The YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas honored 28 area volunteers at its 130th Annual Meeting held at the Belo Mansion. Volunteers were lauded for their continued dedication and generosity to the North Texas community. YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas President/CEO Gordon Echtenkamp was the evening’s speaker.
Three individuals received the organization’s prestigious Distinguished YMCA Leadership Award for consistent and extraordinary leadership in community service.
The Theodore P. Beasley YMCA Distinguished Leadership Award was given to David Folz for his dedication and services to the Dallas community. Folz has served on the Board of Directors for the Dallas YMCA for 26 years and currently is the Chairman of the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas Foundation Board. Folz’s dedicated and distinguished leadership embodies the spirit of the Theodore P. Beasley Award. The Theodore P. Beasley Award is given annually in recognition of outstanding service and leadership to the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas.
The Charles P. Storey Strong Communities Award was given to Larry Parks for his dutiful service to the JER Chilton YMCA in Rockwall, Park’s volunteer service spans almost 30 years. He has served as a board member, Annual Campaign chair, Major Gifts Chair and Chairman of the Rockwall Board of Management. He currently serves the Chair of the Capital Campaign. Larry’s ability to connect the YMCA and the Rockwall community over the last 30 years exemplifies the mission, purpose, and ideals of the YMCA. The Strong Communities Award is given to a YMCA volunteer who has been instrumental in creation and perpetuation of a local YMCA.
Mrs. Vestana Wollos received the George L. Allen Distinguished Leadership Award for her generous support of the Park South YMCA. In 1968, then Mayor Eric Johnson and his wife posed a million dollar challenge grant to the businesses and citizens of South Dallas to build the Park South YMCA. Many in the community stepped up, including Vestana Wollos, who donated her land to clear the way for the YMCA. Two years later in 1970, the doors of the Park South YMCA opened. A dedicated member Wollos believes in giving back and supporting the neighborhood. Vestana Wollos’ passion for her community truly reflects the ideals of George Allen and this award. The George L. Allen Distinguished Leadership Award is awards for outstanding leadership or service to a community ore a special group of people who experience unique challenges.
Sponsors for the evening included:
$2,500 Silver Sponsor: Bank of America Merrill Lynch, The Beck Group, PricewaterhouseCooper and Texas Instruments
$1,500 Red Sponsors: Ames Printing, Garrett and Cecilia Boone, Beck Group, Children’s Health, City of Dallas Office of Economic Development, Hunt Consolidated, Jackson Walker LLP, McQueary Henry Bowles Troy LLP, Oncor and Texas Capital Bank