The Raritan Valley YMCA; the YMCA of Metuchen, Edison, Woodbridge and South Amboy (MEWSA); and the Raritan Bay Area YMCA recently honored three youth volunteers from their respective communities.
Raritan Valley YMCA Youth Volunteer of the Year, Gabriella Deliglio, offers her time to volunteer for the Y’s swim lesson program, supporting the Y’s Safety Around Water initiative which focuses on water safety and drowning prevention.
Connie Ying, a volunteer and member of the Leader’s Club with the YMCA of MEWSA, holds the No. 1 spot for the most volunteer hours for cause-driven community service projects, setting the bar for her peers and making a real difference in the community.
Raritan Bay youth volunteer Jose Medina provides leadership skills through his involvement with the Student Entrepreneurial Educational Y’s Farmers Market, teaching basic business principles and providing greater health awareness and education into nearby communities.
“The teens have made ongoing commitments to their local Ys,” Gina Stravic, president & CEO of the Raritan Valley YMCA, said in a prepared statement. “They are gaining valuable skills and experiences that prepare them for personal growth, employment and college and are hopefully beginning a lifelong promise to volunteerism.”
“Our volunteers allow us to sustain many of the programs that we offer to the community,” Rose Cushing, president & CEO of the YMCA of MEWSA, said in the statement. “Their efforts also give our communities insight into the work that our organization does and educates community members about our mission.”
The 18th annual New Jersey YMCA State Alliance Annual Recognition Celebration was held Oct. 15 at the Hyatt New Brunswick.
For information on volunteering at the Y, contact the local Y or visit www.njymca.org.