The Somerset Hills YMCA has been awarded a $15,000 grant from the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund's 2011 New Jersey grant initiative, as one of 54 organizations whose proposals for funding were selected from among more than 500 proposals statewide.

The one-time grants were given by the Children's Fund have the goal of alleviating economic challenges and sustaining organizations that favorably impact children across New Jersey, according to information from the Somerset Hills YMCA, which has two facilities in Basking Ridge.

The $15,000 grant for the Somerset Hills YMCA is earmarked to support and expand two specific programs to serve children with disabilities in Somerset County, said Andrea Williams, director of public relations for the YMCA.

Carousel Kids offers a self-contained program for children with disabilities with a 1:1 or 1:2 aide to participant ratio. A second program, Summer Camp Inclusion, enables children with disabilities to be mainstreamed into traditional summer camp, also with the help of trained aides or ‘shadows.’

“The Somerset Hills YMCA takes pride in offering all children the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive," said Fred Wasiak, Chief Operating Officer at the Somerset Hills YMCA. "The role of any Y is to support its community, and our programs are based on the unique needs and interests of our members and neighbors."

Wasiak said the YMCA, which serves the entire Somerset Hills area, Warren Township and other nearby communities, has designed more than 20 programs that offer the area's special needs population a range of activities and interests, many of which are free or subsidized.

"This Toys”R”Us grant means that we will be able to reach out to more children with special needs in our neighborhoods and provide them with the kind of experienced and nurturing care that they need,” Wasiak said.

The release said the Somerset Hills YMCA has been offering programs and services to children for 60 years with the belief that the values and skills learned early on are vital building blocks for quality of life and confidence that kids carry into adulthood.

“Of the many proposals we received, the Somerset Hills YMCA demonstrated a distinctive commitment to supporting children in New Jersey,” said Kathleen Waugh, Chairman, Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund. “With additional support from the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund this year, we hope that the impact of its meaningful work will be even greater to further our collective efforts in our state to keep kids safe and help them in times of need," Waugh said.

Grants will support a wide array of unique programs and services aligned with the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund mission of keeping children safe and helping them in times of need, according to the release. Funding was awarded to nonprofit organizations that demonstrated an immediate and specific need and directly impacted children in the state. Kids in each of New Jersey’s 21 counties will benefit from the impact of the grant initiative through community-based and statewide charities. To view the complete list of recipients, please visit: Toysrusinc.com/charitable-giving/2011NJGrants

Toys“R”Us, Inc. and the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund together have given hundreds of thousands of dollars in product donations and monetary grants annually to a wide range of nonprofit organizations in New Jersey, according to the release. Toys“R”Us, Inc. has been based in New Jersey for 38 years, the release said.