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AAU Pacific Southwest Governor Receives Well-Deserved Honor

(Photo Courtesy of San Diego Time Tribune) Congratulations to AAU Pacific Southwest Governor Michael Brunker as the YMCA Gymnasium has been named after him

Sep 09, 2024

AAU Pacific Southwest Governor Receives Well-Deserved Honor

Introduction by: Troy MacNeill and Alex Gagnon

SAN DIEGO (September 9, 2024) -- Michael Brunker has dedicated his time to providing Limitless Opportunities for thousands of student-athletes over the past 40 years. His volunteering hours and commitment to the youth is now being rewarded. 

The AAU Pacific Southwest Governor has received this well-deserved honor with the San Diego YMCA Gymnasium recently being named after him.

Brunker has served as Pacific Southwest AAU Govenor since 1987, and has been an advocate of youth sports and opportunities for underserved children for decades. 

He has been recognized multiple times over the years for his contributions to the AAU, most recently his 35 Year Service Gold Pin in 2022. He has also won an Outstanding District Volunteer in 2010 and an AAU Presidental Leadership Award in 1993. 

"Michael, thank you for being a beacon of light for the AAU brand and, more importantly, the untold number of student-athletes and families you have helped," said AAU Governors Council Chair, Keith Noll. 

Congratulations and thank you for everything you do to help our young athletes. You are a shining example for what the AAU is all about -  creating Sports For All Forever!

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Original Article as posted by Maura Fox on San Diego Union-Tribune

Most San Diegans who have spent time at the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA over the years will likely have something kind to say about Michael Brunker.

For more than two decades, he was the organization’s executive director, overseeing key developments such as the ambitious $28 million reconstruction of the southeastern San Diego building, completed in 2017.

He also personally helped uplift youth in one of the city’s most underrepresented areas, from mentoring a high schooler who would go on to play in the NBA to comforting a grieving mother whose daughter died by gang violence.

On Friday, more than 100 community members got the chance to thank him — and to honor the dedication of the YMCA’s gym, now called the Michael Brunker Gymnasium, at a celebratory lunch there.

“Appreciation might be the greatest gift you could ever receive,” Brunker, 72, said at the ceremony.

For him, he said, the work is about doing as much good as you can while you can. 

“When we talk about community development and talk about doing great the things, we want to see it done in our (remaining) time,” he said.

To Read the full article, click here!
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Sports For All, Forever

The AAU was founded in 1888 to establish standards and uniformity in amateur sports. During its early years, the AAU served as a leader in international sport representing the U.S. in the international sports federations. The AAU worked closely with the Olympic movement to prepare athletes for the Olympic Games. After the Amateur Sports Act of 1978, the AAU has focused its efforts into providing sports programs for all participants of all ages beginning at the grass roots level. The philosophy of "Sports for All, Forever," is shared by nearly 800,000 participants and over 150,000 volunteers.   

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