What CYC Means to Families: The Mabon's
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Since opening our first center in 1956, there have been thousands of families that have their own unique CYC experiences. We reached out to a handful of families to share their stories and offer a glimpse of what CYC means to them. We are excited to kick off this series with the Mabon family!
About 8 years ago, the Mabon family moved into their new home in the South Shore neighborhood. At the time, Christine and her husband were both working full-time, and their two children were six and seven years old. One day, while chatting with a friend, Christine mentioned that she had begun her search for an out-of-school time program for her children. Her friend recommended visiting CYC-Rebecca K. Crown to learn more.
The Mabon’s remember being blown away by CYC’s program offerings. As working parents, they especially appreciated the benefits like CYC’s Safe Passage program, where staff pick up children directly from school in CYC vans and bring them to our Centers for program. They were so impressed that they signed up that very same day!
There was one experience that still stands out to Christine, even after all these years. Shortly after her children were enrolled in CYC programming, her daughter, India, joined the Violin Club. “She would bring her violin home and practice Mary had a Little Lamb all the time – it took a while for her to learn.”
To support children’s growth, Crown Staff partnered with a professional music school to offer each Violin Club member an additional weekly lesson. Christine and her family didn’t hesitate to take advantage of this opportunity! Over the next few months, India continued to practice hard, learning and rehearsing her songs as often as she could.
The culmination of all that hard work came when the Violin Club performed on stage at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra! “I never thought in a million years that my daughter would be playing at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra – it was a big deal! I saw all of the CYC kids on stage playing Mary had a Little Lamb. They had been practicing so hard for that moment, and I was so proud. That day is when I knew we were in the right place.”
Sometimes it only takes one moment to spark a sense of joy and confidence. These moments – big or small – can inspire children to try something new or to learn more about who they are. Christine’s children have gone on to try nearly everything CYC has to offer, discovering interests they have become incredibly passionate about. They’ve gained experience in subjects like culinary arts, mentored younger children, and built skills in basketball and robotics. These passions have turned into real-world experiences that help them feel more confident as they begin thinking about their career paths.
Moments and stories like these happen every day at CYC – and they continue to ground us in our mission. Our programs provide comfort to entire families by creating a nurturing environment that encourages holistic exploration and growth.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors and partners, CYC is able to offer enriching experiences – five days a week, 48 weeks a year. If you would like to help create more of these meaningful moments, follow the link below to show your support!