LOCAL BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS RALLY WITH THE METROWEST YMCA TO HONOR DAVID MCGILLIVRAY AND CELEBRATE THE Y COMMUNITY AT THE 2018 MARATHON COMMUNITY BREAKFAST

METROWEST YMCA

On Friday, March 16th, over 200 people came together at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center to support the MetroWest YMCA as they kicked off their Annual Campaign, honored David McGillivray with their annual Inspiration Award, and celebrated the work of the community and Y with local business and community leaders.

David Wade from WBZ TV emceed the event, beginning with his own stories of how the Y has had an impact on his life. Senator Karen Spilka, Framingham Mayor Yvonne Spicer and others also shared their own Y experiences and importance of the  involvement of the community, and the shared responsibility to ensure families and children have access to these programs. Senator Spilka noted that “the Y helps children build self-confidence and provides the tools to be strong, healthy adults.”

Grace Senteng, who immigrated to the U.S. in 2015, shared how the Y made the difference for her and her son, providing him an educational and safe place to be -- becoming like a family to him during a time when they both felt alone. 

Then, Team Hoyt, recipients of last year’s inspiration award were present and Dick presented this year’s award to Dave McGillivray. Dave McGillivray can boast of numerous physical accomplishments, including having recently completed seven marathons, in seven days, in seven continents. However, it is his determination and motivation to grow, morally, ethically, spiritually inside that showed why he was the recipient of the inspiration award. Putting actions to his beliefs, over the years, McGillivray has logged more than 150,000 miles, most for charity, raising millions for worthy causes.

The celebration ended with Y CEO & President, Richard A. MacPherson offering his gratitude for the support of the community, who help make stories like Grace’s possible, the Y’s vision, and the importance of the life-changing work of the MetroWest YMCA. Photos where then taken with the 2018 MetroWest YMCA Boston Marathon Charity team along with Rick and Dick Hoyt, David Wade and Dave McGillivray.

The funds raised through this event go to the Y’s Annual Campaign which provides financial assistance for summer camp and other YMCA programs such as LIVESTRONG at the YMCA for cancer survivors, and its High Flight program for at-risk teens, so families and individuals can access these life-changes services regardless of ability to pay.