Senator Collins Receives YMCA Congressional Champion Award

Click HERE for a high-resolution photo of Senator Collins with Tom Warren, Matt Hyde, Ken Walsh, and Dean Read

Note to assignment editors and news directors: Click HERE for b-roll of Senator Collins receiving the award

Washington, D.C. – Members of the YMCA Alliance of Maine and the YMCA of the USA honored U.S. Senator Susan Collins with the YMCA Congressional Champion award for her commitment to youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility as well as her leadership on diabetes issues.  Tom Warren, CEO of Kennebec Valley YMCA; Matt Hyde, Chairman of Directors, YMCA of the USA; Ken Walsh, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs and YMCA of the Alfond Youth Center in Waterville; and Dean Read, who serves on the YMCA Alliance Board for Maine and was the former MDI YMCA board president, presented Senator Collins with the award in her Washington, D.C., office.

“The YMCA has had a positive impact on our state through its remarkable work providing services to children, adults, and families,” said Senator Collins.  “I am honored to receive the YMCA’s Congressional Champion award for my leadership on youth development initiatives, as well as my work to champion increased funding for diabetes research and support programs that help individuals prevent and manage the disease.  I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to support policies that advance health and wellness among Americans of all ages.”

The YMCA thanked Senator Collins for being a champion of diabetes prevention and control efforts and helping to provide diabetes prevention coverage for seniors in Medicare.  Senator Collins, the founder and co-chair of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, led a bipartisan push to secure a full two-year reauthorization of the Special Diabetes Program in the government funding bill last month.  Additionally, earlier this year, Senator Collins was pleased to announce that new technologies used for the delivery of insulin, such as the Omnipod system, may now be covered under Medicare Part D following her longtime efforts.

Reaching more than 165 communities across Maine, the YMCA is a nonprofit organization committed to making sure that individuals of all ages, incomes, or backgrounds, have the ability to learn, grow, and thrive.