YMCA ANNUAL MEETING: Impacting Our Community in Big & Small Ways

Nearly 300 guests and community leaders recently gathered for the YMCA of Central Florida’s Annual Meeting, which recognized the leading donors, volunteers and staff who helped advance the Y’s cause in 2015.

The event was held at the Dr. P. Phillips Performing Arts Center on May 12.

Mary Jane Arrington, Osceola County Supervisor of Elections, received the John W. Sterchi Award, the Y’s highest honor for those who provide a lifetime of support to the Y. Mary Jane has been a longtime champion of the Osceola Y, having chaired its first capital campaign in 2000, as well as successive capital and scholarship campaigns.

She also serves on the YMCA Metro Board and Executive Committee, as well as her Osceola YMCA Family Center Board.

Renaut van der Riet, Lead Pastor of Mosaic Church, received the YMCA’s Ronnie Walker Unsung Hero Award for outstanding volunteerism. As a member of the YMCA Metro Board and Chair of its Mission Committee, Renaut is building new faith partnerships to help expand the Y’s Christian mission. He is also the founder of Axum Coffee and Axum Market Cafes, a faith-based nonprofit that will be bringing the Y’s mission to life through its operation of the new Healthy Living Café, due to open soon at the Dr. P. Phillips Y.

Sandy Hostetter, President of Valley National Bank, received the 2015 Barbara Roper Advocacy Award recognizing volunteers who exemplify Barbara Roper’s trailblazing advocacy and passion for the Y. As a Y leader for more than 25 years, Sandy serves on the YMCA Metro Board and Executive Committee.

She is also a former chair of the Metro Board and Annual Support Campaign. Most recently, she served on the steering committee that developed the Y’s 2014-2020 strategic plan.

The Warden Family received the Dr. P. Phillips Champion of Youth Award for its unyielding commitment to improving the lives of children.

Through the Bert W. Martin Foundation, Andy Warden and his family have supported a wide range of YMCA youth initiatives, including Camp Wewa and Y Links2Learning, which keeps at-risk kids safe, instills values and nurtures out-of-school time learning.

Mike Manuel, 2015-2016 Metro Board Chair, recapped the year’s top achievements in Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility.

Dan Wilcox, YMCA President/CEO gave an update on the Y’s 2015 capital projects, including the grand re-opening of the Frank DeLuca Y, a major “Healthy Living” renovation at the Roper Y, and the first phase of completion for the Dr. P. Phillips Y’s $9.5 million expansion.

In honoring the Y’s Lifetime Donors, Dr. Phillips Charities received special recognition. In 2015, Dr. Phillips Charities donated $2.9 million in gifts to the Y, bringing its lifetime total support of our organization to more than $42,204,000.

In honor of the late Jim Hinson, Dr. Phillips Board and staff received “Heart of Gold” medals for their commitment to improving lives through the Y. Accepting the awards were Jim Ferber, Rita Hinson, Dr. Margaret Miller, Harvey Burnett,  John Hillenmeyer, Eva Tukdarian, Sara Van Arsdel, Wendy Oliver and Dan Wilcox.

The Y thanked and honored each of its 10,000-plus donors, including scores of Lifetime Donors who have given more than $500,000. Top honors in this category went to Orange County Government, the Winter Park Health Foundation, Walt Disney World and Darden.    The Pinnacle Award, recognizing outstanding achievements in the Y program and family center growth, went to the Downtown Y, the Frank DeLuca Y, and the YMCA Middle School Program. And Dan Ickes, YMCA COO, received the 2015 Jim Ferber Award for exceptional leadership on behalf of the Y cause and mission.

During the business portion of the meeting, Mike Manuel was re-elected to serve a second term as Metro Board Chair. Ten new Metro Board members were also elected, including Aubrey Anthony, YMCA Teen Ambassador, and emerging Y leader; Pete Barr Jr., President & CEO, &Barr; Karen Brown, Partner, Assurance Services, Ernst & Young; Keith Durkin, Partner, Broad & Cassel, Attorneys At Law; Arnold Evans, President/CEO, SunTrust Bank, Central Florida;  Andy Gardiner, Vice President, External Affairs & Community Relations, Orlando Health; Charlie Puckett, CPA, McDirmit, Davis & Company, LLC; Christopher Rolle, Jr., Orlando Market President, BB&T Bank; Keith Thomas, President, Thomas Design International; and Tyra Witsell, Retired Division Manager, Orange County Citizens’ Commission for Children.