By Greg Jordan
Beckley Register-Herald
BECKLEY — Generosity serving thousands of the region’s children and a person who demonstrates the spirit of giving and community service while expecting nothing in return were demonstrated Monday evening by the Spirit of Beckley.
The Spirit of Beckley campaign got underway Nov. 4 with a breakfast at Historic Black Knight Municipal Park and concluded Monday evening with its annual dinner at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center. This year’s campaign goal was $150,000 for the YMCA of Southern West Virginia.
Money raised by the Spirit of Beckley campaign helps the YMCA pay for after-school care, camps, competitive swimming, early childhood education, swimming lessons, youth sports and other youth development programs.
This year the YMCA of Southern West Virginia honored Byrd E. White III as the 36th recipient of the Spirit of Beckley Community Service Award. This award is presented each year to a person who, throughout his or her life, has worked to enrich the community and positively impact the lives of its people. “This person’s leadership and dedication of their time and resources is exhibited without the expectation of recognition, for the personal satisfaction comes privately and without notice,” according to the YMCA.
Jay Rist, CEO of YMCA of Southern West Virginia, said the organization provides services to around 3,000 children a year. White’s efforts helped make those services possible.
“This is a big deal today because these programs are vital to our youth, especially as they’re developing,” he said. “I couldn’t be more proud being able to honor Byrd tonight. He’s done so much not just for our area, but for the county and the state of West Virginia. He’s a special honoree and we’re just excited and thrilled to be able to honor him.”
People attending Monday’s banquet also learned that this year’s campaign had exceeded its goal.
“We had a $150,000 goal this year, and I’m pleased to announce that we have reached this goal,” Rist said. “We actually got past it. We raised about $151,375, which is spectacular. It’s the third consecutive year we’ve exceeded that goal. I’m so excited for that and again, it’s because it’s the honoree and because it’s the Y. We have a lot of donors who have supported us year after year. We also have some new donors who have walked through the door because it is Byrd White. Everybody’s come onboard to help us reach our goals, and it’s going to be a great night.”
Former Gov. Jim Justice, who is now a Republican U.S. senator, appointed White as West Virginia secretary of transportation in March 2019.
White resigned from his position as a Raleigh County commissioner to accept his appointment to state secretary of transportation. He had served on the commission since 2015. He is also a former recorder-treasurer for the City of Beckley.
White said Monday evening that he was not expecting to become this year’s Spirit of Beckley Community Service Award recipient.
“I was not. This was a total surprise,” he said. “I’ve been involved with the Y and helping with the Spirit of Beckley since it started. It never dawned on me that it would be me. It just wasn’t on my radar.”
White said that he did not work to do good just to get recognition.
“Well, no,” he said. “You’re not supposed to. If you’re doing it for recognition, you’re doing it for the wrong reason.”
His reason for doing good works was simple. “I do it because I like helping people,” he said.
Dr. Tony Kelly – who was last year’s honoree – Greg Duckworth and Gary Thompson Jr. were recruited by White to co-chair this year’s campaign.
The YMCA of Southern West Virginia is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization.
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