March 14, 2022 (Bradenton, Fla) – Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County recently named Isabel F., a senior at Bayshore High School, as the organization’s 2022-23 Youth of the Year Representative. The announcement took place at the 2022 Youth of the Year Celebration Dinner held at New College of Florida. Isabel’s Youth of the Year title includes a 4-year Florida College Prepaid scholarship provided in partnership with the Florida Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs and Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County. Isabel will now vie for the Florida Youth of the Year title and additional awards from Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
“We are so proud of Isabel’s accomplishments and leadership in our Clubs. She is a true advocate for youth,” said Dawn Stanhope, President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County. “We have no doubt that Isabel will succeed in life and carry the Clubs along with her in her journey into adulthood.”
Isabel, a Club member for nine years, is passionate about helping others, especially the homeless. The Club taught her the importance of being more involved, self-motivated and conscientious of others and their needs. She credits the Clubs for providing incredible opportunities that help to expand her potential.
“I am most appreciative of the future focus of the Clubs. They give us experiences that help us focus on our future,” said Isabel. “We are given insights that help us change our point of view, solidify our worldview and see others and their viewpoints.”
“Isabel is a young lady who is super tender on the inside and strong on the outside,” said Leann Frink, Club Director at the DeSoto Boys & Girls Club. “I have seen her grow in a very short space in time in a way that is transformational.”
The Youth of the Year runner up, Daejournee M., a member of the Palmetto Boys & Girls Club, also received a 2-year Florida College Prepaid scholarship. In all, over $22,000 was awarded the night of the event.
In addition, Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County also announced Leito B., a member of the Club at Daughtrey Elementary, as Junior Youth of the Year. All Junior Youth of the Year finalists and the Youth of the Year runner up received recommendations to apply to the Clubs’ partner, Take Stock in Children of Manatee County, for the potential of receiving additional scholarships upon successful completion of the program.
The sponsors for the annual Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County Youth of the Year Celebration Dinner included, Publix Supermarket Charities, Deerbrook Charitable Trust, Bruce and Kate Langsen, Pittsburgh Pirates-Bradenton Marauders, Braun Mortgage Group, Keith Johnson, and Infotect Design Solutions.
The Youth of the Year title is a prestigious honor awarded to an exemplary young person in recognition of leadership, service, academic excellence and dedication to live a healthy lifestyle. Now in its 75th year, Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Youth of the Year program honors our nation’s most awe-inspiring young people on their path to great futures. The competition starts at a local level, then state, regional and national, until a National Youth of the Year is chosen to serve as an ambassador for Boys & Girls Club youth.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County
Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County’s mission is “to enable all young people, especially those that need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.” In operation since 1946, Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County currently provides afterschool and summer programs for over 1,300 young people at six locations (2 traditional Clubs and 4 school-based Clubs). The Clubs offer a safe place to learn and grow, where members experience both life-enhancing and character-building programs focused on academic success, healthy lifestyles, and good character and leadership. For more information, call 941-761-2582 or visit www.bgcmanatee.org or www.facebook.com/BoysGirlsClubsManatee.
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