YMCA Honors Dr. King's Legacy at 35th Memorial Breakfast

The YMCA of Greater Monmouth County brought together a record audience of over 420 community leaders, students and residents to pay tribute to visionary civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at its 35th memorial breakfast on Jan. 12 at the Ocean Place Resort and Spa in Long Branch.

“Thirty-five years is no small feat,” said Michael A. Wright, chief volunteer officer of the Y and chairperson of the MLK advisory committee. “I am proud to have seen this event grow year over year into something that channels the spirit of collaborative change inspired by Dr. King and sustained through the activism and sacrifices that followed him.”

The annual event honored three individuals carrying on Dr. King’s social justice mission in central New Jersey and celebrated the winners of the Y’s annual Dr. King essay contest, which was open to all high school students in greater Monmouth County to encourage civic engagement.

“Social responsibility is deeply ingrained in our YMCA,” remarked Y President and CEO Laurie Goganzer. “In fact, this year we’re celebrating our 150th anniversary of creating positive change for generations of people of all ages, incomes, beliefs and backgrounds across greater Monmouth County.”

National equity, diversity and inclusion champion Maysa Akbar, Ph.D., the chief diversity officer and chief of psychology in the public interest at the American Psychological Association, was the featured speaker and encouraged the audience to define their own legacy and “change the world.”

Essay winners Anika Samir Ajganonkar, of Holmdel, a senior at Biotechnology High School in Freehold, and Madelyn Sanchez-Berra, of Red Bank, a senior at Red Bank Regional High School, received standing ovations for their essays recounting how they stood up to discrimination in their communities and gained strength from their experiences.

Both students were each awarded a $3,000 academic scholarship sponsored by Hackensack Meridian Health, the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, New Jersey Natural Gas, Porter Plus Reality and the VNA Health Group. The scholarships ballooned to $9,000 with two surprise $3,000 matches announced during the breakfast from Y board member Latonya Brennan and her husband, Tim, and from keynote speaker Akbar.

The Y honored the following changemakers for their contributions to social justice and community empowerment:

Suzanne Dyer, of Summit, was presented with the YMCA MLK Human Dignity Award. She is executive director of the Parker Family Health Center in Red Bank, a nonprofit clinic that provides free health care to uninsured Monmouth County residents. She is co-chairperson of the Greater Newark Conservancy Board of Directors, and serves on the Borden Foundation Board of Directors, the Red Bank Family YMCA Advisory Council, the Planning Committee of the National Association of Free Clinic, and the Leadership Council of the Monmouth/Ocean Health Alliance. She also has served as an assistant United States attorney in the district of New Jersey.

Ritesh Shah Charitable Pharmacy, founded by pharmacist Ritesh Shah of Freehold, received the YMCA Social Responsibility Award. Located in Red Bank, the pharmacy offers prescription medications, immunizations, health information and other pharmacy services free of charge to those who need it the most. Shah, who is the chief executive officer and managing partner of Legacy Pharmacy Group, said he and his wife, Asha, opened the pharmacy in memory of his sister who passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kelly Ellis-Foster, of Old Bridge, was acknowledged with the YMCA Togetherhood® Champion Award for her longtime commitment to volunteer work in her community and at the YMCA where she serves as the Togetherhood liaison. The Togetherhood initiative was introduced at the Y’s Dr. King breakfast four years ago to give volunteers opportunities to take action for social good.

Goganzer said she was pleased with the record turnout at this year’s MLK breakfast, and especially with the scores of students who attended to help mark Dr. King’s indelible legacy. “It’s inspiring for our young people to be a part of this community celebration and to continue to carry out Dr. King’s mission to serve and help make a positive impact in their schools and communities,” she said.

The program included an invocation from Pastor Terrence Porter, Pilgrim Baptist Church, Red Bank; student essay introductions from Tom Hayes of New Jersey Natural Gas and Samara O’Neill, a Y board member and owner of Porter Plus Realty; and keynote introduction from Y board member Pamela Scott-Johnson, Ph.D., provost and vice president of Academic Affairs at Spelman College. Award recipients were introduced by past recipients the Rev. Kerwin Webb, of Martin Luther King, Jr. Presbyterian Church, Neptune; Senator Vin Gopal; and Y board member Itzel Hernandez.

Members of the MLK planning committee, in addition to Wright, of Sieden Krieger, were: Brennan, of Arthur J. Gallagher; Natasha Davis, VNA Health Group; Maria Diaz, New Jersey Resources; Lori Ferguson, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield; Hayes; Darryl Hughes, Hackensack Meridian Health; Loryn Lawson, Byrnes, O’Hern & Heugle; Gwendolyn Love, Lunch Break; Gilda Rogers, T. Thomas Fortune Foundation; and the Rev. Sparks. Y board members included Sue Harbison, of HABcore, Hernandez, of American Friends Services, O’Neill, and Scott-Johnson. Rounding out the committee were Y team members Gogazner, Teicia Gaupp, Pam Hearn, Stacey Lastella, Josh Reed, Jo Ann Rountree, and Kim Saldida.

In addition to the essay contests sponsors, the following businesses and organizations supported the event: Lyons & Associates, P.C., Gallagher, NJ Leaf, PNC Private Bank, Tomoro, the United Methodist Church, OceanFirst, Chhange, Monmouth County Diversity Alliance, Inc., Lunch Break, Sunrise Optimist Club, and Tasha Youngblood-Brown.

About YMCA of Greater Monmouth County
YMCA of Greater Monmouth County is here for all – to empower youth and teens, improve health and strengthen community. Over the past five years, our Y has provided more than $5 million in financial assistance and subsidies to Y participants throughout greater Monmouth County. Our life-changing programs and services are anchored in eight communities: health and wellness facilities in Freehold Township, Old Bridge and Red Bank; an outdoor day camp in Wall; counseling and social service centers in Eatontown, Matawan and Middletown; a childcare center in Freehold Township; and integrated in over 100 schools in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Named a New Jersey Top Workplace in 2023 and 2022 by New Jersey Advance Media, we’re based in Shrewsbury, NJ. Learn more at www.ymcanj.org.