|
WEST
SENECA, New York. (September
21, 2006) - Barbara Tobias has boundless
energy and a strong desire to do
everything possible to make a youngster's
time playing hockey a worthwhile,
fun and positive experience for
the athlete as well as for their
family. This West Seneca, NY native
works full time and is a dedicated
wife, mother of three hockey players
and the adopted mom to a whole team
of boys and their siblings.
For
this untiring volunteerism, valued
organizational skills, humble work
ethic, and the ability to motivate
others within the hockey league
and her New York community, Barbara
Tobias has been recognized by the
National Council of Youth Sports
(NCYS) as the 2006 Hershey's STRIVE
Volunteer of the Year.
"Her
dedication and devotion isn't just
to certain aspects of the West Seneca
Youth Hockey Association, she plays
no favorites," says nominator
Marcy Pakulski. "Whether you
are nine or nineteen, you can bet
that when you look back over your
hockey career at West Seneca-no
matter how short or how long-Barbara
Tobias played an active role in
your experience. She instills a
love for sports and creates great
memories for boys and girls and
their families that will last forever."
Tobias
serves the West Seneca Youth Hockey
Association in a variety of ways.
She is the association registrar,
travel team manager, Booster Club
president, board member, as well
as the voice of the hockey moms!
STRIVE
stands for Sports Teach Respect,
Initiative, Values and Excellence
and the award honors adult leaders
for their "heartfelt passion,
enthusiastic commitment and contagious
spirit to help kids succeed in youth
sports activities." This year,
NCYS will present Hershey's STRIVE
Awards to one national administrator,
one local administrator, one volunteer
and one coach. Honorees were nominated
by team members, parents or colleagues
and judged by a panel of NCYS officials.
Sally
S. Johnson, NCYS Executive Director,
noted that the lack of recognition
given to outstanding adult leaders
involved in youth sports prompted
the NCYS to create the awards.
"We
felt it was time to honor America's
hometown heroes on a larger stage
and to give them the praise they
deserve," Johnson said. "Many
of these individuals devote countless
hours each week, all while juggling
full-time careers, families, and
other commitments."
Tobias
will be honored on Sunday, October
22nd during Hockeypalooza at the
West Seneca Ice Rink. The STRIVE
event is hosted by the NCYS and
The Hershey Company. During the
celebration, Tobias will receive
a check for $2,500, which she has
announced will be donated to the
West Seneca Youth Hockey Association.
Other STRIVE winners
In
addition to Volunteer of the Year,
the three other STRIVE Award winners
for National Administrator, Local
Administrator and Coach include:
Jon
Butler, Executive Director of Pop
Warner Little Scholars, was selected
as the Hershey's STRIVE National
Administrator of the Year. Butler
has led this national youth football,
cheer and dance organization in
setting high standards for academic
and athletic achievement. He is
a strong proponent that young athletes
can excel both on the playing field
and in the classroom. Pop Warner
Little Scholars is the largest youth
football, cheerleading & dance
program in the United States. More
than 360,000 young people (ages
5-16), 37,000 coaches and one million
parents and volunteers are involved
in the program in 41 states and
several countries. Pop Warner is
the only national youth sports organization
that requires minimum scholastic
achievement to participate.
Neil
Parmenter of Des Moines, Iowa was
selected as the Hershey's STRIVE
Local Youth Sports Administrator
of the Year. For more than three
decades, Neil Parmenter has given
countless volunteer hours to youth
athletics. He has served as coach,
board member, officer, player agent,
tournament director, commissioner,
volunteer, and administrator for
multiple sports including the Beaverdale
Little League, the Parochial Football
League, and the Iowa and national
Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). The
father of eight children, Parmenter
has fulfilled about every volunteer
position in connection with ice
hockey, swimming, soccer, softball,
water polo, golf, baseball, football,
and basketball programs. His supporters
say, "For Neil youth sports
are a labor of love."
Cindi
Hart of Indianapolis, Indiana was
selected the Hershey's STRIVE Coach
of the Year for her commitment to
the IndySpeed Sports Club and the
Special Olympics Indiana. Against
all odds, and through breast cancer
treatment, Hart continued to coach
and compete as an athlete while
teaching her speed skaters and cyclists
that "all obstacles can be
overcome" with a positive attitude,
attainable goal setting, courage
and resilience through adversity.
Hart's expertise and ability to
bring out the best in her student
athletes has taught athletes of
all levels the life skills of compassion,
perseverance and discipline.
# # #
EDITOR'S NOTE: For more information
about Barbara Tobias, the Hershey's
STRIVE Award or NCYS, please contact
Sally S. Johnson, NCYS Executive
Director at
772-781-1452 or youthsports@ncys.org.
ABOUT
The NCYS:
The
National Council of Youth Sports
(NCYS) comprises the who's who in
the youth sports industry. Its membership
represents more than 180 organizations/corporations
serving 52 million boys and girls
participating in organized youth
sports throughout the United States.
NCYS members include organizations
such as: Little League Baseball,
Pop Warner Football, American Youth
Soccer Association, United States
Olympic Committee, and Boys &
Girls Clubs of America. To learn
more about the NCYS visit www.ncys.org.
ABOUT The Hershey Company:
The
Hershey Company has long offered
successful fundraising programs
for youth in America. Its sponsorship
of the STRIVE Awards stems from
The Hershey Company's devotion to
helping children of all ages to
"Dream, Reach and Succeed"
in everything that they do. For
more information about The Hershey
Company and its fundraising programs,
visit www.hersheysfundraising.com.
|
Hershey’s
STRIVE Award gives us something
positive to shout about!
Hershey’s sponsorship
of STRIVE stems from the
company’s devotion
to helping children of ages
Dream, Reach and Succeed
in everything they do. On
display is Tobias’s
STRIVE trophy, a check for
$2,500, megaphones, and
lots of Hershey candy!
Sally
Johnson, Executive Director
of the National Council
of Youth Sports (right)
presents Barbara Tobias
(left) her award trophy
as the NCYS’ Hershey’s
STRIVE Award’s National
Volunteer of the Year during
West Seneca New York’s
Hockeypalooza!
It’s
all smiles around the ice
ink as Councilwoman Christina
Wleklinski Bove (right)
and Barbara Tobias (left)
reach high in celebration
for volunteerism!
A
hometown event for a hometown
hero. The community rallied
around to catch a glimpse
of Barbara Tobias winning
her award. Tobias works
full time, is a dedicated
wife, mother of three hockey
players, adopted mom to
a whole team of boys and
their siblings!
West
Seneca Youth Hockey Association’s
Past President Gary Bensman
leads the way as MC. The
youth hockey program is
100% volunteer and serves
as a model program for children
of all ages.
The kids are
all eyes and ears and ready
to shout loud and proud
to the voice of the hockey
moms “Barbara, Barbara,
Barbara!”
Barbara’s
nominator Marcy Pakulski
(left) is quite the dynamic
force of get-up-and-go herself!
She boasts of Barbara, “whether
you are nine or nineteen,
you can bet that when you
look back over your hockey
career at West Seneca, Barbara
played an active role in
creating great memories
for boys and girls and their
families that will last
forever.
The West Seneca
athletes listen attentively
to how Tobias’ boundless
energy and strong desire
to do everything possible
to make a youngster’s
time playing hockey a worthwhile,
fun and positive experience
for the athletes as well
as for their families.
Talk about creativity! This
is a cake to imaginative
to eat. STRIVE stands for
Sports Teach, Respect, Initiative,
Values and Excellence.
When it comes to growing
athletes there is never
enough food! The line seemed
never-ending as hundreds
of youngsters gobbled down
a great meal following the
STRIVE presentation and
the unveiling of their new
hockey uniforms.
Pizza, mozzarella sticks,
soda pop, and oh did we
mention the BUFFALO wings!!!
Barbara Tobias’ son
looks out over the ice hockey
rink in his brand new uniform.
At the end of the day, it’s
all about Hershey’s
motto to Dream, Reach and
Succeed.
|
|
