Hi my name is Gigi and I am 16 years old. I love to sing, play soccer and give back to those in need.

I am involved in Keystone here at SRV [Smilow Rainier Vista Boys & Girls Club]; We just went to Anaheim, CA for the National Keystone Conference — my favorite part was getting to know new people and learning more about them.

I love the Vista, because all the staff accepts you for who you are; they take you flaws and all.

I go to Franklin High School — Power Hour [The mandatory homework program] and the program courses at SRV help me understand the classes I struggle with at school – like Spanish.

Thank you helping Gigi and SRV. Because of you, Gigi can receive the support she needs to succeed at school!

Says Imani, “The Boys & Girls Club saw potential within me even when I didn’t see it in myself…the Club gave me the power to take on a leadership role in my community, in my Club, and in my own life. Thus everything I am and everything I will ever be is rooted in the foundation that the Club gave me.” Imani will go on to compete in the Washington State Boys & Girls Clubs Youth of the Year competition on March 19th, in the hopes of advancing to the regional event and then the national competition. Bender, a 10-year member of the Ballard Club, is a natural leader, an honor student, a varsity basketball player, and president of Ballard’s Keystone club. She aspires to major in psychology.

“I want to congratulate Imani Bender on being named King County’s 2014 Youth of the Year. It was a difficult choice – the judges really wrestled with a tough decision because all 11 nominees are phenomenal teens. These are kids who are determined to succeed, and they have the full support of Club staff to help them along the way,” said Calvin Lyons, President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of King County.

In total, 11 exceptional teens competed for the title. Each nominee was judged on leadership qualities exhibited through service to the Club, community, and family; their respective essays; life goals; values and moral character; academic success; and poise and public speaking.

Youth of the Year 2014 was made possible by Presenting Sponsor, Microsoft. Event sponsors include: Princess Cruises, Washington Athletic Club, Macy’s, Jim Mora Count on Me Family Foundation, and media sponsor, Dex.

A very special thanks to our distinguished judging panel: Connie Ballmer, Trustee, Ballmer Family Foundation; Jane Broom-Davidson, Director, Puget Sound Community Affairs at Microsoft; Ashley Rea, Director of Philanthropy at Aegis Living; Norm Seabrooks, Vice President, Local Market Head at Aetna; Jim Voelker, Youth Advocate; Patty Voelker, Youth Advocate; and Matt Walters, First Vice President at CBRE.

Hear more from Imani herself at this year’s LunchBreak! on April 10, 2014. See you there!

Thank you all for your generous donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of King County. Your support provides a year-long membership to fourteen children in need. Lemarion, one of the children who benefited from your kindness, is seven years old. He attends Smilow Rainier Vista Clubhouse at Rainier Vista for both before and after-school programs.

Lemarion loves to help prepare breakfast when he arrives at the Club in the mornings. He said he wants to be a football player when he grows up, but a chef if that doesn’t work out.

Thank you all for providing Lemarion with a membership so that he can have a refuge before and after school. Your generosity will help this future football star/chef realize his dreams!

Thank you all for your generous donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of King County. Your support provides a year-long membership to fourteen children in need. The story of Gabriel, one of the children who you supported, is particularly touching.

Self-reserved, Gabriel quietly skips around the Renton/Skyway Boys & Girls Club, talking to staff and playing on the computer. “The City of Renway,” as the Club is locally known, simulates a miniature city, replete with leadership, businesses, laws and social codes. The Club’s driving program, MicroSociety, helps to break the cycle of inter-generational poverty by incorporating business skills into all aspects of programming. But for Club staff, success for Gabriel is not just about business. At the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year, the second grader was released from a six month stay in a therapeutic treatment facility.

Gabriel first starting attending the Club in 2010 for summer camp, then transitioned into attending the after-school program. Though he often did not want to leave when his grandparents came to pick him up, Gabriel often got in trouble and had to be sent home. He rarely interacted with other children, and when conflict did arise, he often shut-down and withdrew. Because he did not communicate with staff, who didn’t push and ask what was going on at home, they were often not sure what spurred his incidents.

After a few months, Gabriel stopped coming, and the boy’s grandfather came to them, upset. Gabriel had been placed in a facility for therapeutic care, and they were not able to see him for awhile. He came by to tell Renway that he and his wife had saved a poster the Club made of the boy and it hung in his room.

Dorina, the Club Director, told the boy’s grandfather to come back when Gabriel was out, and there would be a place for him. ‘We didn’t want him to leave the program and go into remission,’ said Elana Sims, Child Care Director. Dorina’s promise was not an easy one though.

In the fall of 2011, Gabriel returned to an alternative school, which gets out at 2 pm. His grandparents, who gained custody of Gabriel and his two younger brothers, work full-time and cannot be home with him that early. Though the elementary program does start until 3:20, their small staff of six people got together to make sure Gabriel would have company. At least two staff are always there to greet Gabriel at 2:15. Though uncertain the first few days back, surrounded just by adults, he has now found a second home.

Though they did not entirely know the depth of their service at the time, the Club was providing exactly what Gabriel needed for recovery. He was abused and neglected the first five years of his life. His grandparents adopted Gabriel and his two younger siblings to give them a safe home, but because of the adoption, Gabriel’s DSHS subsidy was cut. Now, his grandparents work full-time to support their family.

The Club has provided a full scholarship for Gabriel’s fees, which amounts to $4,250, including the Club’s 9-week summer program. Their steady commitment to creating a home for Gabriel helps him to feel valued and safe. Thank you, MSAF, Marylou, Krishna, and Christine, for supporting Gabriel and giving him a safe space!

Thank you all for your generous donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of King County. Your support provides a year-long membership to fourteen children in need. Read about one of the families that you touched with your kindness below:

Gwen and her daughter’s story, while not unusual, is remarkable for the strength of character shown. A few months ago, Gwen’s husband passed away from an illness that developed quite suddenly after they moved from Port Townsend to Seattle. Gwen and her husband had adopted Mya from China when she was one years old. Mya’s father worked from home while caring for his daughter, but after the family’s sudden loss, Gwen found herself needing a safe and positive place for Mya.

Gwen had just started a new job at Umpqua Bank and felt like she needed to prove herself in those early months — not leaving work early and always being on time. Gwen had lost her job before coming to Seattle and half her income. Affordable childcare was a must.

Gwen grew up in the neighborhood in which Boys & Girls Club View Ridge is located but she knew the Club had a waiting list for childcare. Fortunately, Gwen’s timing was perfect — the child care site had just rearranged its space in a creative way to allow for a higher DEL licensing limit. Mya had a space!

Gwen has not only found flexibility in the Club’s ability to take care of Mya before and after school but also emotional support for her daughter. In the immediate weeks after her loss, Mya was often anxious with other children, but the Club made sure other children were sensitive with Mya. “Everyone shows a consistent focus on the child,” Gwen says, “I’m not the one who needs support.” Gwen praises the Club’s safe socialization. She says Mya has never been bullied and now, the young girl bounces around with energy typical of her age. “The programming is so confidence-building,” Gwen says.

Mya enjoys drawing, building with Legos and going on the monkey bars. She als loves the Club’s mac ‘n’ cheese snacks. The fit has been a good one for the family and the Club. The staff rave about Mya and her mother. Jamie Driscoll, Assistant Child Care Director, calls Gwen, “so warm and welcoming.” She says parents aren’t always so open and communicable with the staff but Gwen makes the staff feel appreciated. Shawn Newkirk, Site Director, calls Mya “really sweet; an all around good kid.”

It’s 5pm — pick-up time. Gwen smiles as Mya runs in from playtime outside. She’s a rush of words and wiggles. “Even when everything in life turns upside down,” Gwen says, “the Club just knew what to do. I didn’t even have to explain.”

Thank you, MSAF, Alyce, and Colleen, for supporting Gwen and Mya!

Thank you all for your generous donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of King County. Your support provides a year-long membership to fourteen children in need. Melle is one of those who benefited from your kindness. At 15 years old, she has been attending the Ballard Boys & Girls Club since she was in kindergarten. She spends every afternoon at the Club, receiving tutoring help and hanging out with staff, who are like family to her!

Through your generosity, Brian, Melle will be able to continue spending time with her second family!