YMCA of Talbot County Hosts 55th Annual Celebration

New Board members of the YMCA of Talbot County were inducted at its 55th Annual Celebration. Pictured left to right are C.O. Johnson, Jr. of Ridgely, President of Paris Foods Corp.; Kathleen “Kit” Hughes of St. Michaels, retired, Glaxo SmithKline Pharmaceuticals R & D; and David Nagel of Harmony, owner and CEO of Nagel Farm Services.

Pictured left to right with former executive director of the YMCA of Talbot County (1959 – 1986), Ken Barton of Easton, are Nancy Sheffler of Easton, previous aquatics director; Ken Barton; and his wife, Jane Barton.

Dinner guests, left to right, Bette Kenzie, Shirely Gooch, and Evelyn Graybeal enjoy the evening out.

A proclamation from Governor O’Malley was read in honor of the YMCA’s 55 years of service to the community. Pictured left to right are Ken Mann, outgoing Chief Volunteer Officer; Senator Richard Colburn; Robbie Gill, President and CEO of the YMCA of Talbot County; Delegate Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio; Tom Hill, Chairman of the YMCA Capital Campaign; and F. Graham Lee, Chief Development Officer of the YMCA.

F. Graham Lee, Chief Development Officer of the YMCA, awards the Volunteer of the Year Award to C. Craig Bester of Easton.

Ken Mann, outgoing Chief Volunteer Officer passes the gavel to incoming Chief Volunteer Officer Jerry Jana.

The Youth and Government Award went to Sam Kulp of Easton, pictured left, with E Hughes, YMCA of Talbot County Camp Director. Not pictured is Lauren Seebode of Trappe, who received the YMCA’s Outstanding Senior Award.

Pictured left to right is YMCA member Liz Platt of Easton honoring volunteer Aerobics in Motion instructor Cherie Spector for her service.

Over 230 members and friends attended the YMCA of Talbot County’s 55th Annual Celebration at The Oaks.  The crowd celebrated the YMCA’s achievements this year, which have included providing over $271,000 in financial assistance to 1900 local youth and families in need; raising $3.5 million in pledges toward a $5 million capital campaign to build a Teen and Family Center; and reaching nearly 12,000 members which represents one in three community members and serving one in two childen in Talbot County through YMCA memberships and programs.  According to F. Graham Lee, Chief Development Officer at the YMCA, “Our mission is NOT in recession.”

Ken Mann, outgoing Chief Volunteer Officer commented, “The YMCA is a place where a brilliant young CEO brings all his energy and enthusiasm and compassion to work each day and there he finds the financial resources, physical resources, and gift staff team with which to execute his vision.  And that means the YMCA is a place where that family finds Camp Lazy Days standing with open arms to receive their special needs child and a personal trainer is eager to help that mom that rose at 5:30 this morning.”  He added, “In turn, over time, these change seekers find that which they did not seek:  they find peace, they find their special needs child can just have fun and be a kid, they find friendship, they find purpose, they find themselves.”