2012 YMCA Legends Ball to Honor Dick and Rick Hoyt

NORTON – Ed Hurley, President of the Hockomock Area YMCA, announced Monday that Dick and Rick Hoyt will receive the 2012 Legends Award at the Hockomock Area YMCA’s seventh annual Legends Ball for their enduring spirit, teamwork and commitment to community service.

Monday's announcement came at the TPC Golf Clinic where 20 young children from the YMCA’s Integration Initiative learned the finer points of the game from Pros at TPC Boston. New England sports legends Pete Brock and current Patriots punter Zoltan Mesko were on hand to lend their support. 

“The Hoyts embody everything the YMCA Integration Initiative stands for - their spirit, drive, energy and commitment to giving back inspires us all to become more active members of our communities,” said Hurley.

Rick Hoyt, who was born with cerebral palsy, has been participating in road races, triathlons, and marathons with his father, Dick, since 1977. In 1989, the Hoyts founded the Hoyt Foundation, which builds individual character, self-confidence and self-esteem of America's disabled young people.

The Legends Ball, A YMCA signature event, will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 13. The Hoyts are the fifth recipients of this award. Prior Legends Award winners include: Matt Light, Joe Andruzzi, Steve Grogan and Andre Tippett.

“We have attended The Legends Ball for several years and to be recognized by the Hockomock YMCA is an honor,” said Dick Hoyt. “We feel as though the Team Hoyt mission aligns with the mission of the Hockomock YMCA Integration Initiative, which provides opportunities to children with special needs the opportunity to participate in programs and activities with their typically developing peers.  We believe strongly that all mentally and physically challenged individuals should be allowed the same opportunities as anyone else, and should not forced to sit on the sidelines and watch the world go by.”

Proceeds from the Legends events will benefit the Hockomock Area YMCA’s Integration Initiative, which was established in 2004 with a goal to provide children with special needs an opportunity to participate with their typically developing peers in all the programs, services and activities offered at the Y. The program aims to improve social skills build self-esteem, increase physical activity and independence and to enhance mutual respect among people of all abilities.

The TPC golf clinics were developed last year by the Hockomock Area YMCA and TPC Boston’s Senior General Manager Brad Williams, to highlight the mission of the Integration Initiative and enable participants to interact with legends, enjoy golf lessons at one of the country’s premier golf courses and, above all, to have fun.

“We are thrilled to have TPC partner with us for two golf clinics as well as the signature Legends golf tournament to be held later this fall,” said Hurley. “Many of the kids and parents say the TPC golf clinics are the highlight of their children’s summer. We are honored to have TPC as a partner and are proud of everything we continue to accomplish together.”

According to Jim McCarthy, Father of Michael, who is a participant in the Integration Initiative, “The Hockomock Y 'gets' my son like no other organization on earth. The experience and lessons Mike has learned there can't be taught anywhere else. Because of the Y's Integration Initiative, Mike is a more positive, confident, and energetic young man." 

Sports fans and friends of the Hockomock Area YMCA who are interested in participating in any of the Legends events may contact Peter Waisgerber at (508) 643-5251, or by visiting the Hockomock Area YMCA’s website at www.hockymca.org.