MERGER OF THE LEARNING CIRCLE WITH THE SUMMIT AREA YMCA

            On August 23, 2005, the approximately yearlong process of merging Summit’s premier not-for-profit childcare organization, The Learning Circle (“TLC” - formerly known as the Summit Child Care Centers) with the Summit Area YMCA was completed. The administrators, boards, and staff of both organizations firmly believe that the combining of these two strong and vibrant service organizations is a victory for working families and children in the community.

            As a freestanding nonprofit childcare and early education organization with an over fifty-year tradition of service excellence, TLC enjoyed a leading position and reputation in the childcare community. TLC’s mission and size, however, did not come without certain challenges in terms of administrative costs, fundraising and board development.

     At the same time, the Summit Area YMCA, the nation's largest provider of childcare, was continuing to provide families with school-age after school care, kindergarten wrap around, and preschool programs -- with all the attendant development and administrative capacity.  To strengthen its mission, the organization was seeking to develop a significant full-time early childcare and education presence.

     The complimentary strengths and needs of the organizations made the case for combining extremely compelling. In essence, the working families of the community are gaining the recognized quality aspects of an experienced and highly regarded childcare organization with all the stability and institutional strengths of a full service community-based provider with a national affiliation. 

            "Summit is an extraordinarily generous community that has allowed a good number of not for profit service organizations to thrive. Our community is enriched and defined by their presence.  However, some freestanding organizations, like TLC, may find themselves unable to continue to provide the same high quality of service given the sharp rise in healthcare benefits, insurance and other services needed to support their mission," explained Lisa Grattan, who as president presided over the merger of TLC with the YMCA. It was that realization that led representatives from both TLC and the Summit Area YMCA to pursue combining their organizations.  The merger will maximize outreach to the diverse communities their missions seek to serve, and secure the volunteer and financial support that is essential for every healthy nonprofit. 

      TLC's executive director, Joyce Klimaski, who will continue to direct the merged child care program, said, "The staff members of The Learning Circle are excited about the opportunities for the children we serve who will now be able to use the YMCA's swimming, sports and camp programs.  We are also looking forward to the expanded training opportunities and the support system that will be provided as a direct result of the merger with the Summit Area YMCA."

       In his statement to the community, Tim Weidman, president of the Summit Area YMCA, said, "In the end, the merger was accomplished and will be successful because TLC and the Summit Area YMCA have incredibly compatible missions as concerns the provision of scholarships and quality services to families and children."

              “Now that the merger is complete,” said Mr. Weidman, “the vision of the combined organization will be to broaden services to families and children by assessing needs and seeking ways to expand child care programming to meet the needs while staying true to our mission of affordability and access to all regardless of ability to pay.”

              The merger provides the combined organizations with a very strong base of child care programming from infants through elementary school with hundreds of children are being served.  However, “the need for affordable child care is greater than our current level of programming can handle, “said Mr. Weidman.  There have been great economies in administrative costs to each organization as well as sharing of knowledge and expertise as a result of the merger.  As one organization we will build on theses plusses to strive to meet the needs of our families for generations to come.

CONTACT:  Beth Baxley, VP Marketing, Summit Area YMCA
908.273.3330/bethbaxley@summitareaymca.org