The Granite YMCA 169th Annual Meeting
December 29, 2023The Granite YMCA 169th Annual Meeting
This year marks the 169th Annual Meeting of The Granite YMCA during which volunteers, community supporters, donors, and employees gathered to recognize and celebrate the many accomplishments of The Granite YMCA over the past year.
"As CEO, I want to share my deep appreciation for the yearlong support, passion, and dedication of our donors, Board members, and community members. It was a heartwarming experience to be together in celebration of the impact we have on the community. We have extraordinary team leaders, staff, donors and Board members working tirelessly to support and further our mission and I am humbled to be a part of it," said Michele Sheppard, CEO of The Granite YMCA.
Meeting highlights included: nominations of incoming Board members and officers and recognition of retiring Board members and key community donors. There were also announcements of the association’s Tom and Sally Addison volunteer of the year, chairman’s award winners, Community Service Award winners, and the recognition of the Mark R. Stebbins youth of the year award.
Mark R. Stebbins Youth of the Year Award
In recognition of her volunteerism and strong leadership skills, Paige Whelan of the YMCA Allard Center was presented with the Mark R. Stebbins Youth of the Year award. For the past six years Paige has volunteered to be a judge at the gymnastics program’s annual Fun Meet and scored the participants as they completed their routines. Throughout the season at home meets, Paige went above and beyond selling raffle tickets, food, clothing and trinkets, playing floor music, helping enter scores as well as being available to help with set-up and clean-up of the gymnastics area.
She has also volunteered to help run the preschool gymnastics event and participated in a team exhibition at the event. Paige has been a volunteer and leader working at the Goffstown Pumpkin Regatta as well as Goffstown Old Home Days. This past summer she was very helpful at summer camp as a junior coach for our campers and they loved having her around! Paige Whelan is a stellar role model who knows how to have fun while embodying and passing on the Y’s core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.
Tom and Sally Addison Volunteer of the Year Award
In recognition of his extraordinary leadership over the last several years, the Tom and Sally Addison Volunteer of the Year award was presented to Ryan Gough. Ryan and his family have been members of the Y for many years, and he has served several years as a Board Member, Finance Committee member and Chair of the Audit Committee. He was particularly effective throughout the year providing guidance for fiscal matters and offered his time and knowledge for RFP processes and interviewing the firms that were invited to audit and participate in the Y from a strategic and financial standpoint. Ryan also served as a member of the YMCA of Greater Londonderry Financial Feasibility Task Force and always shared his time, skill, experience and knowledge in a kind and compassionate manner. He is a busy man but finds the time to support The Granite YMCA no matter what is asked of him. For his dedication, intentionality and deep caring for the Y mission, Ryan Gough is The Granite YMCA’s Tom and Sally Addison Volunteer of the Year.
Board of Trustee News
Current trustees re-nominated to the class of 2026: Wayne Robinson, Henry Veilleux, and Margaret Thomas
New Trustees nominated for a first term for the class of 2026: Deborah Blake Dempsey, Helena Iaquinta, Giselle Rodriguez, Joe Kenney, and Donald Stokes.
The association presented Community Service Awards to key community business partners for their charitable support and dedication to The Granite YMCA. They included: Hillbilly Home Development, Ben & Jerry’s, and The Upper Room.
Chairperson’s Awards
Sarah Van Beaver, Bonnie Flahive, and Mike McCluskey were honored with a Chairperson’s Award for their outstanding volunteer service.
About The Granite YMCA
As one of the state’s longest standing and most enduring non-profits, The Granite YMCA focuses on youth development, healthy living, social responsibility, and family strengthening. Across the state, its six branches engage 30,000 men, women and children – regardless of age, income or background – to improve their health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. In 2022, The Granite YMCA provided financial assistance and free services valued at just over $1.508 million to 12,286 individuals. To learn more, please visit www.graniteymca.org.
