Shanoah Washington has been named the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast 2010 Youth of the Year!  A poet and spoken word artist from the Royal Theater Arts Academy, Shanoah will now go on to represent Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast in the State Competition.  Each local Club selects a Youth of the Year and those winners compete for the County title.  “The competition was very stiff this year, all the young people on the panel were strong and well deserving”, said Aaron McGlon, Vice President of Operations for BGCS.

The winner was announced at a Youth of the Year reception for candidates and their families, Youth of the Year judges, BGCS Board Member and staff on Sunday, February 28, 2010 at the home of Kathy & Bob Guckenberger.

Congratulations to all the Club winners and Good Luck Shanoah!

ST. PETERSBURG, FL. --- Supporters of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast journeyed back to the 1960s to celebrate the organization's half-century mark. Tie-dye costumes seemed to be de rigueur for the fundraiser, which drew about 400 guests to the Sirata Beach Resort in St. Pete Beach to be entertained by music of the period, go-go dancers and an Elvis Presley impersonator.

BGCS has its roots in the Boys Club of Pinellas Park, founded in November 1959 by Maurice L. MacTarsney, then the police chief, and Margaret "Peg" Nunn. In its current incarnation, led by executive director Carl Lavender Jr., the nonprofit has 11 clubs in Pinellas County.

Honored during the evening were founders, longtime supporters and sustainers of BGCS: Bob and Claudia Sokolowski and the Nicklaus family, including Harry and Beverly Nicklaus, Lenné Nicklaus-Ball, Deborah Nicklaus, Gregg Nicklaus and Valerie Nicklaus.

Amy Maguire and Lenné Nicklaus-Ball were co-chairs of the gala, a fundraiser for club scholarships.

The event committee included Alex Glenn, Andy Winkler, Angie Piazza, Barbara Royston, Bernie Craig, Bill Bennett, Brandi Winans, Carla Mattern, Cat Coats, Catherine McGarry, Derek Berset, Edie Spies, Georgetta Doyle, Jay Coats, Jim Coats, Kara Behar, Katja Weinstock, Leroy Sullivan, Rick Carrick and Tiffany Oferloch.

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast was part of the unveiling of Clearwater Beach’s newest masterpiece….The Gallery at Sandpearl.

A Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was held on Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 10:00AM in which the new gallery showcasing the work on many Florida artists was opened.  Mr. Stuart Arp, General Manager for the Sandpearl Resort welcomed guests, political officials and invited Carl Lavender, President/CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast to speak about the importance of partnerships in our community.

As part of The Gallery at Sandpearl’s Grand Opening, several artists volunteered their talent and time to paint a mural (along with all of our North Greenwood Club Members, of course) at the North Greenwood Boys & Girls Club in Clearwater on Wednesday, February 17, 2010.  Our kids, staff and the artists had a blast and the wall mural is truly a work of art!

“The experience was so amazing!  I am so truly impressed with your organization and the wonderful children and teens we were so blessed to work with that day.  The boys and girls were so appreciative, but we continue to feel that we owe the thanks to them for the making such an impact on our lives” said Lisa Marie Potts, of HG Art Consultants in Orlando. 

Thank you Sandpearl for including Boys & Girls Clubs in the Gallery Grand Opening and thank you Lisa, Chris and Star sharing your talents with our kids & Club!

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast announced a new unique partnership with the Clearwater Veterans Alliance (CVA) in an American Flag Education Series. Part of this series includes veterans and youth working together to promote patriotism in our community.  The CVA has donated flags to all Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast throughout Pinellas County with A.D. Morgan Corporation of Tampa generously donating their services for all installations.  David & Carrie Jolly sponsored the first flag pole in tribute to Wilson E. Richbourg – United States Navy Reserve and Lawson E. Jolly, Sr. – United States Army.  A Flagpole Dedication Ceremony was recently held at the Royal Theatre Arts Academy Boys & Girls Club to announce the America Flag Education Program in conjunction with the dedication ceremony on Friday, June 12, 2009. 

Youth performed and eloquent speeches were given by Honorable Mayor Baker of St. Petersburg, Bob Swick President of the CVA, Gunny Davide Macon and Carl R. Lavender Jr. President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast.  A dedication ceremony is planned at all of our clubs locations with the next being at the North Greenwood Club on August 7, 2009 at 10:00am.

Matthew Morton, While studying for a DPhil in Social Intervention and Organizational Behavior at Oxford University, has been named as the 2009 Shine International Student of the Year. Matthew learned he was the winner at a fantastic award ceremony in London presented by Moira Stewart and Nihal Arthanyake, in which all 12 finalists received recognition and praise for their exceptional achievements.  Please take some time to see Matt speak about his experience over in the U.K.

The judges felt that Matthew’s outstanding contribution to the community together with his ongoing work for the European Commission marked him out as a clear winner. Since coming to the UK from the USA, Matthew has helped found an organization called Youth Development Project - or YDP, that provides assistance and encouragement to young people, in an area of multiple-deprivation just outside Oxford. As well as volunteering for this group on an ongoing basis, Matthew has also set-up a youth leadership forum, between Albanian and British youth- leaders, through which both parties can share their knowledge and experiences.

On April 16, 2009, Bank of America announced that Asia Williams, a junior at Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School, and Kemoi Brown, a senior at Life Skills Center of Pinellas County, were named Student Leaders, local winners of the Neighborhood Excellence Initiative (NEI) awards. Five high school juniors and seniors in 45 markets participate in a leadership summit in Washington, DC and a paid internship with a local nonprofit/charitable organization.

As Student Leaders, they will participate in an all-expense paid week-long Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. during the week of July 19 - 24, 2009. This leadership development program, directed by the Close Up Foundation, the nation’s leading civic education provider, will provide valuable perspective on civic, social and business partnerships within the community. The winners will have the opportunity to meet students from all over the country and develop a better understanding of different beliefs, making new friends in the process. Asia and Kemoi will intern at the Royal Theatre Arts Academy, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast.