OAKLAND, CA – November 6, 2012 – The YMCA of the East Bay has hosted its 133rd annual meeting & volunteer recognition ceremony, celebrating its extraordinary volunteers, who they see as vital partners with the Y’s cause: to strengthen the foundation of the community.
“Without volunteer support, the Y would not have the resources to nurture and develop youth, promote healthy living, and support our neighbors each and every day,” said Robert A. Wilkins, President and CEO of the YMCA of the East Bay.
More than 170 people attended the event, which celebrated just a few of the East Bay Y’s many outstanding volunteers from communities such as Richmond and West Contra Costa, downtown Oakland, Castro Valley, Hayward, Dublin, Fremont and Newark as well as its camps in Livermore and San Mateo and Humboldt counties.
Eleven adults received the Y’s ‘Volunteer of the Year’ awards while nine youth were presented with the Y’s ‘Youth of Character’ awards and scholarships.
Larry Taylor, a volunteer for many years at Camp Loma Mar, the Y of the East Bay’s summer camp in the Santa Cruz Mountains, was inducted into the Y’s Hall of Achievement and awarded this year’s Lifetime Achievement for Service Award. It is estimated that over the many years of his involvement with the Y of the East Bay, Larry, a resident of Castro Valley contributed more than 16,000 volunteer hours.
A full list of the honorees is included below with active links to their bios and photos:
2012 Youth of Character Award Recipients:
Xavier Sanders – Downtown Oakland YMCA
Chesna Pokharel – Fremont Newark YMCA
Kamaria Mckinng – Hilltop YMCA
Gabbie Syed – Tri-Valley YMCA
Ranisha Evans – Urban Services Eastlake YMCA
Anthony Varner – Urban Services M. Robinson Baker YMCA
Lavontae Hill – West Contra Costa YMCA
Alyssa Lubow – YMCA Camp Loma Mar
Madeline “Calico” Newman – YMCA Camp Ravencliff
2012 Volunteer of the Year Award Recipients:
Alfred Toles – Downtown Oakland YMCA
Rachel Gonzalez – Eden Area YMCA
Joanne Linzey – Fremont Newark YMCA
Fran Welstand – Hilltop YMCA
Joyce & Bob Shapiro – Tri-Valley YMCA
Abusheri Ohwofasa – Urban Services YMCA
Dr. Cherilyn Brunetti, MD – West Contra Costa YMCA
James Choe – YMCA Camp Arroyo
Andy & Bridget Creach – YMCA Camp Loma Mar
Eric Ralls – YMCA Camp Ravencliff
Lifetime Achievement for Service Award:
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About the East Bay Y System:
The YMCA of the East Bay is one of Northern California's largest trainers and deployers of volunteers. Last year the East Bay Y system trained more than 500 volunteers in programs ranging from childcare to teen enrichment, health and wellness and cultural harmony. With nine branches and almost 50 childcare centers in operation from Fremont to the Oregon border, the East Bay Y system also has the largest geographic reach of any YMCA operation in North America. Formed as a as a 501 (c) (3) corporation on July 20, 1879, the not-for-profit East Bay Y operates branches in downtown Oakland, Fremont, Newark, Hayward, Castro Valley, Richmond, and Dublin, as well as camps in Livermore, Pescadero (San Mateo County) and Redway (Humboldt County).
