NEWS RELEASE

The Gifford Youth Activity Center will be honoring five individuals in 2015 with the Dan. K. Richardson Humanitarian Award at their annual award dinner. The event will be held at the Moorings Club in Vero Beach on January 12th. The evening will celebrate the recipients’ extraordinary service to the GYAC, and the community. 

The esteemed award was established in 2006 by the Gifford Youth Activity Center Board of Directors in recognition of the leadership and community involvement of Dan. K. Richardson. Mr. Richardson was not only a founder of the GYAC, but was also dedicated to a multitude of charitable associations. The award is reserved for individuals who have shown a passionate and selfless commitment to improving the quality of life for the citizens of Indian River County. Mr. Richardson was the inaugural recipient of the award and many community leaders have been honored since including GYAC co-founders Dr. A. Ronald Hudson and Carter W. Hopkins. Other notable recipients include Alma Lee Loy, Father Richard Murphy, Dr. Hugh and Ann Marie McCrystal, Champ and Debbie Sheridan, and most recently, Jeff Susi. For 2015, five new distinguished honorees will be added to the recipient list; Bill Glavin – Vice Chairman of the GYAC Foundation, Rene Perez – Past Treasurer of the GYAC Foundation, and three GYAC volunteers; Joan Woodhouse, Nancy Johnson, and Bob Samuels.

The annual dinner event is the GYAC’s primary fundraiser and all proceeds go toward the center’s operations. The January 12th event will begin at 5:30pm with a social hour, followed by dinner. The evening’s entertainment will be provided by the Gifford Youth Orchestra. Tickets are $150 per person. Sponsorship opportunities are also available starting at $250 and ranging up to $10,000.

The Gifford Youth Activity Center is a non-profit organization located on 43rd Avenue. The 24,000 square foot facility is equipped with classrooms, computer labs, a library, and an indoor gym. The Center also offers activities for adults and senior citizens. For more information on the upcoming dinner event, as well as other programs offered by the center, please contact Nathan Bruckner at 772-794-1005 ext. 224 or by email at nbruckner@gyac.net