Friday, January 18, 2013

THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SANTA MONICA ANNOUNCES EXCEPTIONAL 2012 YOUTH OF THE YEAR NOMINEES


Winner to be announced at the Youth of the Year Awards Banquet on Jan. 26th


SANTA MONICA, California - The Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica announced their four 2012 Youth of the Year (YOY) nominees this week.  Mariah, Gretchen, Julie and Evelyn are all members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica and have been nominated for the title of the 2012 Youth of the Year. The Youth of the Year program recognizes Club members who have demonstrated exceptional service to Club, community and family; academic success; strong moral character; life goals; poise and public speaking ability. The program is used at Boys & Girls Clubs across our nation as a year-round tool for fostering young people’s character, personal growth and leadership qualities.

As Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s premier youth recognition program, YOY honors deserving Club members for their academic and/or personal achievements, leadership skills and outstanding contributions to their community as well as overcoming personal challenges and obstacles. The program, which was established in 1947, highlights the impact that mentoring from caring adults can have on young people’s lives, celebrating their character & personal progress. Beginning in December, four YOY nominees are hand-selected by Club staff based on their character, leadership and commitment to service, then each of the four Youth of the Year nominees are matched with Club mentors and coached on their public speaking ability and
poise. The four nominees then compete in front of a panel of judges made up of Santa Monica City officials, SMMUSD school board officials, our Club Board of Governors, and many other supporters, who then decide which nominee will be celebrated as our 2012 Youth of the Year, and move on to compete for the county, state and regional titles and the scholarships which each title grants the winner.

Our 2012 Youth of the Year nominee will be announced on January 26th at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica in front of 300 guests. The winner will then participate in County, then state competitions; state winners will win a $1,000 scholarship and move on to the regional level. Five regional winners will each receive a $10,000 scholarship and move on to compete on the national level. The National Youth of the Year receives up to an additional $50,000 scholarship and is installed by the President of the United States. 


Last year, David Ramirez was named the 2011 Youth of the Year for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica. Read more about David’s story.



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The Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica congratulates and commends these 4 exceptional Youth of the Year nominees on their hard work and outstanding achievements. “The annual YOY awards banquet is truly a very special occasion for us to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of each of our nominees, their commitment to serve the community and their ability to overcome difficult obstacles,” said Aaron Young, President and CEO of SMBGC. Supporters of the Club’s YOY program look forward to hearing the results on January 26th.

About The Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica
Founded in 1944, Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica currently serves approximately 7,000 youth through memberships and community outreach. They come from all over Los Angeles County, largely from Santa Monica, Venice, Culver City, West Los Angeles and Inglewood. Members pay a $20 annual fee for access to all Club amenities and programs that span across education, leadership, recreation and more. The Club operates with the objective of serving young people from all backgrounds, regardless of economic circumstances– ensuring that youth ages 6 to 18 have a safe and nurturing environment to develop socially, succeed in school, stay physically active and prepare for positive futures. To learn more, support or get involved, visit us at www.begreatsantamonica.org, or follow us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/smbgcfan) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/SMBGC).

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