On Tuesday, May 10 at 7:30 a.m. the Bradford YMCA will present the 2022 George G. Blaisdell Community Service Awards at the 28th Annual Community Awards Breakfast. The event will be held at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, after two years in which the breakfast was canceled due to COVID-19.
Jeff Townsend, the newly appointed CEO of the YMCA of the Twin Tiers is looking forward to attending the event. The Bradford Breakfast will be the first YMCA event he will attend as CEO. “I wish to extend a heartfelt congratulations to all the honorees and a sincere thank you in appreciation for the tremendous impact they have given to the community,” stated Townsend.
The George G. Blaisdell Community Service Award was established in 1993 to honor a long-time trustee and friend of the Bradford YMCA for distinguished leadership and service to our community and for making a difference in the lives of people. The annual award recognizes one or more individuals, businesses or organizations in Bradford and the surrounding area for continual commitment to the improvement of our community by his/her actions, words, and deeds that exemplify this vision.
The 2022 individual honoree is Joe Doriguzzi, who graduated from Bradford Area High School in 1966. He answered the call to serve his country and enlisted in the U.S. Army after graduation, during the Vietnam War, serving from 1966 through 1968. He spent two years as a soldier in Vietnam. Doriguzzi returned to his roots after the war and began the work of building a career and starting a family in Lewis Run. He married the love of his life, Sue, and began his long tenure at McCourt Label Company. He retired in 2013 after 42 dedicated years of employment at McCourt Label.
The couple were blessed with three sons, Tony, Mark, and Jared. The couple recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary surrounded by their family which now includes four granddaughters: Joshalin, Carly Jo, Areia and Emma.
Along the way, Doriguzzi heard the call to serve again and this time he focused on his local community. He became involved with the Friendship Table, a nonprofit organization that provides food for those in need. He has helped to lead the charge at the Friendship Table for over 25 years. He had served as assistant manager. Over the years of helping the food insecure population, he found working beside his dear friend, Barb Shufran, was a very rewarding experience. Barb was the manager of the Friendship Table but sadly was lost to cancer in March. He proudly carries the torch in her honor, serving those in the Bradford community that need it most.
Doriguzzi also played an very active role in raising his three sons and at his alma mater as well. When his son Tony became the head coach of the Bradford High Lady Owls soccer team, Doriguzzi stepped up as assistant coach. They successfully led the Lady Owls soccer team to the first ever District 9 Soccer Championship in 2009 and again in 2011. Also in 2011, they coached the team to win the first ever State Playoff Game.
He has also been a longtime member of both the American Legion and the Bradford Eagles.
CNB Bank of Bradford will be honored in the local business category with Joe Yaros, vice president of Commercial Banking, accepting the award.
CNB Bank has served the Bradford community for almost 27 years, opening its first West Washington Street location on Nov. 15, 1995. The doors opened with no customers, no deposits and no loans.
The Bradford branch, now located on Chambers Street, has grown to be CNB Bank’s largest and most profitable in their footprint. Along with the bank’s growth, they have been remarkably successful in helping local businesses grow and assisting thousands of individuals in realizing their financial goals. CNB Bank has employed many local individuals over the years, some that have built highly successful careers in the financial industry. Three of the five original employees hired in 1995 are still with the bank, Joe Yaros, Vickie Baker, and Patti Arlington.
CNB Bank believes in community involvement. They generously donate thousands of dollars each year to local organizations in all of the communities they serve. Being a community bank is the cornerstone of CNB Bank’s business model and especially important to the organization’s culture and mission. Most, if not all, of the employees at CNB Bank, have volunteered with the YMCA over the almost 27 years the bank has been in town.
Four area youth will be presented with the “Ray C. Uhler YMCA Outstanding Youth
Award.” The annual award recognizes one graduating senior from each private and public high school in McKean County. The students selected are individuals who have demonstrated throughout their high school careers a continual commitment to helping others through volunteer efforts to local community groups and organizations, church and school. The honorees are: Madeline Emerson from Bradford Area High School, Jenny Crowley from Kane Area High School, Jacob Coffman from Otto-Eldred High School, and Jenna Gregory from Smethport Area Jr.-Sr. High School.
Karen Costello Pecht will receive the Policy Volunteer of the Year Award for her outstanding dedication to the Bradford YMCA.
The YMCA Cause Driven Leader of the Year Award will be given to Suzy Zirkle for her significant and sustainable impact in the community.
Jan Russell will receive the Excellence in Child Care Award for her commitment to youth development in the community.
Bradford YMCA Executive Director, Stacie Titus, joins in the excitement for the return of the Bradford Breakfast, “It’s such an honor working in a community with so many individuals and organizations who truly impact our community. Congratulations to all the recipients!”
