CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The YMCA of Greater Charlotte will recognize volunteers who have given their time and energy to help the Y build strong kids, families and communities. These volunteers will be honored at the YMCA’s annual meeting at the Knight Theater on South Tryon Street on Monday, March 22, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
The YMCA’s most prestigious award -- the John R. Mott Award -- is named after the Nobel Peace Prize winner whose aim was to cultivate Christian leaders. This year’s recipient is Tom Dooley and the Dooley family. Dooley is the founder of R.T. Dooley Construction, was an NFL referee (including Superbowl XV) and has been a volunteer at the YMCA for nearly 50 years. Though Dooley has never served on a YMCA board, he has had an influence on the 135-year-old association. He played a major role in the creation of the YMCA’s annual prayer breakfast and led efforts to integrate the youth basketball program at the Dowd YMCA in the early 1960s. Dooley’s company boasts a culture of philanthropy wherein each employee is given money annually to support a local charity.
This year’s Willie J. Stratford, Sr. Diversity Award goes to City of Charlotte Planning Director Debra Campbell. Debra has been a valued member of the YMCA of Greater Charlotte Board of Directors and Executive Committee. She is also an advocate and member of the Simmons YMCA in East Charlotte, arguably one of Charlotte most diverse and challenged areas of our community, and has served on the Board of the International House, Center City Partners and the Catawba Lands Conservancy.
Each YMCA of Greater Charlotte branch recognizes one outstanding volunteer annually with the George Williams Award. George Williams founded the first YMCA in 1844 in London. This year’s winners are:
- William B. Cornett - Showalter Construction, Co.
- Casey McKinney - Babson Capital Management, LLC
- Si W. Davis, Jr. – SW Davis Properties, Inc.
- F.A."Chip" Cash III – Search Ministries
- Steven Summerville - Bank of America
- E. Blake Graeber III – Wachovia Wells Insurance
- George M. Hargrove, Jr. –Barnhardt Manufacturing
- David Kiley – Turning Point Nation
- Paula Turner - retired
- Pat Schlageter - retired
- Aretha V. Blake – Parker Poe, LLP
- David Huss - Allen Tate Realtors
- Ronald M. Bost - retired
- Mary Sue Jones – retired
- Geoff Kemble - Kemble Financial LLC
- Richard Keagy - Stantec
- Paul Steffens - K & L Gates LLP
- LuAnn Jordan – University of North Carolina at Charlotte
