2025 BROTHERHOOD BANQUET AWARD WINNERS

Dave Brumbaugh

Loni Gamble's Son - Maurice Jordan

Mike Ludwikowski

Dave Brumbaugh and Loni Gamble were the recipients of the William Pickelner Brotherhood Award.

Dave Brumbaugh founded the Uptown Music Collective, which is currently celebrating it 25th anniversary. Dave noted that he was 14 when he discovered the guitar, and it redirected his life. Over the years he has loved both performing and teaching. He focus has been on teenagers and young adults, loving to challenge them and help them unlock unexpected potential. He combined his love of music, performing, and teaching, opening the Uptown Music Collective to provide a place for students to interact, study together, and learn from each other. The students were given responsibilities, and it changed everything. Their confidence flourished and their self-image transformed. Over time The Uptown Music Collective has become more than just a place to take lessons – it evolved into a thriving music community. A place where young musicians are guided to music and learn how to define themselves within it. Dave reflected that continues to be an exceptional place to watch lives
change in front of him, as students unlock their potential.

Loni Gamble passed away in August, 2024, and Maurice Jordan received the award on his father’s behalf. Maurice reminded us how Loni believed in and loved our community. He saw the potential in every corner, the strength in every connection, and the possibility for growth in every interaction. Always captivated by the world of music, he played professionally for many years. The father of four, his dream never stopped with his own children. He was deeply committed to empowering and mentoring the youth of Williamsport. He founded a free program for kids, the Kennedy King Youth Intervention and Development Project and Baseball League. The program offered scholastic mentorship, gang prevention activities and education. It evolved into the Community Alliance for Positive Progressive Action (CAPPA) an organization that touched countless lives over the past twenty years. His philosophy was to meet young people where they are, offer engaging alternatives
to negative behaviors, inspire civic responsibility, promote academic achievent and nurture self-confidence.

Mike Ludwikowski, received this year’s Ray Keyes Sports Award. Mike arrived in Williamsport in 1990 to begin an Outreach Athletic Training Program, which he had running in the Columbus Public School District. His program was implemented in Williamsport High school, and included weekly visits to all area high schools within a 50-mile radius of Williamsport. Then they started covering local football games. As the program began to grow area schools also hired certified athletic trainers, on both the public school and collegiate levels. These athletic trainers work together and even raise funds to allow athletes to attend training workshops and summer camp. This year, Mike noted, he will be entering his 26th year as the head athletic trainer for the Little League Baseball World Series. He finds it a privilege to work with so many young athletes both locally and around the world.

Doug Alexander

Rick Mason

Chrissy Heinbach

Mary Jo Westbrook

For the fifth year, the alliance honored members of the community with the Unsung Hero Award.
Unsung Hero recipients are those who "would normally not be recognized nor would expect to be recognized, who aren't working or serving in an executive position of a business, organization or service club that serves others.”

Doug Alexander can often be found volunteering as an umpire for Little League Baseball, West Emd Baseball, Pony League Softball, and as an uncle for the Little League Baseball World Series, having previously coached Little League, Senior Leage and Legion baseball. He also constantly reaches out to help family, friends and neighbors needing assistance. His grandchildren depend on him to cheer them on from the sidelines during a game or in the audience for an event..

Chrissy Heinbach is a breast cancer survivor, who in 2018, founded Girlz in the Hoodie, a nonprofit created to help women battling breast cancer and those facing a mastectomuy with a free zip-up hoodie. She also organizes an annual benefit with the goal of easing the financial burden of area residents battling breast cancer. She also helps to care for her elderly mother, and is one of the first to step in to help someone experiencing a tragedy in our community.

Rick Mason, now retired from a career in broadcast journalism and public relations, focuses his talents on helping our community. Often working as a master of ceremonies, fundraiser, or behind his camera as a volunteer photographer, he has worked with many charities, non-profits, and community organizations. He is also an avid gardner, and bonsai enthusiast and provides a weekly garden post on his personal Facebook page (Richard Matukonis.)

Mary Jo Westbrook has contributed much to our community, beginning with her 35 year career with Lycoming Children and Youth Services. Through involvement in the PA State Foster Parent Assoc. she was instrumental in the development of a Family Visitation Center for children in foster care. She volunteered in many community organizations working with children and families. She is now often found helping provide for the special needs of people with terminal medical issues.

Lee Miller, the Lycoming Brotherhood Alliance President, summed up the evening noting that it has been a night to honor unsung heroes, who labor under the radar day after day withouth asking for recognition. They don’t do it for any other reason than that is their heart and soul – their character. The best things about all the recipients is that tomorrow they will be back doing the same old thing again!