YMCA Honors Southington Service Leaders
- Philip Thibodeau
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Once a year, the Southington-Cheshire YMCA bestows five awards on individuals or groups who have done exceptional work to improve our community.
On Thursday, Bethany Rosin, President of the Y’s Board of Directors, and Y CEO Mark Pooler, stood up before a crowd in the lobby of the building downtown to announce the winners.
Youth Leadership: Emily Bafuma And Ava LeBlanc
Two high school students were presented with the Youth Leadership Award: Emily Bafuma and Ava LeBlanc.
Bafuma is a staff member at the YMCA and an accomplished soccer player, whose achievements on and off the field have recently been highlighted by the Outsider. This coming fall she will be attending Roger Williams College in Rhode Island.
LeBlanc participates in the Key Club, Choirs, and has been an active member of the local STEPS drug-abuse prevention program.
“It just means so much,” LeBlanc said of the award, “to be a role model for youth, and a leader, and an advocate who people look to.”
Of STEPS she said, “It really is the support system for our community. We are showing up as a community when people need it most. When they misuse substances, then there is someone to show up for them. It doesn’t mean you’re not a person. We’re there for you, to make a connection.”
Youth Development: SHS Marching Band And Color Guard
The Youth Development Award went to the SHS Blue Knights Marching Band and Color Guard. The reasons for the choice, Pooler said, were twofold:
“The SHS Blue Knights Marching Band and Color Guard is one of the largest and most accomplished teams in town, in the state and in the nation. They are a group of students and supporters that have been extremely successful for many years. In fact, this year’s Marching Band placed first at States and second overall at Nationals, and the Color Guard was named Best Guard and Best Overall Performance at Nationals.”
“While those accomplishments are impressive and we are all proud of them, the reason they are receiving the Youth Development Award is more about what they do for our youth on a day-to-day basis. There are just under 100 members of this team who are committed to a common cause, learning teamwork skills, dedicated to practice, practice and more practice. These teens are being taught what it means to set goals, work hard, work together, be leaders and supporters and the true meaning of community.”
Receiving the award on behalf of the Band and Color Guard was band Director Sara Ossias, who commented, “The biggest takeaway from this is how kids learn to work together. Our staff is really good at taking it one step at a time to make sure the kids understand and create a product we can all be proud of at the end.”
Healthy Living: Center for Healthy Aging
This year's Healthy Living Award went to the Hartford Healthcare Center for Healthy Aging (CHA). Now in its 21st year, the CHA supports residents as they age and offers resources to families – for free. The team at the Center consists of a professional dementia specialist, Patty O’Brian, resource coordinator Michelle Lavoie, and transitional care nurses Lillian Swan and Beth Hunt. More than 560 people in town have benefited from their services, including 300 aging residents.
CHA Manager Jennifer McCaughey joined her four teammates for the recognition.
Social Responsibility Award: Arc of Southington
The Arc of Southington received the YMCA’s Social Responsibility Award, with CEO Trish Gibney coming to the podium on behalf of her team, which also includes Lyn Lorenzo and Carolyn Williams.
Arc is a nonprofit that has been around for more than 70 years and serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as their families. As Pooler noted, “The organization began as a group of parents sharing their information and experiences on raising individuals with these types of disabilities… What began as a support group has evolved into a dedicated human service agency providing advocacy, education, information, and an array of quality and individualized support to people of all ages with intellectual and developmental disabilities: Supportive Housing, Residential Support, Individualized Home Support, Non-vocational Day Programs, Recreational Programs, Advocacy Efforts and more.”
Person Of The Year: Terry Gomez Lombardi
Finally, Terri Gomez Lombardi was proclaimed winner of the YMCA Person of the Year Award. Terri has led, supported, or been involved with a long list of service organizations in or near town, including The Main Street Community Foundation, Safe Harbor of Southington, Bread For Life, St. Dominic’s Church, the YMCA Board, and various bodies of Town government, including the Library, the Board of Education, Karen Smith Academy, Southington Community Services, the Veterans Committee, and several high school sports teams.
Terri has come a long way from an early life that was marked by instability and disruption. The experience of starting with almost nothing and gaining everything one could reasonably hope for in life is what fuels her desire to give back.
“I was born in Cuba and arrived here as part of an operation," she said. "They put me on the plane and brought me to a refugee camp and various American foster families. It was a great deal of struggle; eventually my mother got out. That journey taught me a lot. I had to grow up fast. And, I met this man,” she said, gesturing to her proud husband, Bill Lombardi, “in 1975 at Central Connecticut (State College).”
“This Y has become part of our family. The people are part of our family. Look at the caring and love. Everyone chips in. I’m not looking for accolades: it’s what you have here in your heart. It’s about giving more than receiving.”
The various winners will be formally recognized at the Aqua Turf on February 25, 2026, when the YMCA holds its 97th Annual Meeting and Recognition Dinner.