H. Lawrence Jones Honored At ‘Light Of The Valley’ Luncheon
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H. Lawrence Jones, winner of this year's Dr. Lee Jones Patron of Youth Award from the YMCA, said to his audience Wednesday that he was the product of good parenting. He offered some of his parents' wisdom during the annual Light of the Valley luncheon at Wheeling Park's White Palace.
His mother gave sage advice for why one does good deeds.
"You do the right things for the right reasons," Jones said, "and if someone notices, that’s nice, but that’s not why you do it. So thank you for noticing."
From his father, he learned the value of philanthropy.
"When I was in grade school, my father took me aside to tell me he was going to give me an allowance, but the condition was that I had to give 10% of it away," Jones said, "and I had to tell him to whom I was giving it and why, and that was a conversation that he and I had for the rest of his life."
Jones' first choice for those donations was the YMCA. So began a lifetime of service both in resources and deeds for the children of the Ohio Valley, which is why the Wheeling YMCA bestowed upon Jones this year's Patron of Youth Award. The award has gone for years to people who have demonstrated a love for helping others, especially children, above and beyond the norm.
Previous winners include Lisa Allen, Bob Nutting, Bishop Darrell Cummings and Jay Adams among others.
Beginning his professional career as a counselor at Bridge Street Junior High School, Jones rose through the ranks to eventually become Ohio County Schools superintendent. It was during that tenure at the top that Jones forged the original partnership between the school district and the YMCA that thrives to this day.
He also served as president of the YMCA in the 1990s, as well as a board member, campaign chairman and president of the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley, as well as board member and president of the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley.
CFOV Executive Director Susie Nelson, who introduced Jones on Wednesday, said he exhibited all the traits that make a board president effective for an executive director - understanding of board governance, a strategic mindset and dedication to the mission.
Yet an even greater trait, she said, was his philanthropy.
"He's not shy about it," she said. "Not because he wants people to know he's philanthropic, but because he wants to inspire others to be givers, too."
That servant's spirit was built, Jones said, at the family dinner table, where is father would ask everyone seated what one good deed they performed that day.
"There were many times I had nothing to say," Jones said. "He responded on those occasions, 'OK, but now you will need two deeds for tomorrow.' To this day, I stop to think, what good deed have I done today? And am I going to need two for tomorrow?"
Wednesday's event raised $60,400 for the Wheeling YMCA, which is embarking on a new capital campaign to raise funds for another major renovation, which will add a new floor to the building, increasing opportunities for child care and creating more space for activities.
The luncheon also featured guest speaker Wren Baker, the athletic director at West Virginia University. On top of offering some insight to WVU's upcoming athletic year and the changes in college sports, he also emphasized the importance of the YMCA in the community.
"I heard a stat recently ... that nearly 40% of the youth in West Virginia are being raised by somebody other than their birth parents," he said. "So when you think about that and you think about the need for activities, when you think about the need for a community, for helping young people have a place to grow and thrive, the work that you're doing supporting the YMCA can be very critical and important, and maybe more so than ever."