Jeanne Collins, Superintendent of Burlington Schools, accepted the Greater Burlington YMCA's second annual Youth Development Award at the Y's Annual Meeting, held Thursday, May 31st at the Burlington Country Club. The Y presents this award to a member of the community who shares the Y's vision that every child will learn the foundational skills, build healthy relationships, and develop the self-esteem necessary to become confident, connected, and secure adults.
Ms. Collins was nominated for her leadership on the steering committee that advised the Greater Burlington Y on a new Y USA-sponsored intitiative, Pioneering Healthier Communities. The goal of this effort was to facilitate opportunities to increase active living and healthier eating through policy and environmental changes.
Ms. Collins helped the Y develop a community action plan with strategies to reach youth and effect positive lifestyle changes. With Ms. Collin's guidance and support and with underwriting assistance by MVP Healthcare, the Y organized a swim program and offered it for free to every second grade student in the Burlington School district. Participating youngsters increased their physical activity while learning personal safety, stroke development and rescue strategies in the water. Ms. Collins also collaborated with the Y on the creation of a healthier menu for school lunches. She also worked with the Y and volunteer students to supplement the food choices available at corner stores with healthier alternatives to calorie packed snacks through "Healthy in a Hurry," a new program model that also rolled out in 2011.
"As an organization passionate about nurturing the potential of youth, the Y is extremely grateful for Jeanne's leadership on our task force and for her assistance reaching youth in our community," said Mary Burns, President and CEO. "Working together we were very effective engaging them in physical activities and healthier lifestyle choices."
RunVermont Executive Director, Peter Delaney accepted the Greater Burlington YMCA's second annual Healthy Living Award at the Y's Annual Meeting, held on Thursday, May 31st at the Burlington Country Club. The Y presents the award each year to a community member who shares the Y's vision for strengthening community by improving the health and well being of our neighbors.
Since Peter Delaney joined RunVermont in 2009, the Keybank Vermont City Marathon has grown in size and stature with over 8,000 registered runners in 2012 and recognition as one of the top 5 desitnation marathons by Outside Magazine (May 2012). This much anticipated, signature community event reaches a broad audience from health seekers in pursuit of a new athletic outlet to competitive atheletes looking for a nationally recognized field to test their endurance and physical acumen. A common thread between the two organizations is this commitment to appeal to all community members, whatever the age or ability and to demonstrate the benefits and personal satisfaction that results from meeting a health goal, adopting healthier routines, behaviors and diet regimens.
Delaney is also adept at seeing the value of community alliances and seeking them out. In April 2012, RunVermont and the Y collaborated for the first time on "Champ on Church Street," a special early morning fun run for children that kicked off the Y's 12th annual Healthy Kids Day. One successful partnership event led to another. In the fall, the Y and RunVermont will work together on bringing RunVermont "Ready Set Run" programs to Y after school sites throughout the state.
"Peter's vision has removed so many barriers for our community members to experience the endless benefits of personal well being," said Y President and CEO Mary Burns. "We will continue to find ways to work together creating opportunities for individuals to have fun through physical activity."
John Meeks, Lead Preschool Teacher for more than seventeen years, accepted the Greater Burlington YMCA's second annual Social Responsibility Award along with a dozen young musicians in the Tin Can Band. The Y presents the award each year to a community member whose selfless actions demonstrate compassion and caring for other members in the community, and who serves as an inspiration for others.
The award is shared among an innovative, resourceful and musical classroom that address hunger in the community every year with a food drive for the Burlington Emergency Food Shelf. Rather than posting a box outside their classrom, these youngsters form a band and then take their show "on the road." It begins with instruments - guitars and drums - built out of recycled cigar boxes and tin cans. After planning, practice and advance marketing, the band steps out of the classroom and into the hallways of the Y. They strum, drum and march outside every office while employees hand over canned goods for the drive. The band dials up or down the volume depending on the size of the donation. "The more food they give, the softer the children play," explained Meeks. "If they don't give us any food, the children play very, very loud."
The results are impressive. Since Meeks started the program four years ago, he estimates the Tin Can Band and the Y has donated more than 500 pounds of goods to the food shelf during a time of year when the food shelf inventory runs low. Moreover, Mr. Meeks teaches valuable lessons in following directions, creative expression and counting skills to children, who at age five, are preparing for a big transition into kindergarten.
"Through the Tin Can Band, John instills an understanding of the world outside of the classroom and helps the children understand that they can be an agent for good in the community," said Y President and CEO Mary Burns. "He is shaping good citizens through service learning and wrapping it into such a joyful experience at the same time."
Mr. Meek's classroom is based at the Y facility on College Street. The majority of the children and their parents were on hand to receive the award. They used the annual meeting as another opportunity to march, play their instruments, and collect more canned goods for the food shelf.
Eleven year old Burlington resident Joshua Scheidt accepted the Greater Burlington YMCA's Character in Action
Youth Award at the Y's Annual Meeting held on Thursday, May 31st at the Burlington Country Club. The Y presents the award each year to a young community member who best exemplifies the Y's core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. Mr. Scheidt was nominated by Y After School staff member Sean Palmer for his leadership, high level of maturity, spirit of collaboration, and for his volunteerism in and outside the classroom. Mr. Scheidt volunteers as a
helper in Y Early Education classrooms where he is described as the "go to kid," always ready with a smile to lend a hand wherever it is needed. In the past year, Mr. Scheidt cleared debris from a wide section of the Burlington bike path as part of the Y Youth Day of Service, volunteered to help with the Vermont City Marathon, and ran a lemonade stand for charity. He has been an active participant in many Y programs over the years, taking advantage of Y swim lessons, Camp Abnaki summer camp, the Y After School Program and Y special events. Currently Mr. Scheidt swims competitively with the Y Dynamo Swim team where Coach Chris Cochran praises his athleticism, his respectful attitude toward others and his team spirit.
For more than 146 years, the Greater Burlington Y has been a charitable organization with a social mission - to build a strong community by involving youth, adults and families in programs and activities that develop spirit, mind and body. We engage men, women and children to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve our community's health and well being, and provide opportunities to give back and support our neighbors. We have longstanding relationships and the physical presence not just to promise - but to deliver - lasting personal and social change.
