(PLANO, TX – April 16, 2015) Plano YMCA volunteer Mark Forrer was honored with the Sam G. Winstead Volunteer of the Year Award for his substantial volunteer efforts to the Plano YMCA’s Adventure Guides and Princesses program during the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas’s 130th Annual Meeting held at the Belo Mansion on Thursday, April 9. The event saw 29 amazing area volunteers receive awards for their continued commitment and generosity to communities across North Texas and featured Dallas YMCA President / CEO Gordon Echtenkamp as the evening’s speaker.
Mark became involved with the Plano YMCA eight years ago when his wife secretly signed him up for the Plano Y’s Adventure Guides program. He was hesitant at first, but after one campout, he was hooked! After four years, Mark joined the Longhouse, a lead group of program volunteers, and has spent the last two years as Nation Chief over the Princess side of the program. Mark has totaled over 4,300 hours of volunteer service to the program through its campouts, and is proud to tell you he has attended over 90 campouts with his daughters over the years. The Plano YMCA thanks Mark for his service to the Plano YMCA and Adventures Guides and Princesses program.
The Sam Winstead Volunteer of the Year Award is given each year in honor of Sam G. Winstead, a longtime Dallas YMCA leader who was an example of outstanding leadership. The award is presented to volunteers of each branch who have committed significant time and energy to programs or to the perpetuation of the YMCA in their community.
The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Across the U.S., 2,687 Ys engage 21 million men, women and children – regardless of age, income or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. Anchored in 23 North Texas communities, the Dallas Y has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change. www.ymcadallas.org