Captured Event

May, 01 2007 - YMCA Lets It Shine: Celebrates 90th Birthday!

What: YMCA of the Capital Area Annual Meeting

Where: Boudreaux's

When: May 1

Time: 7 p.m.

Host(s): YMCA CEO Bob Jacobs and Barry Blumberg, Chief Volunteer Officer

Honoree(s): Renee Lawhun, Red Heart Award; Andrew Hines, Edward D. Grant Volunteerism Award; and Chris Spencer, Myron Falk Fundraising Award

Speaker: Dean Cooper

Entertainment: Judy Davis

Quote of the evening: We Build Strong Kids, Strong Families, Strong Communities

Florist: Rickey Heroman's Florists and Gifts

Event Coordinator: Pat Hanchey, YMCA VP/Marketing Director

Board of Directors: Barry Blumberg, Coletta Barrett, Norman Chenevert, David Field, Jessica Keich, Ann Forte Trappe, Gwen Hamilton, Bill Slaughter, David Corona, Louis R. Daniel, Myrtle E.B. Dorsey, Vernon Fabre Jr., Paul Jennings, Steve Keller Curtis Lee, Shelley Mockler, Camm Morton, Kevin Reilly Jr., Gary Sligar and Bill Tucker.

Blacktie Photos by: Chris Russo

YMCA CEO Bob Jacobs, right, with Edward Grant volunteer award winner Chris Spencer & wife Karen
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         There were many shining moments at the YMCA of the Capital Area's annual meeting May 1 at Boudreaux's.

         Definitely, one of those was singer Judy Davis, who brought down the house with her rendition of "Let It Shine" and a repeat performance of last year's "Find a Place in Your Heart." Another was the format of the dinner, which mixed interactive video and the live presentation resulting in a fresh, fun experience for the packed ballroom. Kudos go out to Pat Hanchey, YMCA VP/Marketing Director, and Francelle and Kirk Theriot of 2121 Design.

         Throughout the dinner, there were reminders of the YMCA's 90th birhtday. Video presentations from Mayor Kip Holden, Police Chief Jeff LeDuff and other local celebrities included birthday wishes, cakes and candle-blowing. In fact, the meal's dessert was a cupcake with birthday candle, all lighted at the end of the dinner.

          CEO Bob Jacobs read from YMCA's charter documents from 1917 and recognized that the YMCA continued to "be on par with other progressive cities to do broad and efficient work." Guests also heard from chairman Barry Blumberg and vice chairman David Field.

          Highlights of the evening included the presentation of the Red Heart Award to Renee Lawhun, who was unable to be present, due to hip surgery. Lawhun's husband, Danny, accepted the award. Andrew Hines of the A.C. Lewis YMCA received the Edward D. Grant Volunteerism Award. Nominees included Bobby Fahey of the Charles W. Lamar Jr. YMCA; Gary Golden of the Paula G. Manship YMCA; Mary Lynn Jones of the Southside YMCA; Ruby B. of the C.B. Pennington MCA; Mark Peters of the Lamar Dixon YMCA; and Patricia Smith of the Baranco Clark YMCA.

         Chris Spencer was the recipient of the Myron Falk Fundraising Award. Nominees for that award included Michael Donahue, Paula G. Manship YMCA; Steve Jackson, Southside YMCA; and Evelyn Kirk, Baranco Clark YMCA.

          Dean Cooper gave compelling testimony about how he developed so many relationships after joining the YMCA in March, 2006. He has lost 216 pounds, partly through his Y regime. He also cited there are 18,000 metro YMCA memberships and that last year, 160,000 came through the YMCA branches' doors.