LYNN — At a presentation at the Demakes Family YMCA in Lynn on Monday afternoon, Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker presented the YMCA of Metro North with a sponsorship equating to 100 free YMCA memberships for middle school students in Lynn, the Office of the Essex County District Attorney and the YMCA of Metro North announced.
“We are deeply grateful to District Attorney Tucker for his support of the YMCA’s free memberships for middle schoolers in Lynn,” YMCA of Metro North CEO Kathleen Walsh said. “Middle school years are a crucial time in our kids’ lives. We want to make sure they have a safe space to go after school—a place where they can have fun in a positive environment with their peers. We are able to create that space for any middle school child in Lynn who wants to come to the YMCA because of the generosity of our donors and supporters like DA Tucker.”
At the sponsorship presentation, which was also attended by Lynn Mayor C. Jared Nicholson, Tucker praised the work of the YMCA and connected its youth development mission to the work of ensuring justice and public safety in Essex County.
“The YMCA’s work is immensely valuable, and we are proud to support it. Providing these memberships is one small part of our ongoing strategy to help foster positive youth development and help keep young people in the community safe,” said Tucker. “We know that far fewer young people become involved in the justice system when they have opportunities to participate in more structured activities with their peers and can access resources that facilities such as the Demakes YMCA offer.”
Dozens of current youth YMCA members participated in the presentation and shared thoughts on the value of the YMCA’s programs, including Kalea, a 14-year-old student, who said, “It gives me something to look forward to every day, like fun activities and people who actually care. The YMCA is somewhere I can come to when I feel down, and I like hanging out with my friends.”
