Employees of the YMCA of Greater Brandywine (YGBW) gathered recently to celebrate their collective achievements and to recognize those with longstanding commitment to the Y's mission. The organization's annual Celebration of Excellence was held at the Mendenhall Inn with a separate celebration held at the Chester County Intermediate Unit for child care staff. Each year, the Celebration of Excellence is held to honor employees who are dedicated to YGBW's mission and help propel the organization forward.

This year's honorees include Dawn Bennett, payroll and benefits administrator for the association; Alde Marshall, custodian at the West Chester Area YMCA; Kristy Cornman, head lifeguard at the West Chester Area YMCA; and Patricia Lebresco, assistant teacher at the Lionville Community YMCA. An additional nine employees were recognized as Employee of the Year at their branch locations, and 13 child care team members received the Character Award.

YGBW also honored employees with a long-standing commitment, recognizing those who have worked for the Y for at least five years. YGBW presented service awards to 47 employees with a collective 500 years of service.

YGBW employs 1,800 full-time and part-time employees across nine branches and program centers and its association office in West Chester. In 2023, YGBW contributed more than $26.3 million back to the Chester County economy through payroll expenses, making it a large employer in the region.

Information about YGBW is available at https://ymcagbw.org/about-us.