Summit Area YMCA 2022 Annual Celebration | May 12

The Summit Area YMCA is excited to bring back our Annual Celebration this May. Join us on May 12 at The Grand Summit Hotel for a night of Y stories in recognition of our extraordinary people. This event honors our exceptional volunteers, incredible community partners, and mission-driven staff leaders. Our history is rooted in working side-by-side with our neighbors to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. We look forward to bringing our communities together to recognize the true impact that our collective work can have in building strong kids, families and adults of all ages, colors, and shapes. 

"In 2022, we have much to be grateful for as we look back at the resilient efforts during the COVID pandemic and how our work, combined with a growing consortium of community partners, helped us serve, evolve, and sustain," said Paul Kieltyka, President and CEO of the Summit Area YMCA. One such partner, Olympus Power LLC, provided continual financial support to allow our programs to expand their abilities to provide financial assistance, address food insecurity and much more. "We are proud to have Olympus Power as a partner and we look forward to recognizing them and their CEO, Rick Vicens, for their contributions to our community."

Our mission-driven staff have long been the backbone to so much of what we bring to our community. This year we will recognize the efforts of several long-time staff from the Summit Area YMCA who are retiring. We are excited to celebrate the careers, lasting impact, and achievements of leaders such as William Brown, IT Director and Joyce Klimaski, Executive Director of The Learning Circle YMCA, both whom we are in great appreciation of their dedication and service to the Summit Area YMCA.

The Shuart Reed Memorial Award is the highest honor that the Summit Area YMCA bestows upon our volunteers. It has been several years since it has been presented as the criteria to receive the award requires the highest levels of service to the community. "This year we are most proud to honor long-time Summit Area YMCA Board of Trustee Yon Cho. Yon is one of our Y's biggest advocates and has built an iconic legacy within our community and the Y over the past decade while also supporting other local organizations such as the Summit Boy Scouts and Board of Education."

The SAY will also be honoring Berkeley Heights YMCA icon Frank Cavallo posthumously with our first Unsung Hero Award. Frank was a compassionate man and SAY staff member with a heart of gold. He was warm, inviting and built many lasting friendships that extended past the walls of the Y. Frank was truly committed to the Y’s mission and if he had not already volunteer to help, you never had to ask twice for his assistance. He truly cared and made an impact.

There is indeed so much to be grateful for at the Summit Area YMCA as we celebrate all that makes us strong and continue to chart a path forward with our staff, volunteers, donors, and partners that allows us to continue to deliver on our promise of youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

Event Details

Date: Thursday, May 12
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: The Grand Summit Hotel

RSVP 

RSVP for this free community event by Sunday, May 1. Please note, that a buffet dinner will be served during the event, and a cash bar will be available.

2022 HONOREES

SHUART REED AWARD

YON CHO

CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP AWARD

OLYMPUS POWER LLC

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

WILLIAM BROWN

BETTY BUDD

LOIS FARRELL

JOYCE KLIMASKI

MARGARET LLOYD

Read more about our past Annual Celebrations in 2018 & 2019!

Questions? Contact:

KAITLIN CASEY

VP of Advancement
SUMMIT AREA YMCA

kaitlin.casey@thesay.org

(908)273-3330 Ext. 3203

SUMMIT AREA YMCA

BERKELEY HEIGHTS YMCA | SUMMIT YMCA | THE LEARNING CIRCLE YMCA

In 1886, we were founded as the Young Men's Christian Association, but today, we are The Y. An association that values, and is made stronger by, its diverse people. We stand for youth development, healthy living and social responsibility — For a better us. We are committed to creating equal opportunity for all regardless of gender, age, disability, income, ethnicity, sexual orientation or religious affiliation. We strive to create a welcoming and inclusive culture in which our four core values — responsibility, honesty, caring and respect — are integral to everyday operations.

Each year, as one of the area’s leading 501(c)3 charitable organizations, the Summit Area YMCA serves more than 15,000 individuals with our free and fee-based programs and services in an area spanning the New Jersey communities of Berkeley Heights, Gillette, Millburn, New Providence, Short Hills, Springfield, Stirling and Summit. Our history is rooted in working side-by-side with our neighbors to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. Through the generosity of our members, donors, and partners, we are able to offer financial assistance for our programs and services to those in need.