Articles

Manchester group honors community leaders at gala

Category: Lifestyle Published on Wednesday, 20 June 2012 09:24 Written by Courier Newsroom

The Manchester Youth Development Center announced the winners of the first Robinson Awards. The Awards, named in honor of MYDC founders Rev. James and Betty Robinson, PhD, were created to recognize leaders in the Manchester and greater Pittsburgh communities who have made a difference in reaching, teaching and empowering youth, was presented at the third MYDC Gala—“Growing and Expanding Our Dreams” in the newly opened ballroom of the Rivers Casino, the Awards were one of the highlights of the evening.

CHERYL WALKER AND PATRICIA LEE WASHINGTON

The Robinson Award winners were selected by the MYDC board of directors and the gala planning committee based on the nominee’s number of years of involvement in the community, level of demonstrated commitment and passion for youth, support for the mission of MYDC and their impact in the community. Winners were named in three categories: community, education and business. The honorees were: The Hon. Judge Joseph K. Williams III, Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas; Angela F. Ford, PhD, executive director, University of Pittsburgh Center for Health Equity; Patricia Lee Washington, PhD, retired principal, Pittsburgh Public Schools; Charles W. Allie, retired teacher/coach, Pittsburgh Public Schools; and Eugene Thomas Jr., owner/operator, Quik-It Inc. & Quik-It Chicken.

The MYDC Gala is held every other year and is designed to be a reunion of old friends, alumni, and those who care about and contribute to helping the children in the Manchester community reach their fullest potential. The gala is an opportunity to celebrate MYDC’s past achievements and the many accomplishments of current and former students, while also showing appreciation to those who contribute to the organization’s success.