Published: January 23, 2008 11:44 pm         

3 groups in Enid finalists for awards

Three Enid organizations have been named finalists for Oklahoma Center for Non-profits’ first-ever Oklahoma Non-profit Excellence Awards.

Enid Community Clinic is a finalist in the community health services category, Denny Price Family YMCA is in sports and recreation and Youth and Family Services of North Central Oklahoma is in youth development. Okla-homa Cen-ter for Non-profits named three finalists each in nine categories. The awards ceremony will be April 12 in Tulsa.

“We are just excited about being one of three finalists,” said Justin Simmons, Youth and Family Services executive director. “It makes us very excited about what we do.”

Youth and Family Services recently raised around $1.5 million for Thelma J. Gungoll Youth and Family Shelter in Enid. Simmons said, in addition to this, YFS has been able to help around 1,200 families a year the last several years, including many children in the community.

“We focus on the goals and aspirations of what our clients want to receive and help achieve,” he said.

Denny Price Family YMCA received its nomination due in part to its continued excellence in reaching yearly goals. The Y never has failed to meet its yearly financial goal in its 42 years of existence, said Ken Rapp, executive director.

“We’re very proud and elated by the reception,” Rapp said. “We feel fortunate and blessed.

“We received a little over $1 million for our recent campaign,” he said. “The credit goes to no one individual. It goes to our dedicated staff, volunteers and a community who supports the YMCA. They deserve the accolades.”

Rapp said this past year the Y helped more than 16,000 people and families in the Garfield County area. He said the opportunity to help people of all races and religions in the Enid area is something of which officials are most proud. He said the YMCA has become a sort of melting pot for the community.

Each of the three Enid organizations was nominated by Enid resident Lew Ward, of Ward Petroleum, who serves on the selection commission. He said he each of the organizations has made contributions that truly benefited the community.

“There is a degree of excellence that needs to be rewarded,” he said.

Winners in each category will receive $7,500, and the other nominees will receive $5,000. An overall winner will receive an additional $10,000.

“Because Oklahoma has so many outstanding nonprofits, the determination of the finalists was a very difficult process for the commission,” said Jerry Dickman, selection commission chairman. “Each of the finalists is an outstanding example of the nonprofit excellence in enhancing the quality of life in the community it serves.”

The other categories are arts and humanities, community, education, health services, self-sufficiency and seniors.