Simi YMCA Announces Volunteer of the Year Award Winners

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. - Nov. 17, 2017 - PRLog -- The Simi Valley Family YMCA handed out its 6^th Annual Volunteer of the Year awards at a November 4dinner at the Simi Y. Over 100 people attended.

"The awards dinner honors those who have exhibited outstanding leadership and who have made a positive impact on our members, staff and the community," says Dan Jaeger, Simi Y executive director.

The "Jack Vopal Y's Men of the Year Award" honors a member of the Simi YMCA's Y's Men's Club, a service organization that supports the Y. This year, the award went to Dave Paffrath. Paffrath became involved in the Y through the Indian Guides program. "He provides plenty of brawn at the Y's Men's annual Christmas tree lot, but also volunteered this year to help organize a retirement home event where he danced with the resident ladies. He does it all. I often refer to him as 'The Gentle Giant,' but most of us just call him 'Big Dave,'" says Jaeger.

The "Jim King Award of Significant Service" honors an individual that has made a significant contribution to a Simi Valley Family YMCA program. The award was presented to Keith Langdon. Langdon volunteers as a youth basketball coach. Besides teaching basketball skills and strategy, he instills into his players the importance of winning with humility and losing with dignity. "Our YMCA and the community are fortunate to have someone like Keith. He not only is a great basketball coach but he teaches our youth important values such as respect, honesty and caring—the core values of the YMCA," says Jaeger.

The "Distinguished Service Award" honors an individual who has made accomplishments in YMCA financial development. This year's winner is Fernando Estevez. Estevez is a Simi Y board member, one of the Y's Men and a member of the Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise. "Fernando has been able to secure significant matching dollar gifts. During this past September, he obtained a $5,000 Union Bank sponsorship for the Southeast Ventura County YMCA's Inaugural Gala," says Jaeger. "Fernando is consistently looking for opportunities to support good causes, not just with the Y, but with organizations throughout Simi Valley."

The "Order of Merit Award" honors a YMCA leader who exemplifies civic responsibility through service to the community. This year's winner is Jim King. King's tenure with the YMCA as a volunteer and staff member spans over 30 years. He was a founding board member of the Simi Y and its first executive director. "Jim provided the executive leadership during a multi-million dollar capital campaign and through the design and construction of our current facility," says Jaeger. "Jim's dedication and accomplishments have had a profound effect on people's lives, on Simi Valley and on the very foundation of this YMCA."

For more about the Simi Valley YMCA, go to http://www.sevymca.org/simivalley.