At last Monday evening’s Dan K. Richardson Humanitarian Awards Dinner at The Moorings Yacht and Country Club, roughly 275 guests gathered to honor Bill Glavin, Nancy Johnson, René Perez, Bob Samuels and Joan Woodhouse, who have each been instrumental in the development of the newly renamed Gifford Youth Achievement Center.
The Dan K. Richardson Award was created nine years ago at the suggestion of Freddie Woolfork, GYAC director of Public Relations & Facilities Operation, who wanted to raise funds for the center while also honoring individuals who had truly made a difference to the community.
Woolfork remembered the late Dan K. Richardson, who died just last month as a pace setter – a man who believed in getting involved and finding real solutions to make things better. At their first meeting in 1996, Richardson asked Woolfork, then president of the Progressive Civic League of Gifford, what that community needed. The answer was a location where children and families could be nurtured.
“Mr. Richardson and Dr. William Nye, who was then the pastor of the Community Church, said they wanted to be a part of helping make that happen and from that point on they were with us,” said Woolfork. “And so were the people who are being honored tonight.”
Honoree Glavin currently serves as vice chairman of the GYAC Foundation and has been major influence in helping the organization meet its fundraising goals. Samuels serves on the Foundation board and was involved with the initial construction of the center and with the development of its first computer lab.
Woodhouse and Johnson are also on the Foundation board and were instrumental in establishing the Gifford Aquatic Center, which is adjacent to the GYAC.
“It was a wonderful collaboration between private contributors and public money because the donors built the pool and the county agreed to put in the funds to pay for the maintenance, repairs and let us have the land,” said Woodhouse.
Cuban-born Perez, former GYAC Foundation treasurer and current trustee, has been involved with the organization from the beginning.
“I am a firm believer in education and in improving oneself so they can have a better life,” said Perez. “This country is unique in that you have opportunities to be whatever you want. If you work hard and do what is right, you can get ahead.”
Previously known as the Gifford Youth Activity Center, the exchange of the word “activity” for “achievement” is a significant perception modification that more closely underscores the mission of the organization.
“We want people to realize that our focus is education and we are blasting that out,” explained Angelia Perry, GYAC executive director. “The word activity lends itself to people thinking it is a recreational program but after 18 years we have evolved and have become more closely aligned in terms of an educational focus. The board decided that it was a good time to show that to the community.”
Although recreational activities are still a part of the program, more space at the center is utilized for classrooms, computer labs and a library than for play areas. Students are encouraged to focus on academics and are assisted with extra tutoring and mentoring support by staff and volunteer educators.
