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WILKES-BARRE — Clayton Karambelas, of Kingston, received the 2017 Robert K. Mericle Leadership Award at the Wilkes-Barre YMCA’s annual Leadership Dinner at the Westmoreland Club on Thursday night.
The award is described as “an honor for an individual who demonstrates exemplary efforts in furthering the mission of the YMCA.”
“The years have flown by,” said Theresa Karambelas, who spoke for her husband. “Clayton knows so many people, he’s been associated with the Y for so many years.”
“We were able to put the Men’s Health Club in a few years ago. Years ago, he’d be floating around all of these people trying to get them to join the Y. That was his big claim to fame, membership,” she continued.
Karambelas is the longest continuous member of the Wilkes-Barre YMCA alive today. He was a member since the age of 10; he recently celebrated his 90th birthday. Karambelas is the previous owner of the Boston Candy Shop & Restaurant, C.K. Coffee, and C.K. Consulting.
“Clayton is a fixture of the area. He’s like the Energizer Bunny, he just doesn’t stop doing good for the community and the YMCA,” noted Robert Mericle, the award’s namesake.
“This is a fabulous evening to recognize two very worthwhile recipients,” said Charles Barber, president of the Luzerne Foundation. “Clayton and Theresa Karambelas personify philanthropy in the community. They’ve been so active in so many different things. Clayton, certainly, with the YMCA— decades, and decades, and decades. You can’t say enough with his diligence, his persuasiveness, and his desire to help the YMCA so it can help others.”
Meanwhile, attorney Eric Mahler, of Mountain Top, received the Frank M. Henry Layperson of the Year Award.
The Henry Award “recognizes an unsung hero at the YMCA.”
“This is a great honor,” Mahler said. “For many years now, I’ve been coaching at the YMCA as a swim coach, donating my time to do that. I think it’s a wonderful recognition, but more so, I think it’s a recognition of what the YMCA does. To see all the people out here tonight supporting the YMCA, and its mission, that really to me is important. I’ve been at the YMCA since I was about 3 years old. To see all that coming back to the YMCA tonight is special to me.”
Other award recipients included Michael J. Hirthler, who received the George Brandt Community Service Award. Hirthler has volunteered at the Y for more than 60 years.
Air Excellence, a ventilation and air conditioning company in Plymouth, received the 2017 YMCA Corporate Leadership Award for being an “exceptional corporate supporter of the YMCA.”
