Peter Post, a longtime volunteer and community leader, was recently inducted into the National YMCA Hall of Fame at the YMCA of the USA General Assembly Meeting in Kansas City, Mo.

The National YMCA Hall of Fame provides a forum to recognize YMCA professionals and volunteers who exemplify a lifetime of commitment to the mission and cause of the YMCA. It honors individuals who have devoted their lives to strengthening community through their devotion and dedication of serving people and making a positive impact on individuals and to the movement.

National Hall of Fame inductees have been recognized for their leadership, encouragement and nurturing of others around them to develop their true potential in spirit, mind and body.

Post began his 40-year career with the YMCA when he was 18, joining the staff of the Camp Hazen YMCA in Chester, Conn., where he worked while attending Bates College.

He joined the Y full time as a youth director at the YMCA in Westfield, Mass., before joining the Bridgeport, Conn., YMCA as a branch director. He became the general director of the Woburn, Mass., Y before merging it with the Boston Association.

Post then began a 23-year career in Boston, where he became the president/CEO for 11 years. His tenure in Boston included the largest capital campaign in the history of the Boston Y at the time.

He also created a homeless shelter in the Central Branch of the Boston YMCA for more than 20 families.

He was instrumental as chairman of the World Urban Network Steering Committee.

Post served as the associate national executive/chief operating officer of the YMCA of the USA, where he was instrumental in creating the Metro 30 organization to strengthen and expand YMCA work in urban areas. He also re-established YMCA World Service awareness and giving from local YMCAs to increase international understanding and financial support of global Y initiatives.

After a long career with the YMCA, Post retired in 1997 and moved to Beaufort, where he has made countless contributions through volunteering with numerous organizations, including the YMCA of Beaufort County, the Penn Center and the United Way of the Lowcountry.

Post served nine years on the board of the YMCA of Beaufort County and three years as the chairman. He also served three years as the board chairman of Penn Center and 12 years on the board.

Post has been a long-time volunteer with the United Way of the Lowcountry, serving three years as the regional cabinet chairman, North of the Broad chairman and eight years on the board of directors.

He is now the chairman of the UWLC's Alexis de Tocqueville Society for this year's campaign and currently serves on the board of directors as well as the North of the Broad cabinet for the campaign.

Learn more about the National YMCA Hall of Fame at springfield.edu/ymca/ymca-hall-of-fame.

<em>Top photo by YMCA Hall of Fame.</em>