The Y recognized volunteers for their service at our annual Spirit of Service volunteer appreciation and celebration event held December 10, 2019, at the Overland Park Convention Center.   

Nearly 300 volunteers attended the event, which included dinner, fellowship and an awards ceremony in which 18 top volunteers received Spirit of Service Awards for their outstanding commitment and dedication to the Y's cause of strengthening the community.

The awards program highlighted the impact of the more than 2,900 Y volunteers who worked throughout the region to give more than 32,000 hours of volunteer service in the past year.

"Volunteers are the heart of our organization and it is an honor...to celebrate the gifts of time and talent our volunteers give to the community," said John Mikos, President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Kansas City.

Mikos, along with John Passanisi, Chief Volunteer Officer Elect with the YMCA of Greater Kansas City Board of Directors, handed out the awards.

"Volunteers are so important in the Y delivering upon its mission and promise of strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility," Passanisi said.

Volunteers make a difference in a variety of ways: supporting our food programs for children facing food insecurity, coaching youth sports programs, teaching English as a Second Language, raising much-needed funds so all can participate in Y programs and membership, and so much more.

2019 Spirit of Service Award Winners

• Gary Andreason, Platte County Community Center North
• Don Ash, Providence YMCA/Ball Family Center
• Alexander Carney, Cleaver Family YMCA Togetherhood Committee
• Pastor Clay Bowlin, Platte County Community Center South
• Steve Dennis, Providence YMCA/Ball Family Center
• Michael Gonzales, Diversity, Inclusion and Global Council
• Brian Hamrick, Youth Sports
• Uche Ikeme, Youth Sports
• Teresa McGranahan, North Kansas City YMCA 
• Leon Muinday, Cleaver Family YMCA Togetherhood Committee
• Beth Noser, Cleaver Family YMCA Togetherhood Committee
• Eric Peters, Youth Sports
• Ed Redhair, YMCA Head Start
• Julie Sola, North Kansas City YMCA
• Dan Thomason, YMCA Head Start
• Eric Wells, Linwood YMCA/James B. Nutter, Sr. Community Center
• Alison Wilhelmi, YMCA Challenger program  
• Amy Zoellner, Cleaver Family YMCA Togetherhood Committee

Sponsors

This special evening was made possible thanks to our event partners Evergy, Tivity Health and Hillyard.

Event Photos

Explore photos from the event, including award winner photos.

Get Involved 

Are you inspired to make a difference by volunteering? Whether you would like to help with a special event or sign up to coach a youth sports team, there are lots of ways to volunteer at the Y. Explore upcoming volunteer opportunities through our volunteer project catalog.