West Suburban YMCA Awarded 2008 Non-Profit of the Year
YMCA awarded Non-Profit of the Year
By Gail Spector, TAB staff
The West Suburban YMCA was presented the Non-Profit of the Year Award at the Newton-Needham Chamber of Commerce Annual Achievement Breakfast Tuesday morning, November. 25.
Pat Palmer from the West Suburban YMCA accepted the Non Profit of the Year award from the Newton Needham Chamber of Commerce annual meeting on Tuesday, November 25, at the Marriott in Newton.
The Newton Corner-based YMCA, which runs more than 100 programs and 50 group exercise classes a week, never turns anyone away due to inability to pay.
Patrick Palmer, president and CEO of the YMCA, said that the effect the Y has had on the community has changed considerably in the last several years.
"The impact of our mission has grown so much in the last five years. We're touching the lives of so many financially challenged families," said Palmer, adding that in 2007, 525 children and families received a total of $525,000 in financial aid.
Newton Alderman Ted Hess-Mahan presented the award to Palmer at the breakfast. Representing the Chamber of Commerce, he explained that the Non-Profit of the Year award recognizes a member organization that "demonstrated outstanding support and contributions to the community and has partnered with others, shown measurable outcomes, developed unique programs and served recognized needs in the community.
"As the second oldest YMCA in the country, the West Suburban YMCA has served its members communities for over 100 years. Yet the organization successfully adapts to the current needs of its members and the community. Since adding its second swimming pool and new gymnasium, Y membership has doubled in three years to over 7,000 members. By the way those members range in age from six months to 90 years. And, just last year, the Y made another improvement by adding an artificial turf field and synthetic track enabling it to further increase its programming," Hess-Mahan continued.
The West Suburban YMCA was the second Y in the U.S. to install an artificial turf field. According to Palmer, the new field increased participation in outdoor sports by 300 percent in the last year. "It's used from sun-up to sun-down every single day," Palmer said.
Hess-Mahan also pointed to the "positive working relations with many other service organizations that have been fostered" under the direction of Palmer and the Board of Directors.
Other award winners were Mike Ciolino from Verve Creative, Volunteer of the Year; Roche Brothers, Leading Business; Dave DiCicco from Needham Field of Dreams, Leading Community Award; Robert L. Tennant Award, Joe Prestejohn from Cabots Ice Cream; and, Chairman's Award, Mount Ida College.