EAST BRUNSWICK – To celebrate its 150th anniversary, the Raritan Valley YMCA honored those who are integral to its mission during a recent gala.
Preeti Srivastava, Cathy Diem and Scott Thompson were recognized for their youth development, social responsibility and healthy living practices, respectively, during a celebration at the State Theatre New Brunswick on Jan. 25.
Srivastava joined the Y in 2006 as a kindergarten teacher. She became the early childhood director before assuming her current role as senior program director, according to information provided from the Y.
She has implemented many of the curricula in place today, including the Coordinated Approach to Children’s Health (CATCH), Grow NJ Kids and NAYCE, according to the statement.
After joining the YMCA in the late ’90s, Diem’s family began to participate in YMCA family and youth programming, according to the statement. She soon received an invitation to join the YMCA Facility Exploratory Committee before ultimately serving as chair.
Diem helped with the development and opening of the YMCA Family Program Center in East Brunswick, working with Sen. Barbara Buono to secure $3.4 million from the Casino Redevelopment Authority Grant to fund a large portion of the Tices Lane facility.
Thompson grew up in North Brunswick and graduated from North Brunswick Township High School where he was a four-year varsity swim team member and a varsity tennis team member.
He has been a Y swim coach for most of the last 31 years. He started the boys swim team at the Central Jersey Y in New Brunswick in 1986. He was a member of the Raritan Valley YMCA Board of Directors for a number of years and helped the YMCA during the Tices Lane building construction project and its move from the Dunhams Corner Road facility, according to the statement.
In 2010, Thompson was honored by the United Way as a Hometown Hero for being an outstanding volunteer.
The Y will continue its celebration of 150 years with Spin-a-thon on March 24 that will also kick off its annual support campaign.
For more information, visit www.raritanvalleyymca.org or call 732-257-4114.
