The Rev. Leo Gallina and the United Way of the Bradford Area
Inc. will receive the 2007 George G. Blaisdell Community Service
Awards.

The awards, given by the Bradford Family YMCA, will be presented
at the YMCA’s annual community awards breakfast and annual meeting
to be held Tuesday at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.

The George G. Blaisdell Community Service Award was established
in 1993 to honor a long-time trustee and friend of the Bradford
Family YMCA for distinguished leadership and service to our
community and making a difference in people’s lives.

The recipients demonstrate a continual commitment to the
improvement of our community by their actions, words and deeds that
exemplify the YMCA mission of building a healthy “spirit, mind, and
body for all.”

Gallina, pastor of St. Bernard Church, has been a priest for 42
years.

Born and raised in Bradford, he returned to the area in 1999. He
volunteers as a board member for Beacon Light Behavioral Health
Systems, Futures Inc., the Bradford Family YMCA and the Bradford
Hospital Foundation.

His community involvement includes supporting the Bradford Area
Public Library, the Friendship Table, the Bradford Hospital, the
Bradford Family YMCA, the St. Bernard School and many other
community endeavors. He is happy to help out whenever asked and to
serve the people of the St. Bernard Parish, where he has been for
more than seven years.ð

When asked what his most rewarding experience was, he replied,
“Being able to help those who need help and to be there when they
need me. Being a priest is my life and vocation.”

United Way of the Bradford Area Inc. not only exemplifies, but
epitomizes, the commitment to making an impact in the local
Bradford community.

Its annual fundraising campaign serves the purposes of
identifying the need and, furthermore, financially supporting the
local agencies and programs which have been developed to meet those
needs. What the numerous members of this community receive via the
collaboration of the United Way, the funded agencies and the donors
is quite valuable. Whether it be an opportunity for a child of
atypical ability to become an athlete, or for the hungry to be fed,
the United Way of the Bradford Area has, and will continue to
ensure that those in need receive a hand up rather than a hand
out.

The United Way serves 17 agencies and 28 programs in the
Bradford area. The services provided may be very different with
regard to purpose and clientele, but the outcome is very similar;
those in need receive assistance and, therefore, improvement in
their lives.

This organization is staffed by two – Kristen Luther and Mandi
Davis, volunteered by many and supported by more. All those
associated with the United Way are so because they recognize the
importance of what is done, and have the desire, like the YMCA, to
build strong kids, strong families, strong communities.

Former Blaisdell Award recipients are George Duke, Charles Rowe,
Flory Ballard, Allan Jones, J. Michael Mitchell, Dr. Donald
Watkins, Stephen and Marmi Hodges, Dean Bauer, Frank Ray, Gene
Carll, Don Fredeen, Pauline “Boots” Higie, Jim Guelfi and Howard
Fesenmyer and the Huber family.