On Jan. 21, the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee (the Y) hosted its 16th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

In the spirit of Dr. King, the YMCA also encouraged a day of service, making the holiday a day ‘on’ instead of a day ‘off’, with a number of volunteer projects taking place in the city today and throughout the week.

Milwaukee Rescue Mission was honored with the BMO Harris Bank Lincoln Gaines Award for the organization’s commitment to community development and outreach in the central city. As a co-organizer of the Central City Branch YMCA in 1929 and later the North Central Branch, Gaines exemplified the desire, commitment, and tenacity to strengthen Milwaukee’s central city and improve the lives of countless youth in more than 50 years of service to the YMCA. Gaines passed away in 2001.

In addition, the YMCA announced the winners of the 2013 Northwestern Mutual Foundation Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Poetry Contest. Students from across Milwaukee submitted poems. Winners included: Olivia Bell, 8th grader at the YMCA’s Young Leaders Academy, Dominique Fortune, 8th grader at Swallow School, Chris Fears, sophomore at Wauwatosa West High School and Lajuante Murray, junior at University School of Milwaukee.

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