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giving back

Kim Haas – On Health, Fitness & Gratitude

February 27, 2025 by Ella Ilan

A day does not go by where Kim Haas, longtime Armonk resident and personal trainer, doesn’t either run, walk, lift weights, do yoga, get on her peloton, or bike outside. It isn’t always easy, but she draws motivation from recognizing how exercise both makes her feel and heal.

Haas was always interested in physical fitness. Working in the fashion industry in her twenties and living above a gym in New York City, she regularly exercised and even worked in the gym. Later, as a mother of two living in Westchester, Kim became certified as a personal trainer when her youngest was in kindergarten. She started out at New York Sports Club and eventually focused her business on private clients. An intense exerciser herself and as someone who ran half marathons, she had found the perfect fit for her career.

Coping with the Challenge of a Lifetime

Living a busy life as a personal trainer and mother of two and seemingly the picture of health, Kim was devastated to learn that she was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of uterine cancer eight years ago at age 47. After months of powering through what felt like normal exhaustion, Haas went to her doctor about some episodes of abnormal bleeding.

“When I got the call from the doctor, it was like a gut punch,” recalls Kim. “I couldn’t absorb any information or make a phone call, so I had my husband and friends do everything for me. It was so out of character for me because I always do everything. But when it came to me, I was just paralyzed.”

Haas underwent surgery at a local hospital followed by grueling rounds of chemotherapy and radiation at Memorial Sloan Kettering. She lost her hair, lost weight, and felt exhausted. Despite these challenges, she was determined to protect her high school daughter from seeing the degree of her sickness. Her older son was away at college. Kim would rise in the morning when her daughter went to school, be with her, and have friends drive her to school when possible so she didn’t have to fuss with her wig.

As soon as her daughter would leave for school, Haas would take her yoga mat and head to Equinox gym in town. Taking her position in a back corner of the room, she immersed herself in these yoga classes. When Kim started her yoga journey five years prior as a way to stretch after intense workouts, it was challenging for her to slow down, but she gradually grew to savor this time.

“It just really kept me going,” Haas reflects. “I had something to look forward to and it made me feel good. I was moving but not doing too much.”

Unable to run, she also made it a habit to walk every day. Bundling up in the winter, Kim was out there every day. “I was green and skinny and wearing a wig and I’m sure the whole world was noticing, but I didn’t care. I knew I had to get out and do my thing.” Returning home, she would nap, and then make sure to be back up to greet her daughter after school.

Erin, Aidan, Kim & Erik Haas

Marveling at how well she was doing and how she didn’t really need her nausea medication, Haas’ doctors questioned her about her habits. They surmised that her stretching and movement through yoga and walking alleviated her symptoms and indicated plans to study yoga’s beneficial effect on cancer patients.

Haas has since become certified as a yoga instructor. “I felt like yoga saved my life. It’s what got me through the day. Even now when I do yoga, it puts me in that space again. It’s just such a calming experience and feels like a mini vacation where everything else goes away.”

Carol Weston & Rob Ackerman, an Armonk couple, have been taking yoga under Haas’ tutelage for years. Ackerman has practiced yoga for 35 years, and among the many instructors he’s had, Haas stands out as exceptionally focused, thoughtful, and mindful. “She skillfully adapts her sessions for a group diverse in age and ability,” he says. “She models the poses beautifully, incorporates traditions like ending with “om,” and adds thoughtful touches, like lavender oil in savasana, enhancing the experience. She has a way of knowing what people need.”

“Yoga with Kim is such a delight,” shares Weston. “Rob and I have had the pleasure of practicing yoga with her at her home and, during the summer, on the deck of The Windmill Club. Sometimes we arrive harried and breathless, and she reminds us to…breathe. Her class is the right amount of challenging and she shares how to adjust movements. At the end, it’s like we’ve done a real re-set and are refreshed and ready to go back to our desks and lives. Namaste.”

Giving Back

When Haas was fighting her cancer battle, she discovered Soul Ryeders, a non-profit organization based in Rye that offers support to those impacted by cancer. Some of their offerings included events at salons offering reiki, massage, manicures, eyebrow tutorials, and wig trimmings. They also offer wig rentals. Kim donated her wigs and volunteers several times a month doing wig fittings. She also volunteers as a cancer peer mentor.

“Sometimes it’s very emotional for me but I find it really rewarding that I can give back,” reflects Haas.

Living Life to Its Fullest

This March, Kim will be seven years cancer-free. She is thankful for every day and is always on the move. She and her husband love to bike around Greenwich, Bedford, and Pound Ridge. “We live in the most beautiful part of the world and never take that for granted,” she says. They have set a great example for their children too. Their son does ironman races and marathons and their daughter is yoga certified and loves rock climbing.

Kim truly lives life to the fullest. She takes incredible care of herself, but she also pours her love and energy into others, making her a source of strength and inspiration to so many.

“If you don’t move and stay active in your twenties, thirties, and forties, it affects how you age in your fifties, sixties, and seventies,” says Haas. “You need to keep moving and keep going. That’s my motto.”

Filed Under: Cover Stories Tagged With: cancer-free, giving back, Gratitude, Healthy Living, Physical Fitness, Yoga

Where Beauty Abounds: Inside the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester

November 12, 2021 by Alyzza Ozer

Photo by Carolyn Simpson

To dream is a birthright.

In June, at his high school graduation, with a face beaming of pride and gratitude, my youngest child hugged me with so much love and said, “Mom thank you for letting me dream.”

To dream, one must recognize and understand the unadulterated need, joy and benefits of purpose and intention. Dreaming requires first the ability to envision, imagine and see something of beauty that exalts the mind spirit and heart. Second, design planning and implementation supports must be accessible.

Alyzza Ozer, Esq. CEO

Beautiful, smart, generous, creative people are developing at your BGCNW, and they are giving back to our community.

The mission of your BGCNW is to inspire and enable all young people–especially those who need us most–to realize their full potential as productive responsible caring citizens.

Having served the community for 82 years, our key differentiator as a youth-based organization is civic advocacy and leadership. The lessons of recognizing  community, and the multitude of opportunities to provide support to these communities, are woven into all our programming.

All children are worthy of experiencing the unique feelings of purpose and generosity when helping others. Consistently supporting community members is a privilege and responsibility whereby one hones skills of leadership collaboration and friend-making.

Examples of how our curriculum provides lessons in leadership, empathy and collaboration include: our pre-school children making capes for children in the hospital; the Middle School Torch Club creating book drops so all kids have access to creating their own home libraries; Liberty Keystone High School teens working in conjunction with Boys & Girls Club of America regarding environmental sustainability awareness and stewardship; all club kids supporting Youth for Unity and Youth of the Year promoting leadership and vision for improving lives in the future.

Nationally 87% of kids who regularly attend BGC programming, as adults, will consistently give back to their communities. Giving back to community is simply part of BGCNW DNA.

Photo by Carolyn Simpson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Club is “home,” a family dwelling place, a place where you belong.

95% of Club staff went to the Club as kids. When staff were asked why they remained or returned to the Club the unanimous answer was: “I get to do what I love, be where I belong and help make kids better people.”

Examples include our: Aquatics legend Dennis Munson who started the swim team 52 years ago; Director of Programming Athenia Lee; Fundraising Associate John Tunas; newly appointed Marlins Head Age Group Coach Connor White; and Director of Teen Programming Chris Beaudreault.

BGCNW programming along with the team provides kids with the chance to grow self-confidence, imagination, and faith–the tools to dream. Then we ensure our members have the supports to design and create a plan to make the dreams come true; we never give up.

Philanthropy is a business and there must be evidence-based impact:

• For the last 13 years,100% of our high school seniors, including those designated “at risk,” have graduated high school on time and went on to University, the military or technical school.

• Annually, we serve over 125,000 nutritious delicious meals and snacks.

• We have taught more than 65,000 children to be water safe.

• BGCNW Marlins Swim Team can also claim 275 athletes, and in the past 30 years, over 500 Hall of FAME NESCAC college graduates from the world’s most prestigious institutions including Ivy League.

• BGCNW Marlins is the Top 100 ranked club out of 3000+ in USA Swimming for the 2020-2021 swim year.

• It is an ethnically diverse program–over 50% of athletes identify as non-white.

• For 21 consecutive years BGCNW Marlins have held the Boys & Girls Club of America National Championship title.

 

Giving back to the Community is beautiful.

Meet some of our amazing alumni…

 

Liz Brennan

“We came from diverse backgrounds but, we were all able to connect. My goal is to teach kids how to read, giving what I learned at the Club to my students.“

At the Club Liz Brennan developed the self confidence to dream of being a teacher. At age 8, as a first generation American, she began her BGCNW experience as a Club kid attending after school programming. In the 9th grade she enrolled in the Counselor Mentoring Program. As a high school junior she helped start a camp leadership program. The Club helped prepare Liz for college and gave her a place to work while she was at college and completing her Masters’ and internships. 

As the CEO of BGCNW, I proudly spoke directly to the Principal of Crompound Elementary in Yorktown, NY, where Liz is now working as a 5th grade teacher giving back to our community. 

I shared Liz was innately intelligent with an unwavering work ethic and excellent childcare and teaching experience. Most importantly, she has a gorgeous heart, and the kids and community are her priority and joy.

John Tunas

“I love watching kids learn and the different transitions they go through at the Club, by securing funding for programming, I know more kids in our community will have great futures.”

At age 11, John Tunas came to camp where he built lasting friendships. He worked at the Club through high school and college. For over 25 years, his father Juan Tunas worked on the Horace Greeley High School Janitorial Team often requiring very long days at work. John’s Mom worked as well.  

John looked to the Club for life mentors who helped him become the first in his family to graduate from University. At the Club, John has held positions as Pre-School Teacher, Athletic Director and now, Fundraising Associate. John has been offered sales, marketing and entrepreneurial opportunities but is dedicated to Club fundraising. All three of John’s children attended pre-school, after school programming and Learn to Swim.

Connor White

“The community that makes up the club is one I grew up in and I wanted to share that same connection with a new generation of Marlin swimmers.” 

Recently promoted to Marlins Head Age Group Coach, Connor White first came to the Club as a young kid and dreamed of being a BGCNW Marlin. For 52 years, Coach Dennis has had a loving tradition of giving team members nicknames. “I dub thee Mini Me,” Dennis declared to Connor 22 years ago. 

Connor learned discipline, respect, and being part of a team while swimming. Afternoons before practice were spent at the club playing four square or billiards in the games room, meeting new club kids in the computer lab, or playing basketball in the gym. He associated the club as a safe place with a close-knit community that allowed him to make new connections, be a kid, and play. Wonderful relationships were built facilitating a positive environment. Connor studied Exercise Science at Ithaca College, and was a nationally ranked collegiate swimmer. He holds three school records. Six years ago, after college, he came back to work at the club because he has roots here.

Torell Nugent

“As I look back and reflect, I am extremely appreciative of my time spent at the club. I discovered the importance of diversity, community, and what it means to lead by example.“

Today, Torell Nugent is a Multimedia Associate Account Executive at Disney Ad Sales. He started at BGCNW at age three and attended after school programming through high school. After school began with a snack followed by school-work in a small classroom. States Torell: “Once I completed my homework, my attention would quickly shift directly towards a number of Club recreational activities. Being  on the field, gym, game room, or playground, I felt as though everything I could have ever wanted was at my fingertips. I quickly began to learn new skills and explore many of my passions. I fell in love with all things.”

“This was all made possible because of the outstanding staff at the BGC family. Day in and day out I received unconditional love and encouragement from everyone. My counselors became my mentors, friends, and teachers all in one. I have always revered them as the ultimate role models.”

“When it was finally my time to become a counselor, it was a dream come true. After nearly ten years of being a club member, it was my time to make sure my kids would have a similar, if not better experience than mine. I started as 2nd grade basketball coach and ended as a head counselor. I was getting paid to do something I loved, quickly realizing I was working my dream job.”

“Now as a member of the board I am able to incorporate my experiences in our community to continue to create life changing opportunities for the future generations.”

Filed Under: Cover Stories Tagged With: Alyzza Ozer, BGCNW, Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester, collaboration, Dream, Empathy, giving back, leadership, Marlins Swim Team, Milestones

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