YWCA Recognizes Community Leaders

The Salt Lake YWCA praised the volunteers, friends and employees of YWCA, and recognized local leaders at the annual LeaderLuncheon on Sept. 21.

“Our advocacy for women and social justice is a beacon of hope,” said Colette Herrick, president of the YWCA Board of Directors. “… When you give of your time, when you give of your resources, you are saying you are deeply committed to the mission of the YWCA.”

Herrick said she looks forward to the luncheon every year because she is inspired and re-energized by hearing the stories of people doing good in the community.

Those stories come from the Outstanding Achievement Awards given to those in the community whose actions and contributions are in the spirit of the YWCA’s mission to eradicate racism and empower women.

Brenda Joyce Burrell, the award winner in the education category, told a story of pioneers going up a hill and the leader said those coming with them should get out and push. Burrell said she has been pushed to do more and do better by many people in her life and continues to push herself to give and help more.

“Do it. Today. Get out and push,” Burrell said, encouraging others to push themselves and those around them.

Business honoree, Natalie Gochnour, said her mother helped her aim high and push herself.

“My mother taught me to focus, not on what the world is, but what it should be,” she said.

The Salt Lake YWCA also gave an Honorary Outstanding Achievement Award to a man for the first time in the history of the awards. YWCA CEO Anne Burkholder said Boyer Jarvis’s work embodies the values of the YWCA

Jarvis said throughout his career he worked with many strong women leaders, but that he was most “profoundly indebted” to his wife, Pat. He said without her help he would never have qualified for this very special honor.

Full list of honorees and the category in which they won:

Brenda Joyce Burrell, Education
Norma Carr, Sports/Athletics
Natalie Gochnour, Business
Elizabeth S. Hunter, Human Services
Leigh Neumayer, Medicine/Health
Boyer Jarvis, Honorary Outstanding Achievement Award