On June 12, prepare to be amazed with Keith Barry, world-renowned Mentalist, Magician & Subconscious Mind specialist at the Hopewell Valley YMCA’s first-ever virtual Spring Fundraiser. A fun evening for the whole family!
The distinguished honorees for 2020/2021 are Michael Markulec and Kevin Ryan. Markulec will be awarded the Larry Rothwell Social Responsibility Award named for Larry Rothwell of Pennington Quality Market. Ryan will be honored with our prestigious Community Leadership Award.
Markulec is the former mayor of Hopewell Township, where he was instrumental 10 years ago in working with Kim Bruno to start the “free teen center” with the YMCA. The Youth Activity Center has been an integral part of the YMCA’s mission supporting more than 20 teens each day providing them a safe haven to gather with friends. Markulec was liaison to the Hopewell Township Youth Advisory Board. He is a long-time volunteer and champion of Hopewell Valley Wrestling and Football Clubs. He also served two terms as a member of the Hopewell Valley Regional School District Board of Education.
Ryan has been an active member of the Hopewell Community for more than 33 years through many local sports associations including the Hopewell Valley YMCA sports and Special Olympics programming. Through the HV Chapter of the Mid-Jersey Chamber of Commerce, Ryan started a high school scholarship program and to this day continues to help Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Mercer County, who recognized him as the Big Brother of the year in 2016. Ryan contributes to the local community through the Pennington Business and Professionals Association, Economic Development Committee, and the Hopewell Valley Municipal Alliance. Ryan prides himself as a “connector of people and businesses” as a Senior Financial Advisor and Managing Partner at Main Street Private Advisors in Pennington.
Ticket sales will support the Hopewell Valley YMCA, which has served the community for nine decades through youth programs, community classes and a free teen center. When the pandemic hit, the Y mobilized immediately to provide essential childcare, food distribution and virtual events while continuing to provide affordable before and after school care, summer camp, and Special Olympics. Your participation helps us keep up the excellent work here in Hopewell Valley while enjoying a night of family fun, awe, and laughter.
More information about this event can be found at https://hvymca.org/virtual-benefit/ .
Submitted by Suzette Belder-Carr and Annemarie Hofacker, Co-chairs of the HVYMCA Spring Gala Event
