Y honors Roper, Burshan at annual meeting

The YMCA of Central Florida recently recognized its 2013 leading volunteers and donors at the organization’s annual meeting held at the Garden Theatre in Winter Garden. 

Barbara Roper, Winter Garden philanthropist and Y champion, received the first Metropolitan Advocacy Award. The Metropolitan Advocacy Award is a new award that recognizes a volunteer leader who has devoted his or her life to the Y cause. 

Roper has dedicated more than 100,000 hours of her time to the Y cause across a span of 40 years. She served as the first woman to chair the YMCA of Central Florida Metropolitan Board in 1980-81, and she later served as chair of the YMCA’s national board. Her YMCA involvement has spanned the globe; she continued to advocate for the Y worldwide as a U.S. representative for the YMCA’s World Alliance in Geneva, Switzerland. 

Each Y family center honored its respective Volunteers of the Year, as well. Lori Burshan was recognized at the Roper YMCA, and David Knight was honored at the Dr. Phillips Y.

Additional honorees included Lou Carrion (John W. Sterchi Award), Steve Wingo (Ronnie Walker Unsung Hero Award) and Joe Cleveland (YMCA Mind Connect Award).

Ten community leaders were elected to serve two-year terms on the YMCA of Central Florida Metropolitan Board of Directors, as well.

2013 YMCA Metropolitan Board Chair Glen Davis highlighted the Y’s past-year achievements in the three focus areas of youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Davis also discussed the organization’s 2014-2018 Long Term Strategic Plan, which will include expansion of current facilities and a new facility in Clermont.

The evening also included a special video presentation honoring the Y’s spotlight partner: Dr. Phillips Charities. DP Charities board members Jim Hinson, Ken Robinson, Dr. Ann Manley, Eva Tukdarian and Dr. Margaret Miller were present for the event.

The Y also thanked and honored its top major donors: the Roper family, Winter Park Health Foundation, Darden, Wayne Densch Charities, Florida Hospital, Orange County Government, city of Orlando, Harris Rosen, WESH-TV, Tavistock, Walt Disney World, Osceola County, Lockheed Martin, The Bert Martin Foundation, Bank of America, Pepsi, Microsoft, Munroe Regional Medical Center and Frank DeLuca.