Volunteer

Volunteers are essential to the success of the Sarasota Family YMCA and are key to fulfilling our mission of building strong communities.

Dan Danhheiser
Dan Dannheisser, a member of The Sarasota Y’s board of directors for over 10 years is January’s Volunteer of the month. For the last 7 years Dan has been instrumental in providing Turkey Dinners to HIPPY families. “I can remember back in 2005 Dan ask me to identify 4 or 5 families in need of a dinner with all the trimmings. Dan and his volunteers would bring the Y’s Youth Shelter kids along to deliver the dinners door to door to HIPPY families. He wanted the kids to feel like they were giving back to the community.” says Jones Williams HIPPY Director for the Y. Dan and his volunteers, in November provided 80 turkey dinners to families in need this thanksgiving. What a Blessing. On behalf of Jone Williams and the HIPPY staff and families, thank you Dan.

Chris Toelle
Chris Toelle is December’s volunteer of the month. Chris’s hard work and dedication paid off when the Sarasota Y Bulls made it to the Southeast Regional’s, not to mention that this is the Y’s first year having a tackle football team. Chris makes it a point not to just coach the fundamentals of football but to really create a positive impact in the lives of the players on his team. Chris is an exemplary volunteer and we want to spotlight him and his winning tackle football team the Sarasota Y Bulls. Way to go!

Jamie O'Neill
We are proud to give the volunteer of the month award to Jamie O'Neill for the month of November. Jaime O’Neill currently works as a Family Connections volunteer where she has assisted in the discovery of more than 2,000 relatives for children in foster care at the Safe Children’s Coalition. After a very short period, Jaime’s skills and her ability to work within the system of care became evident in her willingness to go over and beyond to ensure letters are mailed and families are contacted. As a volunteer, Ms. O’Neill has participated in other activities with our agency. She is a hands on volunteer that was willing to assist with babysitting during our recent foster parent conference. Jaime is an asset to the Family Connections Team in the Out of Home Care Department.

Steve Ruggiero
Most days of the week you can find Steve Ruggiero at the Frank G. Berlin’s Gymnastics center watching and supporting his daughter Lindsay. Most don’t see or know that Steve volunteers up to and over 30 hours of his time a week to make sure that our Gymnastics team runs as smoothly as it does. “He has been my right hand through our annual Sunfest meet, he helps me with everything no matter how big or small” Says Brenda Musall, Gymnastics Director and Head Team Coach for our YMCA Sunbeams. Steve organized and executed a fundraising BBQ for our Gymnastics team that raised well over $3000. We are so blessed to have such a dedicated parent and volunteer to be apart of our YMCA so we gratefully bestow October’s Volunteer of the Month Award to Steve Ruggiero

Judson Cressey
Judson Cressey is student at Riverview High School and the September Volunteer of the Month. He began volunteering at the Sarasota Y during the summer of 2011 in the membership department of the Evalyn Sadlier Jones Branch YMCA. Immediately he stood out from the rest, he exhibited outstanding commitment to community service and a genuine want to help those in need. “His positive attitude and the way he took ownership of his volunteer work were what impressed us the most” said Christina Swayne, Membership Coordinator at the Evalyn Sadllier Jones Branch. Judson goes above and beyond to help our members at our facility, greeting each person with a smile on his face while handing them a towel. We hope to have more dedicated teen volunteers like Judson and wish him the best of luck as he begins this school year.

Shantel Escobar
Shantel Escobar is a summer intern with the Safe Children Coalition’s Family Connections Project and August's Volunteer of the Month. Shantel is currently a junior at Saint Leo University and wanted to gain some experience in child welfare for the summer. Since her start in June to the end of July she was able to find nearly 1,000 relatives for children in care! Finding relatives for children in care means creating a greater support network & providing permanent connections. Beyond her hard work to find families, Shantel has also gone to recruitment events, helped with training, organized planning for future events, and supported the Out of Home Team. Shantel has a bright and bubbly personality and lights up the room with her presence. Her dedication and integrity has been a huge asset to the team.

Ron Rothstein
Ron Rothstein is a familiar face at the Frank G. Berlin Sr. Branch YMCA and July's Volunteer of the Month. Whether he is there working out with Marilee Young’s Prime Time Class or helping to teach bridge to other members, his presence alone seems to warm up a room. The idea for a bridge club came about 5 years ago in Marliee’s class. Both Ron and his friend Eric Kaye formed the now strong knit group of friends and players. Not only do Ron and Eric each take time out of their personal schedules to teach the club bridge techniques and strategies, but they also formulate lesson plans at home to bring to their classes. When you meet Ron you are immediately greeted with a warm smile and an open heart. He is very enthusiastic about teaching and loves to see new faces join the group. He truly embodies the YMCA’s core values of Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility. “Ron has been a very wonderful volunteer and I hope he continues his work with us. He is truly an asset to our organization by offering free bridge lessons to all of our members” says Marilee Young our Senior Program Director.

Clay Cobb
Clay Cobb of the Hardee County YMCA is June's Volunteer of the Month. Clay has been on the Board of Directors for the past few years serving on both the Fundraising and Facility Committees working diligently in both arenas often coming or sending workers to assist in repairs or donating materials. It has been in the past year though that Clay has really gone above and beyond the normal call of duty. When it was decided that we would begin construction on our new teen center, The Burton Teen Center at the Leon Sharp Youth Center, Clay immediately stepped into the lead. His family owned company, Cobb Construction, not only donated the contracting services but worked to also get the sub-contractors to donate as much of the labor and materials as possible. Clay was also a major player in the fundraising effort as well, meeting with community partners and speaking to community organizations to help raise the remainder of the funds. Clay spends several hours of his work week along with weekends to ensure that this project is a success. "The Hardee County YMCA would just like to say thank you and reward him for his supreme efforts," said Calvin Bates, Executive Director of the Hardee County Family YMCA.

Jack Gootkin
Jack Gootkin called the Sarasota Family YMCA's Youth Shelter after reading a touching news story about the kids in the program. He was so touched that he picked up the phone and called to ask how he could help. Mr. Gootkin, a recent retiree to the area, said he was not a Y member but he wanted to "do something" for the kids. After some discussion, Jack suggested that he would like to periodically treat the children at the shelter to an evening dinner away from the facility. Since that call Jack has hosted a meal for the children at least once a month. He and members of his temple have also donated food to the kids housed at the facility. Jack feels that his volunteerism helps let teens know that there are caring adults in this community. He considers his effort repayment for a successful career and good health. "The shelter is very fortunate to have volunteers like Jack Gootkin who continue to demonstrate their willingness to reach out to our children," said Marlin Fitts the Youth Shelter Director.

Vic Scully
We would like to recognize Strong Kids Campaign Chairman and YMCA Board Member, Victor Scully, as our April Volunteer of the Month. From the start of this year, Vic has dedicated countless hours of his time to spreading the YMCA's mission. Vic's enthusiasm for showing the importance of YMCA programs in the Sarasota community was contagious. He wrote personal letters to raise funds for our scholarships, and greeted possibly every visitor of our downtown Babe Weiller Branch YMCA from mid-February through the end of March. "When we think of great volunteer leadership, dedication and a commitment to make a difference is essential," said Jim Shea the Executive Director of the Babe Weiller YMCA. "Vic has exemplified these qualities while leading the organization as head of the Strong Kids Campaign.”

Jeremy Martin
Jeremy Martin has been a youth basketball coach for the past four seasons and has coached multiple teams in the YMCA youth athletic leagues. Not only has Martin coached for the past two years but he has also helped operate the scoreboard and referee when needed. “He has dedicated countless hours to the sports programs out of his free time and has never turned down extra duties that were asked of him,” said Zach Hilferding Athletic Director of the Sarasota Family YMCA. Martin also coaches for the Sarasota Gators travel basketball program and brings a great deal of experience and knowledge to the program. Currently he is coaching the 8th grade boys Gators traveling team. Martin grew up in Ohio and played basketball for Kent State University as a walk on. "He has a great rapport with the kids," Hilferding says, "and they look up to him as both a basketball player and a coach." Coaching multiple teams in our youth league and coaching in the Gator program requires multiple hours per week and even travel during the Gator season. The athletic department is very appreciative of Martin’s dedication to the program," said Hilferding.

Sean and Karissa Ellis
Karissa and Sean Ellis have been outstanding volunteers for the YREADS program. They have generously donated microscopes and are currently teaching the students how to use them. So far the children have already learned how the microscope works along with building their own small microscope using a drop of water. They plan on looking at the structure of different kinds of hair, a butterfly’s wing and then progress to germs. Karissa is a full time student at Lakewood Ranch Medical School and is now teaching the kids biology and how to use the microscopes with books that coincide. Sean has a degree in environmental science and is now teaching the kids earth science. When the kids get to the 5th grade, they should have a working idea of what science is.