The Partnership for Families, Children and Adults presented its 2022 Distinguished Community Advocate Awards to YMCA Camp Ocoee and to Lamar Selcer at RISE 2022, the Partnership’s fourth annual fundraising luncheon 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.
Selcer was recognized for his commitment to the Pathways program that reinforces the lessons of Camp HOPE year-round. In addition to spending a week cheering on the youth at Camp Ocoee, Forrest noted that 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, nonprofit 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.
Major sponsors of Partnership’s RISE 2022 luncheon were Unum, Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, P.C., First Horizon Foundation, BCBST, Chattanooga Times Free Press, 6 Strong Media, Gestamp, Truist, Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union and JHM Certified Public Accountants.