The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, June 13, 2014 | 8 Volunteers thanked as the heart of the YMCA by Nathan Howes Special to the Beaver A defining moment in Bonnie Jackson's life happens when she helps someone become a champion for the YMCA and its work in the community. Jackson was one of 435 YMCA of Oakville volunteers in 2013 that contributed 12,893 hours of their time to various Y programs -- time valued at $267,000. She was one of several people recognized for their voluntary efforts at the Oakville Y's annual general meeting and volunteer awards ceremony Monday. Although Jackson wasn't one of the award recipients, she was applauded for her contributions to the Strong Kids campaign. "Once I learned the YMCA wasn't a gym and swim (organization), I realized it is doing so much for the community. I wanted to be part of this story and I wanted to do what I could to make a difference," said Jackson. Joining the Y in 2006, Jackson became a volunteer because there was "something I can do and some way I can help," she said. "(The YMCA) doesn't turn away anybody who is needy. It doesn't turn them away from membership or for day care or camps. I could see that I was able to make a difference," said Jackson. In 2009, she joined a committee to help Y's Strong Kids program. The Oakville woman said the key to successful Since 1952 Bonnie Jackson Peter Kolisnyk | Oakville Beaver file photos Carpet Cleaning Specialists fundraising was educating her friends and colleagues on the "Y story" and the need for balance between funds raised and financial assis- tance offered. "Something that always makes my day is hearing a yes on the other end of the phone," she said. Later that year, Jackson received a $40,000 donation from a friend, which was one of the largest annual gifts given to the Strong Kids cam- On The Spot! RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL WALL TO WALL FURNITURE & UPHOLSTERY AREA RUGS PERSIAN & ORIENTAL Pre-K to Grade 12 Reading Writing Math Study Skills French SAT/ACT Prep Oxford Learning is... Truck Mount In-Plant Service Water Damage Restoration See the transformation of what we can do in relation to others! A Smarter Full Day Summer Camps available at Oakville North location. Summer Whether your child needs to catch up or get ahead this summer, Oxford Learning can help! All Ages. All Grades. All Subjects. VOTED BEST CARPET & RUG CLEANERS 14 YEARS IN A ROW! Drop-off Discount! 25% Enrol Today! oxfordlearning.com FREE 250 mL SPOTTING BOTTLE www.onthespotcleaning.ca Bronte 905-825-4256 1446 WALLACE RD. OAKVILLE, ON QEW Speers Wallace Oakville South Oakville North Oakville North East 905.849.4027 905.469.1929 905.616.9444 paign. "It had so many zeros on it, I had to sit down to digest the meaning of this gift from a generous, caring, thoughtful friend, who believed in the Y as much as I did," said Jackson. The eight-year volunteer is now involved in the group's Beyond These Walls initiative, which takes Y programs "beyond the walls" of the Rebecca Street facility and brings them to underserved Oakville neighbourhoods, Jackson said. "If more people knew that the Y is supporting day care, camps and memberships for people who can't afford it, the more donors, supporters and volunteers it is going to have," said Jackson. In April, the YMCA of Oakville was awarded three international awards for fundraising communications excellence by the North American YMCA Development Organization (NAYDO). These were the first NAYDO awards earned by the Rebecca Street Y -- more than any other YMCA internationally. The organization particularly credits the fundraising efforts of Jackson and volunteer board member Peter Kolisnyk for the awards. For their continued support, Kolisnyk and Jackson were given special awards by the Oakville Y earlier this year. Kolisnyk, a 2013 Volunteer Award recipient, has been a YMCA of Oakville board member for three years. His involvement in the Strong Kids initiative in 2013 helped raise awareness and funds for the Fill the Bus campaign, which raised more than $72,000 to send 224 children to camp. Fill the Bus won a NAYDO award for Annual Support Campaign. "It really was an incredible accomplishment that we were able to do this with 100 per cent support of our community," said Kolisnyk. "The greatest reward was knowing we played a small little part in 224 children's lives." Kolisnyk said he hasn't recognized "the full potential of what the Y experiences meant to me." "The Y became my second home. It is a wonderful place to fit in. The more things changed in my career, the more they stayed the same at the Y." The 2013 YMCA Volunteer Award adult winners included Kolisnyk, Maria De Faria and Marilyn Hook, while Claire Murphy, Rahul Sapra and Lauren Whyte are the youth recipients. For more information on all award recipients, visit ymcaofoakville.org.