Impact of Gifts to Friends

Gifts to FIYB make a real difference to youth and families

Your support of FIYB helps to ensure that our community’s children and youth have access to safe and healthy recreational and youth development opportunities.

Gifts made in the past year were allocated to the Ithaca Youth Bureau according to preferred designations and the IYB program needs, including for:

• The College Discovery Program (CDP) took the 10th grade cohort to the Adirondacks for a 4-day trip visiting Ausable Chasm, Howe Caverns, SUNY Cobleskill, and the Iroquois Indian Museum.

• Recreation Support Services (RSS) purchased snow boots and snow pants so that participants could be outside for most of the winter. They also took a trip to Greek Peak for snow tubing and to a Syracuse Mets game in June, and purchased art supplies and a tablet for virtual programs.

• Big Brothers/Big Sisters (BB/BS) bought board games, sleds, scooters, snowshoes, art and science kits, and balls for use by BB/BS matches all year long.

• Paul Schreurs Memorial Program (PSMP) staff and participants traveled to Baltimore and Washington D.C. this summer. They also updated staff technology to virtually support students.

• Recreation is updating outdoor play equipment for the 2022 summer Cass Park pool season and purchasing swim lesson teaching tools. In 2021 summer day camp families who are eligible for free or reduced lunch received more scholarship support (from 30% to 40% for reduced lunch and 60% to 70% for families who receive free lunch).

• Outings is getting more warm winter boots, jackets, hats, and gloves for use by program participants for outdoor adventure winter programming.

• New Expressive Arts Programs are being launched with gifts in memory of program founder Ruth Davis.

• The Cass Park Arena Enclosure Campaign continues until anticipated construction begins.