York Mayo is a long time Community Volunteer and has served as Chairperson of a one million dollar capital campaign for ReStore Home Improvement. He is CEO and President of The Roger L. Putnam Technical Fund. He has served on the Advisory boards of ROCA and is Co-Founder of the Mill- brook Scholars ’ Program. He is the Co-Founder of the Springfield Unity Festival, which was held the week of October 12, 2014. He currently mentors five people. In addition, he serves on several boards and committees regionally and nationally. York has been the recipient of several prestigious service awards including an honorary degree from Springfield Technical Community College, the 2010 William Pynchon Award, the 2010 United Way “Spirit of Caring ” Award, the Western New England University Presidential Medallion, and the National Conference For Community and Justice, “Human Relations Award ”. He is active in the Christ the King Lutheran Church congregation, Wilbraham, MA.

 

 

Bob Perry has always been involved in the community. A few of the organizations he has been involved with include the Exchange Club, the Greater Springfield YMCA, a platelet donor at the American Red Cross, Western Mass Lacrosse Officials Association, the Roger L Putnam Technical Fund, the Children’s Chorus of Springfield and Ronald McDonald House to name a few. His greatest passion has been Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity. Recruited by York Mayo in 2000, Bob became committed to the organization. He is currently the Board president, a position he has held for 10 of the 14 years he has been involved. He and his wife celebrated their 35th anniversary with a ground breaking of Habitat’s 35th house, for which they were the major sponsors.

 

In 2011, he co-founded, with York Mayo and Dr. Mark Jackson, the Millbrook Scholars program, which provides housing, tutoring and life skills mentoring to graduating seniors from Springfield area high schools.  Perry is the recipient of the 2011 Hometown Hero from Reminder Publications; 2011 Difference Maker from Business West Magazine and 2012 William Pynchon Medal from the Ad Club of Western Mass.

 

National Honoree Bob Delaney is a dedicated and hard-working NBA referee and crew chief, consultant, public speaker, founder of two basketball officiating academies, and founder of the Delaney Leadership Academy Manatee County Florida School District (unique 5th-grade program). Delaney has influenced and inspired people, teams and members of the community over the years. He has helped countless individuals overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles, learn new skills and achieve ambitious personal and professional goals.

 

Delaney's career extends far beyond the basketball court. He has a background in law enforcement and worked with the New Jersey State Police. In a joint operation between the New Jersey State Police and FBI, he worked undercover for years. His work and testimony led directly to the conviction of 30+ Mafia criminals. However, years of living under the very real and ever-present threat of violence took a toll on his wellbeing and resulted in a diagnosis of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

 

Delaney has built organizations, programs and high-profile partnerships (US Army, Naval Special Warfare, Special Operations Forces, FBI Academy, Department of Homeland Security, NFL, NBA, Florida State University Football and many other corporations, universities and schools) from the ground up, and conducted troop visits with The Center for the Intrepid, Wounded Warriors, Landsthul Hospital in Germany and Armed Forces/NATO Military Forces in Iraq, Afghanistan, Asia and Europe, working both formally and informally to increase awareness of Post-traumatic Stress (PTS).