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YMCA will Honor Longtime Supporters at Anniversary Gala in Shrewsbury, Including Peter McCarthy from Little Silver
YMCA of Greater Monmouth County, Community Contributor
For 150 years, the YMCA has been a safe, welcoming place for area residents of all backgrounds to gather, connect, and grow stronger in spirit, mind, and body.
On Thursday, Nov. 14, the YMCA of Greater Monmouth County (the Y) will commemorate its enduring legacy at its 150th anniversary gala at the historic Shadowbrook at Shrewsbury.
The special event will celebrate six longtime supporters that have helped steer the Y through periods of transformation and growth, ensuring its continued impact in the community, said President and Chief Executive Officer Laurie Goganzer.
“The unwavering dedication of our honorees has been instrumental in expanding our reach resulting in our Y serving over 42,000 people in central New Jersey today," Goganzer said.
PNC Bank will be presented the Community Impact Award for partnering with the Y to help early learners flourish through its Grow Up Great program that brings outdoor play activities and employee volunteers to the Y’s child care programs. Since it was introduced in 2004, Grow Up Great has enhanced learning for over 10 million children five and under across the United States.
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Individual honorees, all current and former board members and trustees who were part of the 2019 merger that brought The Community YMCA and the YMCA of Western Monmouth County together to form the current regional YMCA, are: Bruce Lakefield, Danny Matarese, Peter McCarthy, Chris Mosley, and Carol Stillwell.
Lakefield, who resides in Rumson and Naples, FL, will be honored with the Legacy Award for his lifelong commitment to the Y and personal mission to uplift the community through the Y's mission. A former chief executive officer of Lehman Brothers and US Airways, Lakefield’s leadership experience has served the Y well through years of change and growth, while also inspiring his children to carry on the legacy of giving.
Also being presented with a Legacy Award will be McCarthy, of Little Silver, a 40-year veteran of the financial services industry and CEO of PJM Capital Management. His efforts as a volunteer board member were instrumental in helping the Y recover through economic challenges.
The Y’s Distinguished Citizen Service Award will be given to Stillwell, of Holmdel, an unwavering supporter of philanthropic causes in central New Jersey for over 35 years. As president of Stillwell-Hansen, Inc., she has been frequently recognized as one of New Jersey’s top businesswomen for leadership in data center infrastructure solutions.
The Champions for Youth Award will be presented to Matarese, of Morganville, and Mosley, who lives in Colts Neck. Each year, the pair chairs an annual golf tournament that benefits the Y’s scholarship program for youth summer camp.
Y Chief Volunteer Officer Michael A. Wright said that as the nonprofit reflects on a “remarkable journey of strengthening generations of people, it’s only fitting that we recognize those who’ve played a pivotal role in its success.”
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Y’s mission to ensure that everyone — regardless of age, income, or background — has the opportunity to access the Y’s life-changing programs, including fitness and chronic disease prevention, mental health, child care, summer camp, and youth leadership.
Leading the gala committee are board members Irene Hall and Samara O’Neill. The celebration is set for 6-10 p.m. at the stately Shadowbrook mansion, built just two years after the Y was established in downtown Red Bank in 1874.
Individual tickets are $275 and include an evening of cocktails, dinner, dancing, and exciting auctions. Guests are invited to embrace the elegance of the "Gilded Age" with cocktail attire inspired by the era when the Y was founded.
Lead sponsors of the gala are the McCarthy, Mosley, Kroon and Jakubecy families, PNC Bank, and Stillwell-Hansen, Inc. Sponsorships and tickets are still available online.
About YMCA of Greater Monmouth County For 150 years, YMCA of Greater Monmouth County has empowered youth, improved health, and fostered connections that unite and uplift the community. Serving 42,000 people annually, we’ve provided over $5 million in financial assistance in the last five years. With locations in eight communities and programs integrated into more than 100 schools across Monmouth and Ocean counties, we are dedicated to strengthening communities. Named a New Jersey Top Workplace for three consecutive years by NJ Advance Media, we’re based in Shrewsbury, NJ. Learn more at www.ymcanj.org.