La Crescenta resident Tim MacDonald was recently honored by the YMCA of the Foothills.

“I enjoyed every minute of it,” said MacDonald on his involvement with the Y. “We had some tremendous times.”

MacDonald’s involvement with both the Y and the local community go way back.

“I’ve lived here for 72 years,” he said. “My grandmother came here in the 1920s. I grew up here and went to Crescenta Valley High School, was the first senior class president, the auditorium was named after my uncle, and my mother was the first PTA president … I went to YMCA Camp Fox in the 1950s.”

In 1973, Bob Samuelson asked MacDonald to join the Y board of directors. MacDonald served on the board for 33 years, serving as president for three, and later receiving the Pat Aho Award, which honors 50 years of service to the Y and the community.

“We were the day-to-day and the transitions and keeping the lights on and keeping the programs going,” said MacDonald of his role on the board.

In addition to serving on the board, MacDonald was involved in the remodels, construction and fundraisers. And his family became involved as well.

“My fourth daughter, she was very involved in Youth and Government. She took a bill up to Sacramento and got a bill passed and it was a life-changing event,” said MacDonald. The same daughter was also part of the program now called Tribes.

“I think youth development is extremely important. I see the kids at the Christmas tree lot when I come and they greet you and talk to you. They have it down,” said MacDonald. “Youth and Government was marvelous and Tribes was marvelous. It’s all part of a good quality of life.”

Though he’s semi-retired now, MacDonald’s involvement with the Y continues. He serves on the Y Building and Grounds board of directors, keeps up with the many friends he’s made at the Y over the years, and continues to advocate for the Y.

“I tell everybody that when realtors want to sell a house in the area to drop by the Y and see the quality of what we have in this community. It’s right here … It’s because of marvelous people who have stepped up and we’ve all had a great time doing it.”

Submitted by
Megan OPPELT

  Megan OPPELT