Celebrating students and community leaders during Black History Month
YMCA of South Florida has announced the recipients of the Dave W. Cash Youth Leadership Award, presented annually to a student in Broward County that has embodied the ideals of Dr. King in advocating for social change in the community, and the Spirit of Community Award, which recognizes a community advocate in Broward County who exemplifies the social activism, advocacy, nonviolence, civic engagement and diversity ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Hallandale High School sophomore Tyler Pierre received the 2023 Dave W. Cash Youth Leadership Award and with it a $2,000 college scholarship supporting his continued education. Pierre participates in the YMCA’s Afterschool Program, which provides academic support from certified teachers, opportunities for students to explore their talents, a meal, transportation home and the services of a full-time YMCA Success Coach at the school. Exemplifying the Y’s core character values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility, Pierre is consistently on the A-B Honor Roll and is ranked 10th out of 255 students in his class. He is active in the drama and art clubs and has begun tutoring middle school students.
(L to R) Community Foundation of Broward President and CEO Jennifer O’Flannery Anderson; Spirit Airlines Vice President, Guest Experience, Brand & Communications Lania Rittenhouse; Vice President of Community Impact at the Community Foundation of Broward Sheri Brown Grosvenor; YMCA of South Florida President and CEO Sheryl Woods; Director, The Spirit Airlines Charitable Foundation Lanie Morgenstern
Receiving the Spirit of Community Award, which recognizes a community advocate in Broward County who exemplifies the social activism, advocacy, nonviolence, civic engagement and diversity ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was Broward County native Sheri Brown Grosvenor who has built a solid 24-year career in philanthropy. As Vice President of Community Impact at the Community Foundation of Broward, she oversees the new Center for Nonprofit Excellence and serves as a spokesperson, advocate, representative and liaison on all Foundation initiatives. In her more than 21-year tenure, she has been directly responsible for more than $150 million in community investments and instrumental in the growth of Foundation’s assets from $35 million to $250 million. She is managing more than 20 current partnerships to advance initiatives in health, DEI, seniors, arts, environment, education, economic mobility and nonprofit capacity building. Brown Grosvenor is active in numerous local, state and national organizations including the Florida Philanthropic Network; Community Foundation Opportunity Network (CFON) Leadership Council and Public Policy and Advocacy Group; Asset Funders Network; and North Broward County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. among others. A former teacher with Broward Public Schools, she is a mentor with Women of Tomorrow at Nova High School.
“We are so fortunate to have Tyler and Sheri as part of our community,” YMCA of South Florida President and CEO Sheryl Woods said. “Their leadership and spirit are to be commended.”
Both recipients were recognized at a recent breakfast with keynote speaker Michelle Duster, author, public historian, professor and granddaughter of civil rights and women’s rights activist Ida B. Wells, as part of the Y’s 19th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Inspirational Weekend that raised funds to support the YMCA of South Florida’s “I Have a Dream” Youth Scholarship Fund. The Y offers a variety of youth programs which include preschool, after school, employment opportunities, teen groups and college tours and readiness.
Presenting sponsors of the 19th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Inspirational Weekend were JM Family Enterprises, Brown & Brown Insurance and City National Bank. For more information about the Y, visit www.ymcasouthflorida.org.
About the YMCA of South Florida
The Y is a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Every day, the Y works hard to build healthy, confident, connected and secure children, adults, families and communities through over 200 afterschool, preschool, special needs, sports, camp and youth programs, family centers, and senior health outreach sites. To learn more, visit www.ymcasouthflorida.org, connect on Facebook or Twitter, or call a Y near you.
(Photo courtesy of Downtown Photo)