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Hamilton resident Tom Mladenetz stands on the basketball court at the
CYO of Mercer County’s South Broad Street location in Trenton.

He also writes grants and prepares Hamilton Township economic develop-
program reports for monthly board ment director Martin Flynn will be hon-
meetings. He works with community ored as CYO Man of the Year.
partners and oversees maintenance like The CYO $4.5 million budget is paid
putting in a new roof at the East State from service fees, contracts, foundation
Street Center. and corporate grants, contributions,
There is a lot of monitoring because community block grants, some subsi-
it is a nationally accredited child care dized child care, and special events.
center, he said. That it goes above and Community partnerships help, some
beyond the requirements, and the come to paint and help with the physi-
National Association for the Education cal space. A partnership with the New
of Young Children—the accrediting Jersey Department of Agriculture, for
agency—shows the CYO’s commitment example, allowed the CYO to provide
and quality, he says. a food program for more than 750 chil-
“It’s like a home. You finish one proj- dren at two Trenton sites, Ewing and
ect, and you’re on to the next project. Bromley.
My phone never stops. I am hands on as In addition to its many and varied
an administrator, but my family is sup- programs, the CYO also serves a social
portive,” he says. need. “The parents meet up at pickup
His parents instilled in him a strong and socialize. CYO enhances the sense
work ethic and religious faith that was of community,” Mladenetz says.
passed on to his own children with wife, What is in store for CYO? “We are
Mary Jane: Tom, a detective with the considering growth,” Mladenetz said.
Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office; “We don’t want to get too big. We want
Tim, a sales manager who is starting an to keep the family atmosphere. We know
MBA program; and Christina, a student everyone’s names.”
at Rider University. All three graduated Other social service sites have
from Steinert High School. approached the CYO about taking over.
Mladenetz’s parents’ social life was “It says a lot for our reputation,” Mlade-
built around the church, and he and his netz says. “We don’t take that lightly. We
siblings attended parochial schools. All have said no more times than we have
four have master’s degrees; all work in said yes.”
the human services field. “Religious “It’s like looking at a house,” he said.
faith and education were important to “You have good bones. There is a strong
raising us,” he says of himself and his alumni group that speaks fondly of their
siblings. His mother was the first child experiences. The key ingredients are in
in her own family to graduate from high place, but you don’t want to get stagnant.
school, and she juggled evening school We want to grow and enhance the qual-
with part-time work. ity. We are so committed to quality.”
The community also knows CYO for The CYO is but one of a number of
recreational basketball. A popular Hall good things happening in Trenton, he
of Fame dinner attracts some 300 peo- said. “I’m a believer in Trenton. When I
ple. Mladenetz, who himself played from came back here for this job, I had fam-
1968 through 1975, sees that “it allows ily and friends who thought I was crazy.
people to reconnect,” and when they There are some great businesses, and
attend reunions they learn about the some reach out to our families.” He cites
social service aspect. a developer’s program to help families
There are many events all year, includ- install heating systems.
ing a summer at show with the Trenton “I’m optimistic. It’s a long, show pro-
Artworks in August, and a major fund- cess. If everyone works together, Tren-
raising event, the CYO Golf Classic, Oct. ton can move forward.” Fortunately for
5. The golf event, in its 21st year, will be Trenton, Mladenetz say he plans to “be
held at the Mountain View Golf Course. here for a long time.”
August 2017 | Hamilton Post17