Back Skidders named Maytag Dependable Leader Award winner

PUBLISHED: THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 AT 5:27 PM
BY: DAILY COURIER-OBSERVER

AKWESASNE – Julia Back Skidders of Hogansburg has been named a Maytag Dependable Leader Award winner for her demonstrated dedication to keeping youth on the path to achieve great futures. The award recognizes Boys & Girls Club officials who are committed to making a difference as dependable and exceptional role models.

Through a national partnership, Maytag brand and Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) selected Back Skidders as one of 12 winners to receive the distinction, which includes a $20,000 financial grant for the Akwesasne Boys & Girls Clubs to provide educational scholarships to Club members.

Skidders is a founding board member for the Akwesasne Boys & Girls Clubs, who for 13 years has served on the board in various officer positions, including board president for the past two years. She was nominated for the award by Jessica Cree Jock, executive director at the Akwesasne Boys & Girls Clubs.

“Our club would not be able to open its doors without the generous financial and physical support Julia has provided,” Jock said. “She has touched the hearts of many Akwesasne youth through her tireless volunteer work. Whether it’s extending a helping hand when the club is under-staffed to organizing club fundraisers and events, Skidders happily serves our community and is a regular face the kids enjoy seeing.”

Skidders, a mother of five girls, is a widow and single parent actively managing the two businesses that she and her late husband founded 20 years ago. Rather than letting this adversity defeat her will to succeed, she has committed herself to giving back to the community. Over the years, Skidders has been a volunteer coach and financial supporter of many local youth sports organizations in addition to her work with the area Boys & Girls Clubs.

Skidders has not only opened her heart to the community, but she has also opened her home to many young people in the community as well. For Skidders, one young woman, whose mother suffered from an addiction, stood out the most. Skidders invited this woman into her home in order to mentor and support her, as if one of her own. This past June, Skidders was able to see this young woman walk across the stage and receive a nursing degree.

“It’s been an honor to work for and with Julia,” Jock added. “I look up to her as a successful a businesswoman, who is also a great mother that shares her love with many.”

“The Maytag Dependable Leader Award allows Maytag brand to give back to Boys & Girls Club professionals and volunteers across the country who give tirelessly to their local communities each and every day,” said Laura Somers, brand manager, Maytag. “It is our honor to recognize Julia Back Skidders for her exemplary efforts and support the Akwesasne Boys & Girls Clubs.”

With a heritage of dependability dating back more than 100 years, the Maytag brand mission is to build high-performing and dependable products. Boys & Girls Clubs dependably serve youth, enabling them to reach their full potential as high-performing adults. The partnership between Maytag and BGCA seeks to recognize and promote dependability – a quality that is at the core of what the Clubs do every day and is central to Maytag brand. Through its partnership with BGCA, Maytag has donated more than 3.5 million dollars to local Clubs in the last three years.