part of the national
Lights On Afterschool
initiative and the local Discover
Afterschool program. Educators, government
officials and community leaders
boarded the YMCA bus and toured
school and community-based after school
Russell Solomon leads community drum circle
From left: Vicki Pugh, Anne Faraone, Joanne
Dougherty, Heather Alfonso, Michelle Owens,
Nancy Holly, Beverly Beguesse, Rhonda Roters,
Monica Jara, Natalie Cwick, Susan Lowenthal
programs. The goal of the event was to raise awareness about the need for more
structured activities for children, when they are out of school.
According to the Florida Department of Education, only 17% of the State’s K-12
youth participate in afterschool programs. More than 29% of K-12 youth in selfcare
would be likely to participate in an afterschool program if one were available.
The Afterschool Alliance reports that children, who participate in high quality, constructive
afterschool programs, demonstrate increased school attendance and
improved performance on standardized tests. They also develop skills that help
them throughout their lives, including better work habits, successful peer relations,
conflict resolution and constructive choices about their personal behavior.
World Games Hopeful:
Exceptional Teenager Takes
Home the Gold and Silver
uvi Lamping, who
moved to Florida from
Finland to marry her
husband, Tim, 27 years
ago, has been home
schooling her son,
Matthew, since he was
in first grade. Fluent in
both Finnish and
English, her son
demonstrated an
extremely high aptitude
in certain areas, like
language, but seemed
to lag behind with other
developmental and
social skills. When his
Matthew Lamping, Special
Olympics swimming hopeful
speech was delayed and he began having trouble
holding a pencil, she questioned the doctors. They
attributed the speech issues to being bilingual in
English and Finnish and thought his developmental
delays were just part of his unique make-up.
Finally, when Matthew was 12 years old, doctors
discovered that he suffered from a rare hereditary
disease of the connective tissue called Ehlers-
Danlos Syndrome or EDS. Such a condition
results in fragile skin and unstable joints and prevents
Matthew from participating in any activities
that could result in falls, cuts or dislocated joints.
Then, less than a year later, doctors told Suvi and
Tim their son also was autistic. Shaken, but
determined to create a life for their son that was as
normal as possible, the Lampings enrolled
Matthew in swimming lessons at the DeVos-Blum
Family YMCA of Boynton Beach. Doctors told
them that swimming was the only safe sport
option for Matthew and would be beneficial
physical therapy.
A year and one half later, Matthew is now a
member of the Sea Dragons swim team at the Y,
as well as the Palm Beach Special Olympics team.
He recently placed first in 200 meter freestyle and
second in 100 meter butterfly at the Special
Olympics State Championships. His freestyle relay
team also placed second.
Several nights a week you’ll find Matthew
practicing at the YMCA pool and working toward
his ultimate goal of going to Special Olympics
National and World Games.
“We’re working hard to teach Matthew that there’s
no such thing as ‘I can’t,’” said Suvi. “The coaches
and people at the YMCA have been wonderful.
We’re so lucky to have found such a special place.”