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Honored
Betty Hale was recently awarded the YMCA Distinguished Leadership Award. At left is Harold Sparrow, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Hartford and on the right is Amanda Kelly, executive director of Hale YMCA Youth and Family Center. Courtesy photo.
The 2020 Robert C. Knox Jr. YMCA Distinguished Leadership Award recipient Betty Hale is a tireless advocate for residents of northeastern Connecticut and the driving force behind getting the Hale YMCA Youth and Family Center built. She envisioned a community center where families could participate in healthy activities in a supportive environment and through her passionate work, this vision has become a reality. Her continuing commitment to the Y and the communities it serves is the reason she was selected to receive the YMCA of Greater Hartford’s most prestigious award.
Harold Sparrow, president and CEO, YMCA of Greater Hartford, presented the award, the highest honor the YMCA of Greater Hartford pays to its volunteer leaders who exemplify the ideals of the non-profit and their dedication to preserving the responsibilities and opportunities the Y has to offer.
“For Betty, philanthropy has always been about helping her community. Betty’s leadership, vision, and philanthropic investments led to the construction of the Hale YMCA Youth & Family Center, the first full-service YMCA to serve northeastern Connecticut. Betty is a leader and influencer. One could easily argue that it took a village to build the Hale YMCA, and Betty was the mayor of that village.
“Betty has been an exemplary volunteer, philanthropist, visionary, and dedicated member of our Y community. It is with huge gratitude that we honor her passionate work with this distinguished award for the impact she’s had the Northeast Connecticut community and the Hale YMCA.” said Sparrow.
At 91, Betty shows no signs of slowing down and is still actively involved in looking for new ways the Y can help the community. One successful program Betty champions offers free swim lessons to all second grade children in Putnam and she is an advocate for expanding accessibility to summer day camps and classes to help students and families succeed.
“I deeply appreciate receiving this award,” said Betty. “To help promote the arts, culture, and healthy living opportunities for children, families and seniors is important to me. There are always more needs in the community that come up that by working together the Y can help meet.”
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