Area volunteers honored by YMCA

  • March 26, 2010
  • 577
                        
The 90th annual meeting of the Tuscarawas County YMCA was held on Monday, March 16, at the St. John’s Church in Dover. The dinner meeting included recognition of YMCA volunteers that have served in 2009 as program and activities leaders, and on policy making boards and committees. All volunteers in attendance were presented with special YMCA gifts. The meeting was chaired by Bob Gerber, president of the YMCA board of directors. The financial report for 2009 and a slideshow highlighting the events and activities of the past year were included in the program. Retiring board members Steve Anderson, Lorraine Eadon, Matt Judy, and Jon Mason were recognized and thanked for their service. Four special recognition awards were included in the evening. The first award was the YMCA Christian Youth Spirit Award, which recognized the First Church of God in New Philadelphia for the outstanding work and service completed in 2009, including meals for the homeless shelter, help at Camp Warsaw and a mission trip to Lake Wales, Fla. Eighteen members of the youth group were in attendance to receive the award as well as their advisor Lori Roe. Their pastors are Matt Roe and Louise Worsham. Receiving the YMCA Family of the Year award was the Mark Harr family from New Philadelphia. The family members include Mark, Tiffanie, Aidan, Emma and Audrey. The entire Harr family is very active in YMCA programs and activities, including youth sports, fitness, and gymnastics. They exemplify a YMCA family with their commitment to good family values, active involvement, participation, and volunteer leadership. Being recognized as the Volunteers of the Year were Dale and Emma Burk of New Philadelphia. Dale and Emma serve as volunteer coaches for the YMCA gymnastics team. Both serve as level coaches and Dale as strength coach. They were presented with special plaques from the girls on the gymnastics team, including a special poem. Receiving the Leo Poland award for outstanding volunteerism, leadership and longtime service to the YMCA was Guy Cathcart of New Philadelphia. Cathcart has been an active member of the YMCA for over 37 years. He has served on the YMCA board of directors for about 18 years and has chaired the house and grounds committee and served on two different construction committees when the YMCA was expanded and the executive committee on three different occasions. His dedication and support of the YMCA and its mission are typical of the values and commitment that Leo Poland established and why the award is named in his memory. Also recognized for their outstanding support of the 2009 Strong Kids Campaign were the YMCA Chairman’s Roundtable members. They are: Mike and Laura Fenger, Black, McCuskey, Hanhart, Deeds, & Bauer, The First National Bank of Dennison, the Helen Brach Foundation, Grace Lutheran Church Endowment, the Hugh Fraser A. Fund, J & J Refuse, J.C. Penney Co., Lauren International, Scott and Jessica Lawrence, Keith and Becky Lands, Brian Marsh, Jack Marsh Golf Outing, Sara E. Miller Fund, Craig and Melody Rader, Wendy’s, and the Walter E. Zimmerman Fund. The YMCA Strong Kids Campaign is an annual fundraiser that insures that no child is ever denied YMCA services or programs because of an inability to pay. In 2009, the Strong Kids Campaign raised more than $65,900 to help 1,024 individual kids and family members, totaling $102,100 in assistance.


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