West Suburban YMCA Annual Awards 2020
Oct 16, 2020
Every year, we have the honor and pleasure of celebrating staff and community award winners at our Annual Meeting. While the format was different this year, the sentiment remains the same. It is with overwhelming gratitude that we recognize the individuals below for their outstanding contributions to our Y and our mission.
Community Awards
Youth Award: Brynn Bennett, James Coukos
The Youth Award is given to a youth member or program participant between the ages of 10 and 17 who exemplify the YMCA’s vision of building strong spirit, mind and body in their experiences and activities.
Teen Citizen Award: Fernando Riedewald
The Teen Citizen Award was established in 1998 by the YMCA’s Youth Department. This award was created to encourage and honor teens who actively demonstrate the YMCA’s core values of honesty, caring, respect, and responsibility in his/her daily life.
Adult Volunteer Award: Marianne Mahoney, Hari Sundram
The Adult Volunteer Award recognizes outstanding YMCA volunteers. This award acknowledges individuals that selflessly volunteer for the Y and instill our mission and values into their work and daily life.
The Ken Billings-Frank O’Halloran Award: Gerald Briskin
Honors and recognizes an extraordinary member who has made a long-term commitment to our Y and whose caring influence has helped shape others in a positive way. To honor both Ken Billings and Frank O’Halloran and their legacies, the Y recognizes a long-term adult member or volunteer who demonstrates the personal qualities so characteristic of these two gentlemen. And between the two of them, they represent over 120 years of membership.
Community Partner Award: Newton Neighbors Helping Neighbors, Newton Food Pantry
While every Community Partner and Supporter is valued beyond measure, the WSYMCA will annually recognize one partner that demonstrates the qualities that have enabled the West Suburban YMCA to deliver community strengthening programs and services over the past year. Nominees are supporters in all ways up to and including: volunteerism, in-kind support, expertise, capital support, annual campaign support and advocacy.
Employee Awards
COVID-19 Pandemic Recognition Award: John Caruso, Nicholas Livoti, Alyssa Helliwell, Taylor Boughnou, Anthony Moscatelli, Chris Ellison, Amanda Pierce, Stephanie Sobieraj, Jane Carroll, Vladimir Ivanin
Created to acknowledge the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the Y’s ability to meet unprecedented challenges head on, the COVID-19 Pandemic Recognition Award recognizes extra efforts and noteworthy performances during the COVID-19 closure of the building, and/or extra work during the reopening of the building.
Commitment to Excellence Award: Kristen Hydinger, Ben Kaloupek, Kaitlin McCarthy
Recognizes Y staff members who have continuously demonstrated outstanding achievement, skills, and commitment to excellence in fulfilling the critical duties related to their position. The individuals receiving this award demonstrate a positive attitude and/or behavior admired and valued by their colleagues.
Living Our Cause Award: Marie Libbin, Jenni Plym
Recognizes an employee’s outstanding individual accomplishments that make an exemplary contribution to our Y through their demonstration or development of new practices, techniques, or programs which support a commitment to strengthening communities and building relationships encompassing all three areas of focus: Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility.
Bob Groden Y Employee of the Year Award: Ron Cohen
The Bob Groden Y Employee of the Year Award was established by Ned Morse and his family shortly after the tragic death of Bob Groden in 1998. The Morse family chose to honor Mr. Groden for his commitment to the YMCA’s youth and sport departments and to create an award that recognizes a committed and exemplary YMCA employee.
Congratulations to all of our award winners!