The Youth of the Year award is BGCMA’s highest honor, recognizing teens from Clubs in the metro Atlanta area who are working hard, investing in themselves, and demonstrating leadership in their schools, Clubs, and communities.
This year, Malinda along with winners from 16 other Boys & Girls Club locations, will be honored at the annual Youth of the Year Dinner & Awards Ceremony Nov. 12 and compete for the title of Metro Atlanta Youth of the Year.
“I’m so proud of our Youth of the Year candidates,” said Missy Dugan, president & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta. “Our Clubs work to show kids that – even though they are young – they have a voice and can help drive positive change. It’s amazing to see all the ways these young leaders are giving back and making the world a better place.”
Research shows that building character and leadership skills early on can have a lasting impact on children’s lives for years to come. According to Youth.gov, children participating in high-quality service-learning experiences that are meaningful, provide time for reflection, and last for an extended period of time have been shown to make academic gains, including gains on standardized tests. In addition, these children have shown increased engagement and motivation.
Themed “Rising Stars of BGCMA,” this year’s event focuses on how these teens are serving as young leaders and gives attendees a glimpse into where they started, how their Clubs helped shape who they are today, and how they are shining brighter every day. More than 700 attendees, including local politicians, business leaders and supporters, will attend the event. At the end of the night, the most prestigious honor – Youth of the Year – will be presented to one deserving teen.
BGCMA serves more than 3,500 kids and teens each year. The Youth of the Year competition is part of a broader year-round program that helps youth develop character and leadership skills. BGCMA also focuses on helping youth succeed in school and live healthy. By 2020, the organization is working to ensure that 90 percent of the youth it serves are graduating on time, living healthy and giving back.
BGCMA thanks all of its corporate and individual sponsors for opening doors for our youth. To find out more about this year’s Youth of the Year event and how to purchase a table, visit http://www.bgcma.org/youthoftheyear2015 . Follow the candidates’ journey on www.facebook.com/bgcma and www.twitter.com/BGCMA_Clubs using the hashtags #YOY and #TeensLead.
