Community Champions: Local Rotary Clubs Support and Honor Youth Challenge

When Youth Challenge Executive Director Mary Sue Tanis received the Rotary Lifetime Achievement Award Saturday, she immediately posed for a photo with volunteers Sam Weiss and Adam Philipps along with client Jaylin Washington. “This award is really about them,” said Mary Sue.

When Youth Challenge Executive Director Mary Sue Tanis received the Rotary Lifetime Achievement Award Saturday, she immediately posed for a photo with volunteers Sam Weiss and Adam Philipps along with client Jaylin Washington. “This award is really about them,” said Mary Sue.

Representatives of five local Rotary Clubs gathered at Youth Challenge to present a check for $5,000 and to honor Founder & Executive Director, Mary Sue Tanis, with a Lifetime Achievement Award on Sat., Feb. 4.

Members from the West Shore Rotary Club (Fairview Park, North Olmsted and West Park), the Rotary Club of Lakewood and Rocky River (Sunrise and Noon), the Rotary Club of Westlake-Bay Village, and the Rotary Club of North Ridgeville provided lunch, presented a short program and hung out with participants and teen volunteers from YC’s Krazy Kamp program.

On hand to present a check for $5000 in support of YC’s transportation program were Dan Fronczak, West Shore Rotary, coordinator of Saturday’s event, Chris Garr, YC Director of Pro-gram Services, Ken Kasler, YC Chief of Operations & Program Oversight, Mary Sue Tanis YC Founder & Executive Director, and Tom Eble President of the West Shore Rotary Foundation.

On hand to present a check for $5000 in support of YC’s transportation program were Dan Fronczak, West Shore Rotary, coordinator of Saturday’s event, Chris Garr, YC Director of Pro-gram Services, Ken Kasler, YC Chief of Operations & Program Oversight, Mary Sue Tanis YC Founder & Executive Director, and Tom Eble President of the West Shore Rotary Foundation.

youth-challenge-40th_rgbThe generous donation will help fund YC’s transportation program. Youth Challenge owns a fleet of lift-equipped vans that are used to transport participants to and from activities. In 2016, YC provided over 5,500 free rides for participants.

Youth Challenge is a Northeast Ohio nonprofit that brings together young people with physical disabilities and teen volunteers who inspire each other through adapted sports, recreation and social growth activities. YC has offices in Westlake and Shaker Heights and offers free programming and transportation to participants in an eight county area of Northeast Ohio.