Granting Access for All

The YMCA at Pabst Farms recently received a $10,000 grant awarded by the Stackner Family Foundation, benefiting our Special Programs department.

These programs provide a unique experience for individuals with disabilities with an emphasis on physical activity, social interaction and fun.

Monies from the grant were used towards funding summer trips and activities for the program, making these opportunities more affordable and accessible to individuals with special needs. Established 1966, the Stackner Family Foundation is committed to funding non-profit organizations that provide services and programs to people living with intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities or chronic mental health diagnoses.

John Treiber is the Director of the foundation and has partnered with the Y for over 10 years. Treiber’s daughter has been a longtime participant in Y Special Programs, and their family has seen firsthand the valuable impact of experiential education.

Jodi Dabrowski, Special Programs Director for the YMCA at Pabst Farms, says their department has been excited for this grant opportunity to further the experiences the program can offer. “We are so very grateful for the continued support of the Stackner Family Foundation,” says Dabrowski. “They have truly gotten our Special Programs department to where it is today, and have been instrumental in making these opportunities a reality for all of our program participants.”