Celebrating our 2023 Red Triangle Honorees

On November 1, Y members, volunteers, staff and cherished friends joined us at the YMCA of Silicon Valley 2023 Red Triangle Dinner in Palo Alto to celebrate a distinguished group of YMCA honorees. It was a wonderful evening, filled with friends, camaraderie and inspiration.

We'd like to share with you a recap of those that were honored. Their volunteer efforts help remind us that these gifts of time and talent make a difference and help create a community of kindness.

A very special thank you to our Youth Master of Ceremonies, Arpinder Kaur, for sharing her Y story and her passion with us.

We are grateful to Senator Dave Cortese, representing California's Senate District 15, for a special video dedication to the evening's honorees:

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JOHN D. CRUMMEY RED TRIANGLE AWARD - TOM SQUERI

An exemplary Y leader and donor, Tom Squeri has been giving of his time, treasure and talents since 2002 when he joined the Board of the Mt. Madonna YMCA, serving two terms as Board Chair. During his tenure with Mt. Madonna, Tom played a vital role in the development of the Centennial Recreation Center, and helped expand YMCA After School programs in Gilroy. His passion and leadership were recognized in 2012 with a Distinguished Service Award from Mt. Madonna YMCA.

Tom joined the YMCA of Silicon Valley Board of Directors in 2013, serving on the Executive Committee, the Corporate Engagement Committee, and the Impact 2025 Committee that led the visioning for the future of our Y. We are grateful for Tom’s exceptional leadership and commitment to our community, and we are proud to honor him with the John D. Crummey Red Triangle Award.

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HEART OF THE Y AWARD - GUNILLA FOLLETT

Gunilla Follett has advocated for children and families throughout Silicon Valley for over 30 years. One of the El Camino YMCA’s founding Board members in 1987, she has spent decades galvanizing support for the Y through board recruitment and annual campaign. In addition to her own generous support, she has raised over $500,000 to fuel the programs and services of the YMCA in her community. Her enduring contributions can be seen in leadership roles at El Camino YMCA including Board Chair, Vice Chair, Community Outreach Committee Chair and member of the Executive Committee. 

Gunilla led development of a 20-year partnership with Moffett Field, paving the road for Y support of hundreds of active-duty military families. We are proud to shine a light on her legacy with the Heart of the Y Award.

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YOUTH CHANGEMAKER AWARD - JONATHAN MAO

Jonathan is a natural leader. Grounded in his own personal interest and passions, Jonathan founded the Cyber Security team at the Y in 2020. In this way, he paved the way to engage even more teens at a time when engagement was hard to come by and vitally needed, in the heart of the pandemic.

He pursued and obtained his CISCO Certified Network Associate Certificate, a remarkable achievement that showcased his dedication. Under Jonathan’s leadership, the team rose in their inaugural year to rank among the top 200 of over 5,000 national teams. From its conception and planning to training and securing additional support, he has been at the forefront, shaping every aspect of its success. Jonathan’s achievements at the Y remind us all of the transformative power of unwavering dedication.

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IN MEMORIAM - STAN CHINCHEN: 1927-2023

Stan Chinchen lived a life filled to the brim with love, friendship, and community. Stan’s involvement with our Y began in 1937, and he was twice honored for his outstanding leadership with the John D. Crummey Red Triangle Award (1994 and 2013).

Stan joined the Board in 1963 and oversaw our Y’s growth, including the opening of our Northwest, East Valley, and Southwest YMCAs. He dedicated his time, talent and resources to supporting the Y’s annual, capital and endowment efforts, and for over 50 years he and his wife Diane graciously hosted the YMCA Heritage Club Dinner. Stan was a tireless champion for YMCA Camp Campbell, and its chapel was named Chinchen Chapel in recognition of his commitment to their Capital Campaign.

We deeply miss Stan’s warm and vibrant spirit, his gift of storytelling, and his commitment to making the world a better place. Stan’s legacy will be felt for generations to come.

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2023 VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR HONOREES

This award honors adults who have deeply impacted the lives of youth, adults, or families through significant volunteer leadership. Recipients of this award have supported the Y vision and mission over several years and have personally modeled the Y core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. The leadership of this year’s honorees has greatly contributed to advancing our impact in youth development, healthy living, or social responsibility.

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2023 YOUTH CHANGEMAKER FINALISTS

One of the things that the Y does exceptionally well is give youth a chance to learn, grow, and shine through its youth programs and leadership development opportunities. Leadership is not about age. It is the spirit of initiative and the drive to make a difference. When young people come together and commit their time and energy to volunteering, incredible things happen. When young people step up as leaders, we inspire others and set the stage for lasting, positive change. The following young leaders were nominated by their YMCAs for consideration for the Youth Changemaker Award. We are thankful for their contributions, and encourage them to continue being the changemakers, dreamers, and doers that they are.