The YMCA of Metuchen, Edison, Woodbridge & South Amboy announced the John Malinowski Youth Employee Award recipients at their Annual Dinner held on May 2, 2018. The Malinowski Award is named after John G. Malinowski, former Metuchen YMCA Director who dedicated his life to service within his community and the younger generation. This award is presented to one outstanding youth employee at each YMCA Branch and Child Care Services who demonstrate outstanding job performance and initiative, often going above and beyond basic requirements of their position to get the job done.
The award winners for 2018 are:
Gio Spataro is the recipient of the John Malinowski Youth Employee Award for the South Amboy YMCA. He has worked at the Y since he was 17 years old, holding many different positions and recently obtaining his Personal Training certification.
Jillian Dela Cruz is the recipient of the John Malinowski Youth Employee Award for the Metuchen YMCA. Jillian has been swimming at the Y for 16 years, eventually joining the MEY swim team in 2003 and becoming a swimming instructor, where she has a passion for teaching children how to succeed in the water.
Sam Marshall is the recipient of the John Malinowski Youth Employee Award for the Edison YMCA. Sam began his career as a Wellness staff member which led to him obtaining his Personal Training certification, allowing him to do his best for the community.
Samantha Brannigan is the recipient of the John Malinowski Youth Employee Award for Child Care Services. Sam started as a Teacher’s Assistant at the Woodbridge Early Learning Center Preschool classroom in 2015 and worked her way up to become the Administrative Assistant for the program, where she has proven to be an invaluable asset to the program.
“Being named a Malinowski award recipient is a great honor”, said Rose Cushing, President & CEO of the YMCA of MEWSA. “These individuals demonstrate a strong commitment to the Y and exemplify the YMCA core values of honesty, respect, caring and responsibility, and serve as positive role models for other youth. They can be very proud of themselves.”
The recipients have shared their YMCA stories through brief videos that can be viewed on the YMCA website at http://www.ymcaofmewsa.org/giving/malinowski-winners-2018.
