Circle of Champs

General Information



MISSION

YMCA Circle of Champs is a program of the Guilderland YMCA, dedicated to improving the quality of life for children and families who have been touched by life threatening illnesses. YMCA Circle of Champs will offer year-round programs from holiday parties to camp experiences and more.

YMCA Circle of Champs is funded through the YMCA's Reach Out For Youth Annual Support Campaign. All YMCA Circle of Champs programs are provided free of charge to participants. Members of the YMCA Circle of Champs are also eligible for facility membership scholarships and program discounts through the YMCA's access program (see below).

CHILDREN and FAMLIES WHO MAY BELONG TO CIRCLE OF CHAMPS

The following list provides a child's physician with a list of illnesses that qualify an individual and their family to participate in the YMCA Circle of Champs program.

CARDIOLOGY

  • Cardiomyopathies
  • Debilitating congenital cardiac lesions
  • Pulmonary artery hypertension
  • Kawasaki syndrome with significant coronary involvement

GASTROINTESTINAL

  • Congenital biliary atresia
  • End stage liver failure, post infectious, toxic or vascular
  • Short bowel syndrome with total parental dependence

HEMATOLOGY

  • Chronic congenital hypoplastic anemia (transfusion dependent)
  • Aplastic anemia (including Fanconi's)
  • Sickle cell diseases (organ impairments or life threatening complications)
  • Severe agranulocytosis
  • Thalassemia major

IMMUNODEFICIECY DISEASE

  • Congenital immune deficiencies with known limitations on life span; or requiring bone marrow transplants
  • Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV infection with symptoms and/or significant immune suppression)

METABOLIC DISEASE

  • Storage or metabolic diseases with organ impairment (e.g. Niemann-Pick disease, Gaucher's disease, Tay-Sachs disease)

NEPHROLOGY

  • End stage renal disease

NEUROLOGY

  • Degenerative gray matter disease
  • Degenerative white matter disease
  • Spinal muscular atrophy (e.g. Werdnig-Hoffmann disease with rapid progression)
  • Muscular dystrophy (rapidly progressive cases)
  • Neurofibromatosis with life-threatening complications
  • Refractory epilepsy with associated neurological impairement

ONCOLOGY

  • Children with any form of cancer, that requires six months or more of chemotherapy

PULMONARY

  • Cystic fibrosis with progressive pulmonary disease

RHEUMATOLOGY

  • Systemic lupus erythematosus with life-threatening complications
  • Polyarteritis with life-threatening complications
  • Dermatomyositis

TRANSPLANTS (PRE)

  • Children awaiting life-saving transplants

ACCESS GUIDELINES FOR THE YMCA CIRCLE OF CHAMPS PROGRAMS

Each child enrolled in the YMCA Circle of Champs will receive the following:

  • One week at Camp Nassau for the child and their siblings during the Champs camp week.
  • Free monthly programming as scheduled by the YMCA Circle of Champs Committee which includes the child and their entire family
  • Membership to the YMCA at a discounted rate. The membership rates will be as follows:
    • Two-adult family membership - $15.00 per month
    • One-adult family membership - $10.00 per month
    • Youth membership - $5.00
    • The $100 joiner fee will be waived for the Circle of Champs members. An Access Agreement will need to be signed by the person responsible for the monthly payments.
  • Scholarships for the programs run by the YMCA (swim lessons, youth basketball, etc.) will be granted if the family's household income falls within our financial sliding scale. Proof of current household income must be submitted for review.
  • Scholarship Assistance may be provided for two additional weeks at Camp Nassau's Funshine camp if the family qualifies for Access Scholarship Assistance. The person responsible for payment will be required to sign the Access Guidelines for Camp Nassau.
All Capital District YMCA Access Policy and Procedures apply to the YMCA Circle of Champs Program.