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Tuesday, May 12, 2026
7:00 AM Check-in & Buffet Opens | 7:30- 9 AM Program
DoubleTree by Hilton Reading
701 Penn Street, Reading, Pa. 19601
Validated Parking in DoubleTree Garage
Attend the Breakfast
For Y Annual Support Partners, seats are included in sponsor levels. For individual seats, we suggest a minimum donation of $100/seat.
We’re counting the days!
Celebrate the Impact. Invest in the Future.
Join us for our Breakfast of Champions for Youth, a morning dedicated to celebrating the leaders, volunteers, partners, and young people who embody the Y’s values and mission.
This signature event highlights the impact of our programs, the stories that inspire us, and the champions who help move our mission forward.
2026 Breakfast of Champions Honorees
- Richard Palmer, Sr. Wealth & Wisdom Award: Wynton Butler
- James Sternbergh Faith & Guidance Award: Dr. Susan Looney, Reading Area Community College
- Jere Edwards Spirit of Youth Award: Doug Dahms, Wilson High School
- Red Triangle Awards: Barry Schlouch, Schlouch Incorporated | Mid Penn Bank
- Eugene Shirk Youth Leadership Award: Beloved Lenora Pair
Legacy Fueled by Purpose
We appreciate the annual support and sponsorships of our community business partners as well as individual donors who support the mission of our Y.
Fueled by purpose and passion, the Y provides programs that build confidence, develop skills, and create opportunities for people of all ages, races and beliefs. Together, we can build a legacy of lasting community impact learning, and connection.
list / add logos of sponsors here with this copy above it.
Y Mission Moments
Behind every YMCA program is a story of growth, opportunity, and impact. Mission Moments highlight how the lives of these individuals and their families were changed through the Y’s work.
Read these relatable stories and see the difference your support makes.
A Look Back
Each year, we look forward to gathering with community leaders and supporters for an uplifting morning to honor those who help shape brighter futures for youth in Berks County, and reflect on the positive impact of our supportive community. Here are some of our favorite moments from the last Breakfast of Champions.
Acknowledging Our Past Honorees
Craig Poole
John Muir
Mark Rozzi
Christopher Fransisco-Martinez
Dorothy Haas Charitable Trust
Customers Bank
East Penn Manufacturing
Robert Kerper
Anita Chaney
Christine Wullert
Richard Palmer
Janice Miller
Michael O’Pake
Jay Sidhu
Albert Boscov
Severin Fayerman
Ned Diefenderfer
Joanne M. Judge
William Buckholz
P. Michael Ehlerman
Christopher Pruitt
Carl Herbein
Bruce Smith
Daniel Huyett
Hamid Chaudhry
Craig Poole
John Gallen, Jr.
Dick Ehst
James Boscov
Michael Duff
Thank you to our sponsors for giving generously to the
2024 Breakfast of Champions for Youth
Dorothy M Haas Charitable Trust
Customers Bank
M&T Bank
Precor
Barley Snyder
Comcast
East Penn Manufacturing Company
Herbein + Company, Inc.
Kozloff Stoudt
EHD, Inc.
EthoSource, LLC
Keystone Instant Printing
Penn State Health, St. Joseph’s Medical Center
Burkey Construction Company
Fulton Bank
Greater Reading Chamber Alliance
Gulati Family Foundation
Penske Truck Leasing Company
Reading School District
Smith | Bukowski
Stevens & Lee/Griffin Financial
UGI Energy Services Inc.
Alarm Tech Systems, Inc.
First Energy
Reading Health Systems/ Tower Health
Weik Capital Management
Alvernia University
Anita & Robert Chaney
Clements Associates, Inc.
Hubric Resources
Mid Penn Bank
Solve IT Solutions LLC
Gage Personnel
Reading Area Community College
South Mountain YMCA Camps
Penn State Berks
Breidegam Family Foundation
Champion for Youth 2024 Honorees
Richard Palmer was a dedicated volunteer and board member of the YMCA of Reading & Berks County that led the efforts to bring the Reading YMCA back to its former glory after the 1985 fire that devastated the building.
Craig Poole
Thank you for your gifts of wealth & wisdom you use every day to uplift our community. You have reinvigorated Greater Reading through big ideas, collaborative approach, and genuine heart to help others succeed.
James Sternbergh rebooted the YMCA after the Civil War and put the Y in a position to maintain its presence in the community.
John Muir
Thank you for your unrelenting faith and unwavering guidance, which are an inspiration to those who have the privilege of working beside you. Your passion to make a difference and laser focus on achieving great things for those in our community are a blessing to us all.
Robert Miller formed the USO at the Y during WWII to support soldiers stationed at Hopewell. Together, Robert and Rosemarie were the founding partners of our international work.
Mark Rozzi
Thank you for your deep commitment and active role in our community. Through your everyday efforts, you improve the quality of life in Berks County. From your work on education and safety for youth to inclusion and equality for adults, you embody the core values of the Y.
Recognizing an outstanding young leader who has shown initiative, creativity, and resilience in driving positive change and inspiring those around them, helping to improve their community.
Christopher Fransisco-Martinez
The Y is proud of your impressive qualities of leadership, and encourages you to keep reaching for new heights. We recognize you for your exceptional potential, emerging talents, and exemplary character you demonstrate, which inspires others to achieve greatness.
Largely credited for the Y headquarters in Reading, James “Jere” Edwards served as General Secretary 1889-1933. By creating a central branch, he created a space where youth were well served.
Richard Auman & Dorthy Haas Charitable Trust
Thank you for your deep commitment and active role in our community. Through your everyday efforts, you improve the quality of life in Berks County. From your work on education and safety for youth to inclusion and equality for adults, you embody the core values of the Y.
The Red Triangle Award represents the rich historic legacy and successes that the Y has had in helping its communities for more than a century. The original logo used the red triangle, the strongest geometric shape, to symbolize strength of the mind, body and spirit.
Customers Bank & East Penn Manufacturing
In appreciation of your generous spirit and contributions to the YMCA of Reading & Berks County that allow us to maintain programs and services that make individuals and families stronger, and in turn, build a stronger community for us all.