The YMCA of Coastal Georgia held its 162nd Annual Meeting and announced the fundraising foal for the 2017 Annual Campaign, I am the Y, on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at the Andaz Hotel in Historic Downtown Savannah, Georgia.

With nearly 150 YMCA staff, Board Members and community leaders in attendance, the annual meeting celebrated the recent work and impact of the Y. Pastor Kenny Grant of Calvary Baptist Temple shared an inspirational key note address.
 
The business portion of the meeting focused on recapping the recent work of the Y along with looking ahead to the future, the nomination of new volunteer leaders and a salute to retiring board members, exceptional volunteers, and staff. The Y also launched their 2017 Annual Campaign; I am the Y, with a goal of raising $680,000 to continue to invest back into our communities across Coastal Georgia. To date, the YMCA of Coastal Georgia has already raised 46% of their goal, with the public phase of the campaign officially launching now. Along with the financial goals of the campaign, the I am the Y campaign aims to inspire and build a culture of philanthropy within our communities.
 
Funds raised through the annual campaign are reinvested back into our communities by benefiting the Y’s financial assistance program which helps provide YMCA programs and memberships to children, adults and families in their five county service area. In 2016, the YMCA of Coastal provided $2,719,128 million in financial assistance to over 39,000 people who otherwise would not have been able to enjoy YMCA programs or memberships.
 
Among the order of business of the evening was the exchange of the gavel from the former Corporate Board Chair, Gregori Anderson of Chatham County Building Safety to the new Chair, Allan Reynolds of Seacrest Partners.  Allan Reynolds, whose term began at the Annual Meeting, will be the active Board Chair until 2019. He joins the slate of incoming Corporate Board of Directors elected new or returning; Leo Beckmann, Brad Brookshire, Morris Brown, Ivy Council, Gary Davis, Tamala Fulton, Carl Gilliard, Diana Morrison, Al Pace, Jr., Ryan Schneider and Mike Traynor.
 
They are joined by the following volunteer leadership at the YMCA of Coastal Georgia branches:
 
At the Effingham Branch, Amy Ambrose, Shelby McInnis and Ryan Waters were added to the Board of Management.
 
At the Golden Isles Branch, Peggy Dixon, Will McKenzie, John McQuigg, Vince Watson and Mary Beth Wester were added to the Board of Management.
 
At the Habersham Branch, Mike Canady, Daslin Garcon, Tara Jennings and Daniel Mackerty were added to the Board of Management.
 
At the Islands Branch, Karl Bohnstedt was added to the Board of Management.
 
At the Liberty County/ASYMCA, Dov Estroff, Anna Hagerty, Shannon Hickey, Vanessa Kuhn and Don Taylor were added to the Board of Management.
 
At the Richmond Hill Branch, Lynda Bowers was added to the Board of Management.
 
At the Tybee Island Branch, Tim O’Neill, Tracy O’Neill and Erin Young were added to the Board of Management.
 
At the West Chatham branch, Ronnie Kut and Kevin Smith were added to the Board of Management.
 
The Volunteer of the year award was presented to three individuals who went above and beyond the duties of a YMCA volunteer this past year. This award went to Terri Thompson, Susan Pankau and Terry Carter. These volunteers were recognized specifically for their extensive work with the YMCA.  As the final award of the program, Houston Demere presented the prestigious Robert H. Demere Volunteer of the Year award to longtime supporter and volunteer of the YMCA, Richard Moore. Moore has been committed to the YMCA’s success for over 20 years, providing guidance, support and time.