March 11, 2019
In celebration of a year of purpose, teamwork and community building, roughly 150 Y volunteers, members, friends and associates gathered last Monday for our Annual Meeting, held this year in, of all places, the Ravens locker room in M&T Bank Stadium! The lessons learned in that room about teamwork, preparation and shared vision would certainly apply to the Y’s extended community. What a fitting setting to reflect on our wins (and losses) and to spend some time looking forward toward our shared goal of a stronger, more connected community, for a better us.
The evening was appropriately kicked off by Y member Jennifer Horwath, who spoke warmly about the enormous role the Y has had in her family life, including the Catonsville Y, the Betty Sterner Y Preschool and Before & After School Enrichment program, and participation in Y sports and camp as well as one of Jenn's admitted favorite events, Parents Night Out! Jenn also volunteers on the parent committee of the Betty Sterner Y Preschool in Catonsville and generously supports Y causes. Recognizing the importance of the Y, as their family grew Jenn and her husband even found a home in closer proximity to the Catonsville Y. We are so grateful to have the Horwath family as a part of our Y community and are deeply appreciative that Jenn took the time to share her story to all assembled.
Expanding from one person's journey to the entire community, our guest speaker, UMBC President Dr. Freeman Hrabowski spoke eloquently about having a belief in the possibilities which transcend all that can divide us. He observed that "you don't have to be rich to be the very best. We need to help families believe that 'my kid can be the best.’” He went on to cite "passion, hunger and grit" as qualities that determine success and encouraged our work to help foster these qualities in the thousands of young people and families we touch. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing Dr. Hrabowski speak, you will not be surprised to know that you could have heard a pin drop while he was speaking. Dr. Hrabowski and the institution he leads have been great partners to the Y in many ways and we are extremely grateful for that partnership and for his support of the Y cause.
The Y is fueled by thousands of people who roll up their sleeves to volunteer and work for the Y in their respective communities. Among them, we were honored to recognize a handful last Monday night:
Board Members Participating in the Y’s Emerging Leader Board Mentoring Program: Tom Brandt, Drew Flott, Jim Hayden, Mary Jean Herron, Mo Jishi, Doug Lane, Tim Leonard, David Lockhart, Vince Oakley, Dana Smith, David Vahos
Outstanding Community Outreach and Engagement Award: Jeff Bowers, Howard County Community Leadership Board and Serena Pelletier, Carroll County Community Leadership Board
Volunteer Instrumental in Supporting the Y’s Critical Mission: Brian White, Southern Baltimore County Community Leadership Board
Outstanding Organizational Partnership Award: Whiting-Turner, accepted by Steve Lambertson and Morgan State University, accepted by Dr. Kevin Banks
Outstanding Program Volunteerism Award: Kara Henneman-Martin, Big Brothers Big Sisters at the Y and Kristin Weibe, Y Togetherhood at the Weinberg Y in Waverly
Outstanding Work to Improve Y Programs to Meet Community Needs Award: Matt Slatus, Harford County Community Leadership Board
Mitch Halbrich Association Board Fellowship Award: Barbara Gassaway
Geraldine Young Distinguished Service to Youth Award: Tom Brandt, Association Board
Bob Brosmer Y Leadership Award: Ruth Heltne, Y Associate (and former Association Board Member)
Congratulations and many thanks to all of them and to all of the Y’s volunteers, partners, supporters and associates for the hard work you do to make our community a stronger, better place for all!
All the best,
John
John K. Hoey
President & CEO
The Y in Central Maryland