YMCA To Honor Swampscott's Joel Abramson For Volunteer Service

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — Joel Abramson will be honored for his contributions to the YMCA's community response amid the coronavirus health crisis as a YMCA of MetroNorth Volunteer of the Year.

The Swampscott resident is set to receive the Ethel Leonard Service Volunteer Award for spearheading the Lynn Education District partnership, his support of COVID efforts and for his leadership in securing commitments to complete the third-floor rooftop garden and wellness space at the new Demakes Family YMCA in Lynn.

"Ethel Leonard was the epitome of what volunteering is all about and continued as a volunteer at the Y into her mid-90s," Abramson said. "I've been working for more than 30 years to enrich the lives of kids and families in Lynn, and like Ethel, I will continue this mission as long as my body and mind allow me to do so."

Abramson will be honored as part of the YMCA of Metro North's annual meeting on Thursday at 8 a.m.

The meeting will be live-streamed from the newly opened Lynn facility.

The YMCA of Metro North will honor Lahey Hospital & Medical Center as its Partner of the Year and Lynn City Councilor Frederick Hogan as its Volunteer of the Year.

The partnership between Lahey Hospital & Medical Center and the YMCA of Metro North will continue as the Enhance Fitness program is restored to in-person classes at its branch locations.

Hogan will be honored with the Branch Volunteer of the Years Award for his work collecting diapers and infant supplies for families who could not afford them.

"I can't say enough about the Lynn YMCA staff and their help and commitment during the pandemic," Hogan said. "Receiving this volunteer award is an honor, but none of our response to supplying families with needed diapers and infant supplies would have been possible without them."

The YMCA of Metro North will also present its Y Champion Scholarship winners Kacey Rouse of Lynn, Alexis Papamechail of Peabody, Brooke Heidebrecht of Melrose, and Tyler Dugan of Lynn.

"This is one of my favorite events of the year," says Kathleen Walsh, President and CEO of the YMCA of Metro North. "A time when we can honor the outstanding people who make the work of the Y possible and contribute to helping us advance our mission."

Did you find this article useful? Invite a friend to subscribe to Patch.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)