YMCA celebrates mission, honors staff
Of all the annual meetings the YMCA has had over the years, this one was special, according to the organization's executives.
Carrie Ohorodnyk, executive director for the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township, said for the first time in 133 years, the Annual Celebration of the Butler County Family YMCA honored a YMCA member along with its staff.
Ohorodnyk held back tears as she introduced the winner of the Perseverance Award, Ken Weaver, a member of the Rose Schneider YMCA.
“Ken Weaver is a man of great character and has inspired us more than he will ever realize,” Ohorodnyk said.
Weaver suffered a stroke in 2012, and he joined the YMCA to build himself back through rehabilitation.
During the award's presentation, a video was played showing the before and after progress of Weaver.“I've overcome a lot, mainly in my independence,” said Weaver in the video. “I couldn't take a walk by myself. Now I'm here by myself.”Weaver was referring to going to the YMCA by himself. At the event, his wife, Barbara, attended with him.Ohorodnyk said Weaver was the perfect person to show the progress that the YMCA has made.“It shows we want real life examples of how we impact the community,” Ohorodnyk said. “We are impacting lives.”The event also provided an opportunity to recognize long-tenured staff members and a semi-formal annual membership meeting, where new board members join and outgoing members are officially released from service.
“It's to celebrate 2018,” Ohorodnyk said. “We'll recognize staff for their service, induct new board members and say goodbye to previous board members.”Molly Patton, a summer camp coordinator for the Rose Schneider YMCA, said it was her first time attending the annual event.“We're celebrating the mission of the YMCA,” Patton said. “I don't really know what to expect, but all my respected colleagues are here.”Daisy Radle, an infant teacher, is an employee of the Butler YMCA, but she works at the Early Care Schoolage Center, 650 Saxonburg Road, Jefferson Township.Radle was honored for having been employed by the YMCA for five years.“I think it helps you to feel appreciated,” Radle said. “It tells you they know who you are.”Radle said while the recognition was nice, she places greater importance on the role and impact she has on the children she serves.“I think it's a great cause,” she said. “It's nice to be a part of shaping those kids.”
Mixed in with the activities of the night, Tammy Schuey, chairwoman of the YMCA's Annual Support Campaign, talked about what role the campaign serves in the lives of not only children but others.Schuey, the general manager of the Butler Eagle, said last year the campaign raised $351,000 that went toward financial assistance and program subsidies to local youth and families in Butler County. She said this year's goal is $400,000.She said partnerships like those with the Area Agency on Aging and Butler VA Healthcare are funded by the campaign, and other individual members, especially children, benefit from scholarship-subsidized membership fees or opportunities.“Every dollar we get from the Annual Support Campaign counts toward bringing our children and our community together,” Schuey said.
