Local residents honored by YMCA

LOCAL RESIDENT HONORED AS YMCA VOLUNTEER OF YEAR

A local resident is receiving the YMCA of Metro Atlanta’s 2013 Volunteer of the Year awards for outstanding service. 

Don Speaks, a project manager with the Morehouse School of Medicine, is the Arthur M. Blank Family Youth YMCA 2013 Volunteer of the Year. He is a resident of Stone Mountain.

Speaks spends much of his volunteer time developing collaborative programs and processes, which he sees as keys to making strides in the community. “We want to change the process so youth-serving agencies start working together the moment a child is born through that child’s passage to age 21,” he says. “Our job should be to prevent breaks in that link like dropping out of school, youth crime, poverty, or hunger.” 

The Y is a powerful association of men, women and children joined together by a shared commitment to nurturing the potential of kids, promoting healthy living and fostering a sense of social responsibility. Every day, we work side-by-side with our neighbors to make sure everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow and connect. Call 404-588-9622 or visit http://www.ymcaatlanta.org.