The Who, What and When of the 'Y'

To some, the is a happy place where they played as children. For others, it was the last vestige of normalcy their aging parents, struggling with Alzheimer’s, got to enjoy.

But for the founders of this Little Neck institution it was simply known as: "The Everybody Place."

"For almost half a century our commitment has been to foster an 'all inclusive' community center here in Little Neck," said Steven Goodman, executive vice president and CEO of the Samuel Field Y. "Regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or ability — we want everyone in Little Neck to feel welcome here and I'm proud of that."

With a legacy dating back to 1960, when real estate magnate Samuel Field donated land to build a community center that would bare his name, from the very beginning the focus for the Y was on inviting the whole family to partake in activities, according to Goodman.

"Including the elderly and individuals with special needs ... we were one of the first facilities in the city to reach out specifically to these populations," Goodman said.

Responding to the needs of a growing population, many of whom moved to Little Neck in search of the American Dream — within just a few years the Y opened its doors to the surrounding community.  

"There had been a tremendous influx of people moving here from the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan," Goodman said. "Seeking a better quality of life, by 1964, they found a home at the Y with dances, dinners and after school programs that helped galvanize the outskirts of Queens into a real neighborhood that remains one of the nicest areas to live."

Heading into its sixth decade, the Y is now the largest federated community center in Queens, with 21 different sites throughout the borough and an outreach program that spans the entire city.

Still the Little Neck location is the flagship of this enterprise.

"We have a long history out here, staying ahead of the curve... recognizing emerging trends and adapting quickly to expanding needs of the community," Goodman said.

An approach appreciated by many of the members of the Y, particularly parents of children with disabilities.

"The Y has been a life-saver for me and my daughter Robin for the past 10 years," said Mike Klausner, a retired police sergeant whose daughter is a member of the Y's after school program for children with autism.

"While she's a medium-function autistic, she's been coming to the Y since she was 5 years old, and thanks to the socializing that she's exposed to, she's much more extroverted," Klausner said. "It's nice knowing she's made some real connections with people outside of the family."

Klausner also pointed out that he too has found a great network of support at the Y. 

"It really is incredible the approach they take, they've been here fighting along side parents with special needs for a very long time," he said.

Today, the Samuel Field Y provides life-enhancing services to over 27,000 people a year.

"But it all started in Little Neck, and we owe a great deal to Samuel Field," Goodman said.