Joanne O. Kline, MA, Founding Executive Director and Program Associate, of VNA; Bob Gallagher, CEO of North Penn YMCA; Diana Loukedis Doherty MA, Executive Director of VNA; and Nancy Becker, Board of Directors of North Penn YMCA. (Credit: North Penn YCMA)
Two women awarded for roles with nonprofit
The North Penn YMCA recently hosted its annual Community Leaders Breakfast at Schwenckfeld Manor in Towamencin Township where their Community Leader Award was presented to Executive Director Diana Doherty of the VNA Foundation of Greater North Penn and to Joanne O. Kline, founder of the foundation and current program director.
The event featured guest speaker David Erenius, chief of the North Wales Borough Police Department and president of the board for the YMCA Police Athletic League Program.
The VNA Foundation under the leadership of Diana Doherty is a private grant-making foundation that invests in nonprofit organizations strengthening the health and well-being of people in the greater North Penn region of Montgomery County.
The pillars of their philanthropic approach are Health Access, Basic Health Needs, Collaboration and Capacity Building.
Joanne Kline, who also was recognized, served for five years as the VNA Foundation’s first executive director, solely staffing the organization at its founding in 2014.
Since then, she has served the foundation as a consultant in the program associate role and serves on non-profit boards as well as previously working for the county.
“At the breakfast each year, the YMCA recognizes leaders of impactful work that strengthen the community,” commented Robert Gallagher, CEO of North Penn YMCA. “We are proud to honor Diana and Joanne, and are grateful for the work they have done to improve the health and wellness of the greater North Penn area.”
Special guest speaker, North Wales police Chief David Erenius, spoke about the importance of PAL in the North Penn area. He related how the YMCA is proud to offer the program that utilizes educational, athletic and recreational activities to build trust between the police and youth in the community. Activities are coordinated through the joint efforts of the Hatfield, Lansdale, Montgomery Township, North Wales, Towamencin and Upper Gwynedd police departments.
“The North Penn PAL Program is more than just a crime prevention initiative,” continued Gallagher. “When we connect the youth of our community to law enforcement in a positive, healthy, fun environment, we create bonds of trust between kids and the officers who are sworn to protect and serve them. I thank Chief Erenius for speaking about the program, and I appreciate all our local police departments for their commitment to this program.”
The North Penn YMCA brings leaders like Doherty, Kline and Erenius together with local, county and state elected officials, police departments, business leaders, school board members, non-profit executives and YMCA donors to the breakfast each year to thank them for their service to the community. To learn more about the Y and its programs, visit northpennymca.org.
