YAI & FIT are hosting a networking event for students and young professionals in the New York area to help promote the agencies awareness as well as raising money for their incredible MAC program.
What is YAI?
YAI is a network of agencies, dedicated to providing innovative services to empower the people of the intellectual and developmental disabled (I/DD) community, that was founded in 1957. They support over 20,000 people in the I/DD community through their programs that include day services, residential support, employment training and support, as well as opportunities for recreation and socialization along with many other programs. What makes YAI different is they do not just support the people in the I/DD community they empower them; they guide them toward achieving the fullest life possibly by creating opportunities for living, loving,working and learning.
The Project
YAI’s communication department reached out to my event planning class at FIT. Together YAI and my class will be spending the next two months planning and ultimately hosting the Toast to Spring Event. This event will help raise money to cover expenses that prevent a number of participants who otherwise could not afford to attend the camp this summer. Our ultimate goal is to have a successful event that not only raises the programs awareness, but inspire a wide range of young individuals to get involved in making a positive difference.
Fundraising for MAC
Mainstreaming at Camp (MAC) is a program run by YAI in partnership with Frost Valley YMCA that offers kids and teens in the I/DD community the opportunity to go to sleep aways camp each summer. The summer camp provides valuable experiences for the kids in an inclusive and supportive environment. Each session runs for two weeks, during that time the children stay in the residential housing within the MAC village and participate in various activities within the larger Frost Valley community. These activities include hiking, rock climbing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and arts and crafts; each day is ended with a nightly campfire which brings all the campers together.
More information about the event will be available as we plan! Stay tuned.
xx
Mariano