Gutwirth one of just 16 leaders chosen throughout the country
Meet Becca Gutwirth, executive director of school-age child care at the YMCA of the Pines.
She has been selected to serve as a 2023 Afterschool Ambassador, the Afterschool Alliance announced in March, one of just 16 leaders in the country chosen for the honor this year.
So what does an Afterschool Ambassador do?
He or she works with local after-school programs while serving a one-year ambassador term organizing events, working with community leaders and policy makers, and in other ways increasing support for the after-school and summer learning programs on which families rely.
Gutwirth oversees 14 before- and after-school programs in eight school districts in Burlington, Gloucester and Salem counties.
“This was an honor and responsibility that I wasn’t expecting,” she said of her ambassador role. “I was recommended to the national Afterschool Alliance by our state affiliate, NJSACC, New Jersey School-Age Child Care Coalition.
“I think my background in formal and informal education makes me a great advocate for after-school students across the state and the nation.”
Lights on After School is a yearly nationwide event that celebrates after-school programs and their important role in the lives of children, families, and communities. Each October, programs across the country host events that shine a light on all they do for children and families.
The YMCA of the Pines plans to host its Lights on After School event in October. It will welcome parents and the community into the programs at the Y sites and some of their yearly activities and projects, and host a community dinner at the Camp Ockanickon dining hall.
“It’s my goal, through networks such as the Y, Alliance and NJSACC, to rally after-school providers statewide to make sure our legislators recognize the importance of families being able to access quality after-school programs,” Gutwirth noted of how she intends to use the ambassador platform.
“It’s estimated that for every child in an after-school program, three are on waiting lists,” she explained. “While the rates for our local students are much lower, the ambassadors will work together to gain equity for all students.”
The YMCA of the Pines will also host a dinner on Thursday, April 20, for School’s Out families, staff members and staff from host schools. It will include local dignitaries.
Gutwirth’s dedication to the community is evident through her equally dedicated staff members and families committed to a common purpose: the bright future of the children who ultimately benefit from the after-school program.
“Many of our parents report that their children will often turn them away if they arrive for pickup too early, or that they will ask to be signed up even on days when the parents don’t need us for child care,” Gutwirth noted.
“I love that we are able to offer a place where kids feel at home, with staff that truly care for them and want to provide exciting activities that keep them engaged.”
YMCA of the Pines is an interfaith, charitable association dedicated to helping children, teens and families explore, grow, thrive, and ultimately become the best version of themselves. It is located on 800 acres off Stokes Road in Medford. For more information, visit www.ycamp.org or call (609) 654-8225.
The Afterschool Alliance is a nonprofit for public awareness and advocacy that works to ensure all children and youth have access to quality after-school programs. It selects 12 to 20 ambassadors from around the country each year, and provides training, technical support, and modest funding for their ambassador activities during the school year.
For more information, visit www.afterschoolalliance.org.
