Thirteen community volunteers – including a visually impaired teen and a two-year cancer survivor – were recognized April 13 at the 127th Annual Meeting of the YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth at a luncheon at the Hilton Downtown Fort Worth.
Those honored included:
Micah Boulter – Visually Impaired Teen and Volunteer of the Year for YMCA Camp Carter. Boulter is a senior at Legacy High School in Mansfield, and began attending Camp Carter in 2010 as a student in the Camp Can-Do program – a week-long camping experience designed for visually impaired youth. He began volunteering with Camp Can-Do, then graduated to other volunteer roles at Camp Carter. In 2016, he served as a counselor in training and will be employed as a day camp counselor at YMCA Camp Carter this summer.
Terri Johnson – Cancer Survivor and Volunteer of the Year for the YMCA Wellness Center
Facing breast cancer in 2014, Terri Johnson was part of the inaugural YMCA Wellness Center group to complete LIVESTRONG at the YMCA – a program that helps adult cancer survivors reclaim their health and well-being following a cancer diagnosis. Upon recovery, Terri took it upon herself to give back to others by volunteering her time to assist with those same classes.
Pat and Bob Gersten – 50th Anniversary Chi Rho Award Honorees for Northwest YMCA
Pat and Bob Gersten serve on the board of managers for the Northwest Y and have been volunteers with the Northwest YMCA for more than 15 years. Originating in 1967, the Chi Rho Award is the highest volunteer award given by the YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth. The 99 individuals who have previously received the award are longtime volunteers who reflect the YMCA’s mission of putting Christian principles into practice through programs that build health spirit, mind and body for all.
The YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth serves more than 113,218 unique individuals on an annual basis through programs that emphasize youth development, encourage healthy living and empower social responsibility. The YMCA currently operates 13 branches in Tarrant, Johnson and Hood counties and operates a year-round resident camp, YMCA Camp Carter as well as the YMCA Sports Complex.
Other volunteers recognized as Henry Meadows YMCA Volunteers of the Year (listed by branches:
Airport Area YMCA, Albert Alvarez; Benbrook Community Center YMCA & Westside YMCA,
Lakshmi Krishnamurthy; Amon G. Carter Jr. Downtown YMCA, Melissa Rankin; Eastside YMCA,
Sevanne Steiner; McDonald Southeast YMCA, Sandra Lee; Hood County YMCA, Edward Sandelin; Joshua Community YMCA, Kenny Howell; Northpark YMCA, Melissa Kistler; Northwest YMCA, Angie Haar; Ryan Family YMCA, Sarah Lyons; and E.R. Van Zandt Southwest YMCA, James Redwine.
– FWBP Staff