Ruth Grobe Given Distinguished Leadership Award

Ruth Grobe of Farmington received the 2012 Robert C. Knox, Jr. YMCA Distinguished Leadership Award at the YMCA of Greater Hartford’s recent annual meeting. The award honors the memory of the late Robert C. Knox, Jr., a Hartford insurance executive whose dedication helped the YMCA grow, prosper and fulfill its mission to serve others. The award is the YMCA of Greater Hartford’s highest honor recognizing volunteers.

"Over these last  20 years, it has been an honor to serve the YMCA of Greater Hartford. This work has given me a sense of purpose, challenged me to grow, and connected me to my father, among many other wonderful things. I am enormously grateful for this experience, and to have been named an R.C. Knox recipient," said Grobe.

The award was presented by Judy Stearns, past Chair of the Board of Directors of the YMCA of Greater Hartford and 1999 R.C. Knox honoree. "Ruth's more than 20 years of service and commitment within the YMCA  has been one of Ruth’s most fulfilling achievements.  In the Y, Ruth has few equals.  Ruth is currently co-chair of the Y’s Philanthropic Advancement committee.  I recall Ruth telling me that the opening of the Wilson-Gray YMCA Youth and Family Center was a “realization of a dream. Wilson-Gray supports urban families in building a better life for themselves. “  Ruth helped raise funds for the  Wilson-Gray Y and served on the planning committee," said Stearns in her remarks. 

Grobe is chair of the Human Relations Committee for the Town of Farmington, and is past chair of the Community Chest of the United Way. Ruth is also committed to volunteering and helping to run ServCorps, a volunteer service organization founded by her husband Rich.   ServCorps focuses on the construction and restoration of homes through collaborations in the Asylum Hill neighborhood of Hartford, Connecticut, and through mission trips to areas suffering from natural disasters.