Simi YMCA Announces Volunteer of the Year Award Winners

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. - Nov. 26, 2013 - PRLog -- Simi Valley, Calif.—The Simi Valley Family YMCA handed out its Volunteer of the Year awards at a November 16 dinner attended by over 125 people at the Simi Y.

         “Volunteers are at the heart of the Y,” says Dan Jaeger, Simi Y executive director. “The development of volunteerism is a key aspect and role of the YMCA in our community. Our award winners are amazing examples of the tremendous impact that volunteering can have on so many lives.”

         The “Jack Vopal Y’s Men of the Year Award” honors a member of the Simi Valley Family YMCA’s Y’s Men’s Club. This year, the award went to Al Eastin for his dedication and service to the Y and the community that began in the 1970s. “He has volunteered at just about every YMCA event and was instrumental in seeing that the Simi Y’s annual Christmas tree lot is a continuing tradition,” says Jaeger.

         The “Jim King Award of Significant Service” went to Gary Hartman. The award honors an individual that has made a significant contribution to a Simi Valley Y program. “Gary spearheaded the relaunching of Simi Y’s Indian Guides, creating the successful program that it is today,” explains Jaeger.

         The “Distinguished Service Award” honors an individual who has made accomplishments in YMCA financial development. This year’s winner was B.J. Anderson. “Successful fundraising is essential for nonprofits such as the Y,” says Jaeger. “B.J. was our YMCA Annual Campaign ‘Rookie of the Year’ during her first year of fundraising and was ‘Campaigner of the Year’ her second year. “

         The “Order of Merit Award” honors a YMCA leader who exemplifies civic responsibility through service to the community. This year’s winner was Bill Witt.

         “Bill’s civic and volunteer involvement is nothing short of profound,” notes Jaeger. “He’s an active member of the Y’s Men, a docent at the Reagan Library and teaches an eight-week class on fall prevention and how to slow the onset of Alzheimer’s. He’s also on the Area Council on Aging for Ventura County; he’s a Red Cross volunteer and is on the Citizens Emergency Response Team with the City of Simi Valley. That’s only a fraction of the volunteer work he does. The list goes on.”

         Jaeger sees the annual awards dinner as one small way to say thank you to individuals whose work often goes unrecognized. “The Simi YMCA, the city of Simi Valley and Ventura County as a whole are very fortunate to have such a large number of committed volunteers,” says Jaeger. “Our community is a better place because of them.”