​Squadron Capital owner partners with the Farmington Valley YMCA to change lives this summer

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By Brian Liss

For parents and kids, summer vacation may mean different things.  Parents are concerned with ensuring that their children are safe, supervised, and engaged in activities that keep their minds and bodies active when school lets out for the summer. Youngsters eagerly anticipate the free time, and simply want to have fun and learn something new. Thanks to the generosity of Granby-based Squadron Capital, LLC, and its president Dave Pelizzon, the Farmington Valley YMCA and Camp Chase Day Camps were able to offer a solution designed to keep everyone happy this summer.
Day camp for youth was the number one program offered by YMCAs in 2015, with more than 1,700 Ys offering it. Since YMCAs are independent, grassroots organizations, day camp activities vary at each YMCA. However, all programs are community-based, offering youngsters a unique opportunity to connect with their communities. 

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​Jeff Spadaccini, Farmington Valley YMCA Youth and Family Director, Dave Pelizzon, President of Squadron Capital, LLC, and Brian Liss, Executive Director, Farmington Valley YMCA. Submitted photo

At Camp Farmington Valley and Camp Chase day camps, our campers enjoy a broad range of age-appropriate programs, events and activities, from arts and crafts, swimming, to field trips, sports and community service. It is these experiences that Dave Pelizzon remembers as a child that prompted his gift.  In a recent meeting, he told the Y, “I was walking out of the Y one morning after running and I remembered how important day camp was to me. I was able to go for two summers in the 1960s but my family could not afford to send me the third year.  I thought there are children in similar situations today and I thought that my company and I could make a difference. I called a Y board member later that morning, had a call with the Y staff shortly after, and found out that $10,000 would get all the children into camp or extend their sessions. We were able to fund by later that day.” 
Executive Director, Brian Liss notes, “Our day camps offer kids exceptional opportunities to enjoy activities and resources that are often unavailable to them during the school year. No other organization is better positioned to help young people get healthier and feel connected to their communities during summer months than America’s YMCAs. We encourage parents and kids to experience our longstanding commitment to strengthening the spirits, minds, and bodies of kids first hand.”
It is truly remarkable when the leader of a local company recognizes an opportunity to make sure a child has a great summer. The Farmington Valley YMCA would like to thank Dave Pelizzon and Squadron Capital for their timely generosity. 
Visit www.ghymca.org or call the Farmington Valley YMCA at 860-653-5524 to learn more about day camp for next summer and all of the other programs the Y has to offer this fall.