By Marci Shatzman
Q&A with Jason Hagensick, President & CEO YMCA of South Palm Beach County
Q: You just announced a $75,000 grant from the estate of Frank J. and Teresa L. Scarane for the special needs program at the Peter Blum Family YMCA in Boca Raton. What will that mean for Chase’s Place, the Chase Donoff program?
A: Every contribution our YMCA receives goes directly towards supporting the programs and services we provide. In this case, the funds are specifically intended to provide art supplies and art therapy for Chase’s Place.
Q: What is Chase’s Place, who does it serve now, how many kids and what ages?
A: Our YMCA has been offering programs for children with diverse needs and abilities since the 1980s. In 2006, in memory of their son Chase, Judi and Craig Donoff helped create Chase’s Place with both financial and intellectual support which expanded the program to include those who are ages 5 to 22.
Chase’s Place includes designated space at our Peter Blum Family YMCA in Boca Raton. One thing that I take tremendous pride in is that participants are integrated into our traditional after-school and summer camp programming as much as possible. The program is led by a group of amazing paid and volunteer staff, including a number of teens from our Teen Leaders program. It is great seeing the teens interact with kids that have unique needs.
Q: What kind of special needs have parents asked the ‘Y’ to address?
A: In the United States, approximately 17% of youth have been diagnosed with some form of developmental disability. Families of youth with diverse needs are more likely to face daily challenges and obstacles, including the emotional
and physical demands of caring for a child with a disability, added financial pressures, feelings of isolation, strained relationships, and finding a suitable place for their child to attend during out-of-school time. Our Chase’s Place program at the ‘Y’ is here to help address these issues by providing a safe space for these families. Chase’s Place offers after-school care daily from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., full day care camps during winter, spring and summer, and “Fun Days” day camp on school days off.
Q: Will this donation expand the programming offered or the hours, or allow you to continue addressing those needs?
A: This contribution further strengthens and ensures the long-term sustainability of Chase’s Place. Consistent with the donors wishes, our YMCA will utilize a portion of the interest earnings to purchase art supplies and provide art therapy on an annual basis – hopefully forever.
Q: I see the Donoff law firm team and their daughter Lindsey Donoff were instrumental in facilitating this gift.
A: Chase’s Place would not have been possible without the generosity of Judi Donoff and her late husband, Craig. The Donoffs helped create the program in honor of their autistic son, Chase, who at the time had to travel more than 30 miles after school to attend a program that would meet his needs. The Donoffs established initial funding at the Peter Blum Family YMCA for “Chase’s Place” because they saw firsthand the need for such programs in the community. Due to the Donoff’s generosity and kindness, “Chase’s Place” has made a tremendous impact on the families it continues to serve.
