(File Photo of the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Shenango Township, PA) The Lawrence County YMCA will honor Cara Atkinson, the CEO and founder of the Club Hope Foundation, a nonprofit organization in the Ellwood City area. The 2025 recipient of the Jack and Nancy Flannery Y Salute Award is Atkinson, and she will get her recognition at the Villa Banquet Center of New Castle on September 25th, 2025 starting with a reception at 5 p.m. and the program and dinner following at 6 p.m. The award gives recognition to the commitment of Atkinson to bringing compassion, hope and support that is vital to families and individuals affected by cancer throughout Lawrence County as well as beyond. Individuals that are honored by the Jack and Nancy Flannery Y Salute Award embody the core values of the YMCA, which are caring, honesty, respect and responsibility, while those individuals demonstrate service and leadership within the community that are selfless. Atkinson is a New Castle native who turned her cancer experience that was personal into a hopeful mission. What started as a high school club in 2008 has grown into the Club Hope Foundation since, a nonprofit organization that now has partners with over 30 schools, churches and daycares and gives assistance through support of over 20 cancer treatment centers across seven counties in Pennsylvania. Atkinson and her team provide meaningful connections, emotional support and resources, to those navigating a journey of cancer through initiatives such as Boxes of HOPE, the Golden Scars of HOPE photo project, and the Gavin Myers Rocking Horse Project. According to Atkinson, “I’m blessed more than I deserve. This award is shared with my family, volunteers, board members, and every warrior we’ve walked beside. There’s always hope.” Tickets for individuals are $75 and a table for ten people is $800 for the event on September 25th, 2025 to recognize Atkinson at the Villa Banquet Center of New Castle. You can call 724-658-4766, extension 217 to buy tickets for this event or to get more information about scholarship opportunities.