The Partnership for Families, Children and Adults presented 2022 Distinguished Community Advocate Awards to YMCA Camp Ocoee and to Lamar Selcer at RISE 2022, Partnership’s fourth annual fundraising luncheon, held on Wednesday at The Chattanoogan Hotel.
RISE 2022 spotlighted Partnership’s Camp HOPE youth program, which is designed for children and youth impacted by trauma due to domestic violence, sexual assault, or child abuse. YMCA Camp Ocoee and Selcer were recognized for their significant impact on the Camp HOPE program.
Accepting for YMCA Camp Ocoee were the Camp’s Executive Director B.J. Davis and Assistant Director Chelsea Sandidge. They were recognized by Partnership Board President Tyler Forrest for helping prepare youth for challenges they will face in the future and forever changing the lives of Camp HOPE campers and staff.
Recognized for his commitment to the Pathways program that reinforces the lessons of Camp HOPE year-round, was Lamar Selcer. In addition to spending a week cheering on the youth at Camp Ocoee, Forrest noted that Mr. Selcer shares his wisdom and knowledge at monthly Pathways meetings.
The Keynote speaker for the RISE 2022 luncheon was five-time Grammy-Award winning bassist Victor Wooten. The songwriter, producer, vocalist, and founding member of Béla Fleck and the Flecktones performed a one-hour concert for VIP ticket holders the preceding evening at Songbirds Museum.
RISE 2022 also marks the 145th anniversary of the Partnership for Families, Children and Adults. Partnership is a comprehensive, non-profit human services agency that assists people in building better lives through counseling, crisis intervention, prevention, and education programs. These services would otherwise not be available to individuals and families in 25 Tennessee counties and four counties in North Georgia.