This Sunday the Benjamin Barnes YMCA begins its Youth First Campaign.  The organization would normally hold a kickoff at Elizabeth Baptist Church, but amid pandemic concerns, the events have been altered to being virtual experiences.

Mayor Maddox is set to present awards to a number of notable community leaders with awards for their service to the Barnes YMCA.

Among the honorees are Mr. Mason Bonner, who is receiving a Lifetime of Service Award.

Webb and Bonner_revised
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Listen to this interview to hear why this is so befitting.

 

 

Anyone who has come into contact with Mr. Bonner has heard of the wonderful things going on at the Barnes YMCA, and this didn't just begin.  Mr. Bonner has been a supporter of the Barnes YMCA for numerous decades.  His involvement has been a major contribution to youth athletics and community involvement.

He played a crucial role in bringing the Ollie Washington Building and Maintenance Program to the YMCA.  This program taught general construction, painting, plumbing, and other skills to the public, where students were afforded the opportunity to be certified upon completion.

Mr. Bonner was the President of the Y Men's Club, a Lifetime Member of Benjamin Barnes YMCA, a former Sports Director for Barnes, and former member of the Barnes Advisory Council. He has spent  twenty plus years serving the Benjamin Barnes YMCA.

In the last two years, he has organized and run basketball and baseball leagues for the YMCA. In 2019, he served nearly 180 kids for FREE. If there's work to be done at the YMCA, Mason Bonner can be found negotiating deals and setting up plans to get it done.

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Other honorees include Rodney Pelt and Paul Rollins, Jr.

They will receive Trailblazer Awards for their work in making sure the families served by the Barnes YMCA could receive food from the Tuscaloosa City Schools their own funds or organized efforts for the community to make sure all 40 kids and staff were fed a hot meal daily for two months.

Mr. Pelt recently spoke with us about his service with the Barnes YMCA.

Much of this can be echoed by Mr. Rollins, who has been a community activist of West Tuscaloosa his entire life.

Recognition of Volunteer Service

Other  community leaders who will be honored for their work with the Barnes YMCA include the following:

Kerri Ash
Pastor Freddie Washington
Ashley Wheat
Danielle Eaton
Shae Byrd
Raytonya Hughes
Bishop L. Spenser Smith
For more information on what they've done to receive such recognition, click here.
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