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Greenpoint YMCA acknowledges three Brooklynites’ community spirit at annual fundraising gala
WILLIAMSBURG — The Greenpoint YMCA’s seventh annual “Spirit of Community” Service Awards Dinner and Auction, where the worldwide youth organization pays tribute to those in the community that represent its core values, was held Oct. 9 at Giando on the Water.
The evening’s three honorees included Charley Ryan, co-founder of Brooklyn Bowl, a venue that is home to 16 bowling lanes, live music, food and bars; Donna Siafakas, co-owner of the iconic Peter Pan Donut and Pastry Shop, which she has been running with her husband, Christos, since the early 1990s; and The International Alliance of Theater Stage Employees (ITASE) Local 52, the world’s first labor union dedicated to filmmaking, which was represented by Kevin Gilligan.
More than 150 people arrived at Giando — a grandiose venue overlooking the East River, offering stunning views of Manhattan’s skyline — including several elected officials, community leaders, YMCA board members and event sponsors.
More than just a dinner
Kendall Charter, executive director of the Greenpoint YMCA, has been with the organization for over 30 years and pointed out that the “Spirit of Community” awards dinner is more than just a community get-together.
“In addition to a great time, and honoring some exceptional people, this is also a huge fundraiser for us,” Charter told the Brooklyn Eagle. “It gives us the resources to keep our doors open, and all of our afterschool, early childhood and teen programs available, which make a tremendous impact on the community.”
Charter said he expected to raise approximately $100,000 when it’s all said and done.
“This is such a special community,” he noted. “Everyone supports each other, and is committed to each other. There’s just a tight-knit feeling you get here in Greenpoint.”
Paul Pullo, Greenpoint YMCA board chair, referred to the gala as “one of the premier events in Greenpoint as far as the community coming together.”
“There is no other agency or association like the Y,” Pullo said. “It’s so much more than a gym.”
“Events like this really allow us to come together and celebrate the partnerships that we have with our communities, and allow us to recognize individuals that go above and beyond in both serving their communities and helping the Y be successful,” Sharon Greenberger, CEO of the YMCA of Greater New York, said.
Bearing fruit for generations to come
Michael Kawochka, a Greenpoint YMCA board member, pointed out that the annual awards gala is the manifestation of the hard work done by its staff and board members year-round.
“We get to bring the community together to celebrate our key stakeholders,” Kawochka said. “The honorees raise our community 365 days a year, so raising them up one night a year is the least we can do. Forty-plus years ago, I learned to swim at the Greenpoint YMCA — and now my daughter Helen is learning to swim in that same pool. The seeds we plant now bear fruit for generations to come. We want to make sure our doors stay open to the community for the next hundred years.”
Randy Peers, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, was also in attendance, and referred to the Greenpoint Y as a “fixture in the neighborhood.”
“We are big fans of the Greenpoint Y,” Peers said. “The work that they do with youth is really extraordinary. It’s truly a blessing to have a YMCA in your community.”
Looking forward, there are plans to build yet another Y — this one in the Williamsburg vicinity — within the next five years, according to YMCA brass.
David Lombino, managing director at Two Trees Management, the company that will work on said project, told the Eagle that it will be “a brand new world-class facility that will overlook the East River.”
As for a timeline, Lombino said that within the next year or two things are expected to commence, with completion by or before 2029.
Since its inception more than 100 years ago, the YMCA has been devoted to youth development, offering every child the chance to discover their potential; promoting healthy living, uniting families through fitness and shared interests; and addressing community needs with local initiatives. The Y’s core areas of focus are to empower youth, improve health and strengthen community.