At the 2024 Treasure Valley Family YMCA Annual Meeting, we were thrilled to announce the winners of the Service to Youth and Vern Emery awards and to honor 5 accomplished and philanthropic members of our Y community who have made significant contributions to the Y.
This year we are pleased to tell you about four remarkable YMCA champions whose talents and energies have helped our Y grow and thrive.
Service to Youth Award Honoree Kelci Lucier
Kelci Lucier makes a true difference in our community. Since joining the Y board of directors she has served on and as chair of the Strategy and Community Planning Committee and served on the Governance Committee and Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. Most recently she agreed to again chair Strategy and Community Planning to bring forward her work on the Y’s Strategic Plan which guides the organization today, and guide the direction of the Strategic Plan refresh next year.
In addition to the formal leadership roles Kelci has held, she is always there to support and be involved in representing the Y at festivals, helping with crucial communication, and even distributing food during the pandemic. Her many contributions have resulted in helping the Y enroll 1 in 4 children across the valley in one or more YMCA programs.
Service to Youth Award Honoree Kris Ormseth
Kris Ormseth served as a loyal and involved board member from 2008–2017, the nine-year maximum term, at least according to the by-laws that he has helped our organization adopt. He has exhibited fidelity to the vision of the Y in our valley and has provided helpful counsel and guidance from his chair on the Strategy and Community Planning Committee.
Some of the Y’s most notable accomplishments have occurred with Kris’s contribution including the adoption of two strategic plans, undertaking the South Meridian Y project, and setting the stage for the new CapEd Downtown Boise Y.
Kris continues to be a valuable member of the YMCA Board Governance Committee and is deeply appreciated for his keen business sense and governance expertise. Our Board of Directors benefits each year, gaining confidence and practical know-how from Kris’s tutelage on the fiduciary duties of loyalty, care, and obedience. Kris’s contributions are a primary reason the YMCA Board of Directors is recognized as one of the best non-profit boards in the community.
Service to Youth Award Honoree Jim Chalfant
Jim Chalfant is a teacher, a leader, an incredible donor, and a visionary. It is one of Jim’s ideas that created the vision to include financial literacy and budget counseling as part of the core services of the new CapEd Downtown Boise YMCA. He has been a member of the Finance Committee, and Board Governance Committee, and has even chaired the Board of Directors.
Jim’s leadership has been instrumental as we have been on the path of narrowing our critical path that will end at our destination of a new Downtown Y. He led our board for two years when the number of unknowns was greatest, has served on the Leadership Gifts Committee, and has contributed significantly to making sure this dream project becomes a reality. And, we are proud to announce that the lobby and gathering place at the CapEd Downtown Boise YMCA will be named in recognition of Jim and Gayle Chalfant.
Service to Youth Award Honoree Kathy Lee
In the many roles Kathy has held as a Y volunteer, her focus has helped us develop stronger partnerships and she’s brought practical insights from the medical community. This guidance has been valuable during her service on the Healthy Living Program committee as we built our programs to serve neuro-diverse populations, and those living with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and cancer.
Her focus on execution was apparent as she served on and chaired the Advisory Committee of the Downtown Y branch. Her vision for what is possible for all people is evidenced by her tireless work raising funds for the YMCA Annual Campaign. She embraces the vision for the new Downtown Y and has been a member of the Major Gifts Committee for the Downtown Capital Campaign.
2024 Vern Emery Award Winner Theresa Madrid
The annual Vern Emery Award is given to a previous service to youth award winner who has continued serving their community through work with the Y.
Vern Emery was this organization’s leader when we opened the “new Y” in Downtown Boise in the late ’60s. He founded a legacy that carries on today through all of us. Every year, the YMCA gives an award in Vern’s memory to an extraordinary volunteer who has made a long-term commitment to the Treasure Valley Family YMCA and whose influence has helped us meet the many, diverse needs in our community.
This year’s Vern Emery Award winner was Theresa Madrid.
Congratulations to all these incredible award winners and thank you for your service to the Y.
