At last Thursday’s regional YMCA celebration in Montgomery, the theme was &uot;the Oscars&uot; and all the directors took home their very own Oscar statuettes as a memento of the occasion.

However, Greenville YMCA Director Amanda Phillips was also able to bring home a very special award

– the inaugural President’s Award, an accolade with which Phillips is truly delighted.

&uot;This new award goes to the local Y with the largest number of its membership donating to our ‘Partners in Youth’ Campaign,&uot; explains Phillips, who is &uot;very excited&uot; to see Greenville as the first recipient of the award.

The Greenville Y had a total of 21 percent of its members giving to the Partners Campaign.

&uot;The Partners Campaign raises funds to pay for the scholarships of those who can’t afford to pay the price of a Y membership. I think this speaks so highly of our local Y that we have such great support for this program,&uot; says Phillips.

So far, the total monies raised within the Montgomery area YMCAs for the Partners Campaign is $530,000. The goal was $515,000.

Greenville’s goal is $24,700, with $23,000 raised thus far. The fund-raising campaign continues through May, and Phillips is confident the local Y will meet and exceed that goal.

&uot;I am really proud of the fact we had the most members supporting this campaign – I think it shows a true giving spirit and says good things about our community.&uot;

Phillips also says the number of donors who are members of the Chandler Society – reserved for those donating $750 or more to the YMCA – has gone from three donors last year to ten this year.

&uot;$18,000 of the monies donated this year came from large-size gifts, so we really feel blessed,&uot; says Phillips.

Anyone who wishes to support the YMCA’s ongoing efforts in the community by donating to the Partners Campaign or the Capital Campaign is encouraged to contact Amanda Phillips at 382-0550.