Photos
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Peter Twill, Dennis Miller, Bob Moriarty Credits: Marina Kennedy
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Tia Sargent, Community Development Director with Shakira, Ba'shawn, and Aliyah. Credits: Marina Kennedy
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Guests await award presentation. Credits: Marina Kennedy
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Dr. Donald DeFabio, Volunteer of the Year Credits: Marina Kennedy
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Shakira Hines,Youth of the Year Credits: Marina Kennedy
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Timothy Weidman speaks with friends Credits: Marina Kennedy
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Teresa Mendez receives Volunteer of the Year Credits: Marina Kennedy
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Anne Rewey receives Volunteer of the Year Credits: Marina Kennedy
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Timothy Weidman addresses guests Credits: Marina Kennedy
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Darrell Johnson, Timothy Weidman, Donna Miller Credits: Marina Kennedy
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YMCA Celebration, Reeves Reed Arboretum Credits: Marina Kennedy
Summit Area YMCA Celebrates Outstanding Contributions
Tuesday, June 5, 2012 • 11:12pm
SUMMIT, NJ - On Tuesday evening, the Summit Area YMCA held its annual celebration at the Reeves Reed Arboretum to present Timothy G. Weidman with the Shuart Reed Memorial Award. He served as the Y's CEO for two decades from 1988 to 2008 and was the driving force behind the Summit Area YMCA's emergence as the area's preeminent not-for-profit organization. The prestigious award is presented annually in grateful memory of Shuart Reed, General Secretary of the Summit Area YMCA from 1935 to 1943. It is given to those who exemplify his commitment to the betterment of the community.
Guests of the celebration enjoyed cocktails and hor d'oeuvres, the awards presentation, and desserts. Attendees included board members, trustees, staff, volunteers, friends, and supporters of the YMCA. Timothy Weidman enjoyed the celebration. He said, "I am elated. I know what an honor this is. I spent 20 years on the other side picking recipients. I see so many people I worked with over the years. I am thrilled with the turnout."
Guests of the celebration were enthusiastic about Weidman's many contributions to the Y. Former Board Member, Treasurer, and Vice Chair Ed Mokuvos commented, "The Y plays an important role in the community. Tim inherited a difficult situation and has positioned the YMCA for continued success. Tim is a pleasure to work with, a true gentleman, and a role model who dedicated his professional life to improving the community."
Carole Schwartz agrees. She served on the YMCA Board for 10 years. She said, "Tim deserves every honor the that Summit Y gives him. He has handed a well run Y to current CEO Darrell Johnson and Darrell has taken it to the next level."
Robert Moriarty, former Board Chair, now serves on the Y's executive committee. He is a 2010 recipient of the Shuart Reed Memorial Award. He stated, "It is a well deserved award. Tim should be honored for his 20 years of service."
During the award presentation, Timothy Weidman received the accolades of his colleagues including those of current President and CEO Darrell Johnson, "Tim brought the Summit Y out of financial distress and built it into the premiere institution it is today."
Donna Miller, Chair, told an anecdote about Timothy Weidman during the award presentation. She said that Tim exercised at the YMCA daily and this encouraged others to utilize the facility and engage in a healthy lifestyle. The Y's membership experienced enormous growth under Weidman's stewardship. When Timothy Weidman received the award he said he was most proud of the Summit Y's commitment to social responsibility. He pointed out the success of the Y's "Achievers Program." The program is designed to prepare students for higher education. 99% of the students who participate graduate from high school and enroll in college.
One of the participants in the Achievers program is Shakira Hines, a Summit High School Senior who received the "Youth of the Year" Award which was presented by Tia Sargent, Community Development Director. Shakira will attend Lincoln University in the fall. She attributed her academic and leadership successes to the opportunities she received from being a member of the Y community.
The Summit Area YMCA's Annual Celebration also recognized the "2012 Volunteers of the Year." Dr. Donald DeFabio of the Berkeley Heights YMCA has been an advocate for over 5 years. His vocation and passion meshes well with the Y's core mission "for healthy living." He said it is important to encourage people to support the YMCA and exercise there because by supporting the Y, people support their own communities.
Teresa Mendez of The Learning Circle YMCA is a dedicated volunteer who is a leader in Summit's Spanish speaking community. She is an invaluable resource for young families in need of safe, quality childcare. She thanked the Y for the award and called the members of the organization her "friends and family."
Anne Rewey also received a volunteer award for her involvement in the community and for lending her expertise in strategic planning as a member of the Summit YMCA Advisory Board. She has devoted many hours to leading focus groups for cancer survivors and has been instrumental in the launch of the branch's LIVESTRONG at the YMCA cancer recovery program. Anne was described as smart, dedicated, and motivated.
The celebration was an opportunity to recognize outstanding accomplishments and honor members of the Summit Area YMCA who have dedicated their time and energy to developing the Y's excellent community resources.
The Summit Area YMCA includes The Berkeley Heights YMCA, Summit YMCA, Summit YMCA Youth Center, Summit Area YMCA Association Services, and The Learning Circle YMCA. Information about how you can join and support the YMCA can be found on their website, http://www.thesay.org.
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