JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – February 27, 2019 – Last night, The YMCA of Florida’s First Coast honored 13 of its volunteers at the 9th Annual Y-Bash, held at the University of North Florida Lazzara Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, Feb. 26. This year, the Y recognized a volunteer from each branch with the Volunteer of the Year Award for their leadership and service to Y.
This year’s recipients of the Volunteer of the Year Award include:
Shannon Bray (Barco-Newton Y in Fleming Island)
Dan Hofacker (Brooks Y on the Southside)
Patrick McFeely (Dye Clay in Orange Park)
Elizabeth Allen (Johnson Y in Northwest Jacksonville)
Sidney (Sid) Ball (McArthur Y in Fernandina Beach)
Brenda Braatz (Ponte Vedra Y)
David Cameron (St. Augustine Y)
Allison Ventura (Williams Y in Mandarin)
Kathy Miller (Winston Y in Riverside)
Charlie Hoffman (YMCA at the Bank of America Tower in Downtown Jacksonville)
Ron Pelham (YMCA at Baptist North on the Northside)
Calvin Marshall (Camp Immokalee in Keystone Heights)
Josh Martino (Tiger Academy in Northwest Jacksonville)
“Volunteers are the heart and soul of our organization—without their hard work and dedication, we couldn’t do the work we do every day to strengthen our community,” said Eric K. Mann, First Coast YMCA President and CEO. “By bringing people together from all walks of life around a shared purpose to do good, the Y is creating a stronger, more cohesive community.”
In 2018, more than 4,600 volunteers invested nearly 23,000 hours to the YMCA as they gave back to their communities through activities such as mentoring teens, promoting Safety Around Water and other programs, serving on our boards, spearheading fundraising drives and building meaningful relationships.
YMCA of Florida’s First Coast recognizes its staff, volunteers and community partners annually at the Y-Bash, an event celebrating their community impact through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. At this year’s event, the Y announced its funding priorities for the following year and its goal to raise $1.75 million. The Y’s four funding priorities are:
Safety Around Water
Uplifting Teens
Supporting Our Military
Hunger Relief
Funding these priorities and the dedication and support of volunteers help the Y build a strong, supportive foundation for the communities it serves. Past recipients of the Volunteer of the Year Award include Josh Harrison, Stephen M. Buente, John Curtin, Peggy Bryan, Greg Atwater Jim Overton and Michael D. Kelly.
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About the First Coast YMCA
For more than 110 years, YMCA of Florida’s First Coast has been providing men, women and children of all ages, and from all walks of life, opportunities to build stronger bonds, live healthy and become more engaged with their communities. Learn more: fcymca.org.
