December 25, 2012 > YMCA of the East Bay honors Volunteers of the Year YMCA of the East Bay honors Volunteers of the Year Submitted By Nancy Amaral 2012 Youth of Character Award Recipients: Xavier Sanders, Downtown Oakland YMCA Chesna Pokharel, Fremont Newark YMCA Chesna is a sophomore at Irvington High School in Fremont. She is very active in our Camper in Leadership Training (CILT) during the summer. Chesna is a dedicated volunteer who helped at both our Healthy Kids Day and Kid City events. She played an integral part in both events, directing runners and handing out the goodie bags to our runners during our HDK event and assisting kids in our arts & crafts area of the Kid City event. Kamaria Mckinng, Hilltop YMCA Gabbie Syed, Tri Valley YMCA Ranisha Evans, Urban Services Eastlake YMCA Anthony Varner, Urban Services M. Robinson Baker YMCA Lavontae Hill, West Contra Costa YMCA Alyssa Lubow, YMCA Camp Loma Mar Madeline "Calico" Newman, YMCA Camp Ravencliff 2012 Volunteer of the Year Award Recipients: Alfred Toles, Downtown Oakland YMCA Rachel Gonzalez, Eden Area YMCA Rachel began her YMCA volunteer work during the 2011/2012 flag football season as the Team Mom for our Eden team. In addition to the normal team mom duties of disseminating information and scheduling snacks, Rachel was a driving force in keeping parents actively involved and engaged in the program during a time when we had no league of our own and traveled to Oakland to play in the Urban Services League. In the spring of 2012, Eden began its own basketball league in conjunction with the Hayward Area Recreation District. Since that time, Rachel's role has evolved from Team Mom to League Mom. Her help has been instrumental in bringing the participants and parents together to form the nucleus of Eden's rapidly growing sports program. Joanne Linzey, Fremont Newark YMCA Joanne has been a positive role model to other members with her respectful interactions during both coffee hour and while using the facility. This past year when we wanted to start a member advisory committee, it was Joanne who stepped up to help recruit, plan, organize and lead the meetings. Joanne plays a vital role in building a "family" type atmosphere at the Y. Joanne shows continued loyalty and support to the Fremont/ Newark YMCA; she's quick to take on responsibility; last to seek credit or attention. Joanne is always there to help. She portrays the Y values in all that she does. Fran Welstand, Hilltop YMCA Joyce & Bob Shapiro, Tri Valley YMCA Abusheri Ohwofasa, Urban Services YMCA Dr. Cherilyn Brunetti, MD, West Contra Costa YMCA James Choe, YMCA Camp Arroyo Andy & Bridget Creach, YMCA Camp Loma Mar Eric Ralls, YMCA Camp Ravencliff Lifetime Achievement for Service Award: Larry Taylor Larry Taylor, a volunteer for many years at Camp Loma Mar, the Y of the East Bay's summer camp in the Santa Cruz Mountains, was inducted into the Y's Hall of Achievement and awarded this year's Lifetime Achievement for Service Award. It is estimated that over the many years of his involvement with the Y of the East Bay, Larry, a resident of Castro Valley contributed more than 16,000 volunteer hours. East Bay Y operates branches in downtown Oakland, Fremont, Newark, Hayward, Castro Valley, Richmond, and Dublin, as well as camps in Livermore, Pescadero (San Mateo County) and Redway (Humboldt County).