Jennifer, the 2012 BGCM Youth of the Year with Ivan Gilreath, President / CEO of BGCM

On Saturday, January 28^th, Jennifer Jiminez was named the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands Youth of the Year before a group of area supporters, friends and family at the annual organizational competition held at the Woodmen Tower. She was one of five contestants, each representing an area Club to compete from the title.

Other candidates included Devin Young (Carter Lake Unit), Allysia Holm-Peoples (Mt. View Unit), Darian Henry (North Unit) and Devin Rollins (Westside Unit).

Jennifer, along with the other candidates delivered their speeches and gave interviews in front of a panel of judges including Victor Baez, Tom Kerr, Rick Kimble, Clarence Nichols and Marjory Podraza.

Jennifer began her speech in Spanish.

“I am the Boys & Girls Clubs,” Jiminez said, translating her original statement.

She recounted her early childhood difficulties in earning English.

“I couldn’t understand what the teachers were telling me at school,” Jennifer said. “I felt frustrated, dumb and out of place.”

On top of cultural setbacks, Jennifer said her family’s tight finances were another source of anxiety, leading the family to live out of a car for months and ration food.

“My parents never had money to put me in a sports class or a dance class,” Jiminez said. “But at the Boys & Girls Club, I didn’t care. I had this wonderful opportunity to enjoy being myself. I learned so many things that I still use today.”

Jiminez’s next stop is the state Youth of the Year Competition in Lincoln, March 20th. There she will compete against other organizational winners from across Nebraska for the state title. If selected, she will compete for the title of Midwest Regional Youth of the Year to win a $10,000 college scholarship. Regional Youth of the Year candidates compete for the national title in Washington, DC.

Pictures From the 2012 BGCM Youth of the Year:

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About Jennifer Jiminez

Jennifer  is currently a senior at Westside High School and has been coming to The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands South Unit for 4 years. She was born in Los Angeles, California and moved to Omaha, Nebraska when she was 7 years old. She’s been active in the Club, and is always willing to help. Upon high school graduation, Jennifer plans on attending the Art Institute of Los Angeles, where she will work towards a degree in fashion design. It is her dream to pursue a career in the fashion industry.

The National Youth of the Year Program is designed to promote and recognize service to Club and community, academic performance and contributions to family and spiritual life. Competition begins with each Club selecting a Youth of the Year who receives a certificate and medallion, and then represents their Club at the State level competition. Below are the candidates selected to represent each of the six Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands locations, in the upcoming Youth of the Year competition on January 28, 2012 (click here for event details).

Devin Young

Carter Lake Unit

7-Year Member

Thomas Jefferson High School

11th Grade

Devin has participated in numerous club programs including Passport to Manhood, Smart Moves, Club Possible, Triple Play, Torch Club, Keystone Club, Image Makers, and many others. On top of his busy schedule at the Club, he is active in his school and community. Some of his after-school activities include: cross country, baseball, basketball, track and Engineering Club. Devin is an intelligent, goal-oriented young man with many opportunities in front of him.

Kristen Hemmingsen

Council Bluffs Unit

3-Year Member

Lewis Central High School

11th Grade

Kristen is a member of several school clubs such as swimming, bowling, vocal music, track & field and also volunteers as a football manager. At the Club, she’s been involved with many different programs and currently serves as the secretary for the Keystone Club. Kristen has one sibling, a younger brother whom she loves to help with homework and sports. She plans to graduate from Lewis Central in 2013 and enter college that fall to pursue a degree in Athletic Training.  

Allysia M. Holm-Peoples

Mt. View Unit

2-Year Member

Omaha Northwest High School

10th Grade

Allysia (A-lee-see-ya) is an honor student, student-athlete, a member of the student council, a member of the Magnet Law Program and a member of the varsity basketball & volleyball teams.  Her hobbies include: art, fashion design and working with younger members at the Club.  Allysia aspires to become a successful attorney and have an impact on the lives of the young people in her community. 

Darain Henry

North Unit

3-Year Member

Omaha Central High School

Graduate

Darain has participated in many Club programs including: CareerLaunch, Keystone Club, SMART Girls, Road Code, and Stock Market Challenge and continues to volunteer at the Club. Outside the Club, she volunteers at Salem Baptist Church Child Care Center, assisting with serving food, clean up, distributing snacks, and reading time. Darain will attend Metro Community College this spring and to begin a two-year program in Nursing. Afterwards, she plans to enroll in the University of Nebraska-Omaha and obtain a bachelor’s degree in Nursing with the ultimate goal of becoming a Registered Nurse.

Jennifer Jimenez

South Unit

4-Year Member

Westside High School

12th Grade

Jennifer was born in Los Angeles, California and moved to Omaha, Nebraska when she was 7 years old. She’s been active in the Club, and is always willing to help. Upon high school graduation, Jennifer plans on attending the Art Institute of Los Angeles, where she will work towards a degree in fashion design. It is her dream to pursue a career in the fashion industry.

Devin Rollins

Westside Unit

6-Year Member

Westside High School

10th Grade

Devin has been actively involved in the club, its programs and activities, specifically the Torch Club, Passport to Manhood, Keystone, Power Hour, the Westside Club Basketball Team and more. Devin always has a positive attitude and strives to help his peers at the Club better themselves by being a leader and exhibiting model behavior.

For the Photo Tech category, Boys & Girls Club members were asked to create a poster that showcased citizens engaged in activities that give back to their community or depicts someone who models good character. Hadfield’s poster creation, entitled Great Leadership showcased his creativity and tech skills learned at The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Midlands. The entry will be judged by a panel of national experts.

Austin H.'s winning submission: Great Leadership

“Through theClub TechDigital Arts Festivals we’re able to inspire our future designers, game developers, filmmakers and musicians,” saidDan Rauzi, senior director of technology programs, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “It is amazing what our kids and teens can do when given access to technology and allowed to express themselves creatively.”

Club Tech Digital Arts Festivals allow BGCA, along with founding sponsor Microsoft and Comcast, to give young people an avenue to get creative and design original pieces of digital artwork—from posters and PSAs to stop-motion animation and logos. The competition is one component of the Club Tech program which teaches critical technology skills. Members from across the globe, age 6-18 can take the tech skills they’ve learned through their Boys & Girls Clubs and enter various categories. In 2010, more than 20,000 young people participated in local contests.

“WithClub Tech, members are introduced to the world of clay animation, robotics, game design, digital movie making, photo illustration, graphic design and music production,” added Rauzi. “We’re giving them real-world skills that will not only help them excel in school, but create a future career.”

National teen winners receive an expenses-paid summer trip that includes sightseeing and job-shadowing experiences. In years past, winners have visited colleges and the offices of large corporations such as Microsoft, Comcast and Best Buy to get a behind-the-scenes look at potential careers.

The Festivals are just one way that Boys & Girls Clubs of America, founding sponsor Microsoft and Comcast hope to technologically enable some 4 million youth served by some 4,000 Clubs nationwide and abroad through Club membership and community outreach. Club Tech also provides software, develops and delivers curricula, and provides program management and computer training for staff and youth. The sponsorship allows Clubs to integrate technology into every aspect of the organization’s fabric, from overall management to core programs. To learn more about the technology programs offered at Boys & Girls Clubs, visit www.bgca.org/clubtech.

To find out how you can help the victims of Joplin, MO and those affected by severe weather and floods locally, visit givesalvationarmy.org.

Honorary chairs, Howard Kooper and Tom Fellman along with chairs, Kirk and Sue Swartzbaugh commented, “the energy surrounding the event really shows the support the community has for the youth served by the Boys & Girls Clubs.”

BGCM President and event emcee, Ivan Gilreath, dedicated the event to long-time Club supporter Phil Schrager. Terri, Rick and Harley Schrager joined Ivan on stage to accept a memorial plaque and to say a few words about Phil’s legacy and the impact he had on underprivileged youth in Omaha.

Chancellor Smith, the 2010 Nebraska Boys & Girls Clubs Youth of the Year and a beneficiary of a Phillip and Terri Schrager Foundation Scholarship, spoke at the event. “Chancellor showed us all why the Clubs are so important. He shared his story and got the crowd excited about the work the Clubs do every day,” said Kirk Swartzbaugh.

The event itself brought in $240,000 to support the Club’s five core program areas:  character and leadership development, education and career development, health and life skills, the arts, and sports, fitness and recreation.

A very special thanks to all of the sponsors, supporters, volunteers and staff that made On the Road possible.

For event photos go to http://www.bgcomaha.org/gallery/?album=1&gallery=45

Ricardo is this year‟s recipient of the Otto Swanson Spirit of Service Award. This award was named for one of the early founders of the organization and is given to an individual or organization whose life or chosen field of work exemplifies the mission of Inclusive Communities. Ricardo’s dedication and commitment to the Omaha community, education, and the pursuit of peace and justice for everyone makes him more than worthy of this award.

Ricardo was very humbled and honored upon receiving word that he would be the recipient of the 2011 Otto Swanson Spirit of Service Award. He joins a prestigious list of people who have received this honor including Senator Brenda Council (1999), Councilman Ben gray (2001), and Creighton’s Father John P. Schlegel, S.J. (2003).

Please join us in congratulating Ricardo on this esteemed award – an extremely appropriate recognition of a man whose mantra is, “we are all one human family.”

After all the eggs were located, the kids were invited to stay and participate in other activities, like coloring in Easter-themed books provided by Creighton, drawing on the sidewalks with chalk, and a very long and exciting game of tag. The members were also visited by the Easter Bunny, which made them very happy. Thank you to Creighton University and the students who participated for a wonderful afternoon!

Click here to see photos on the BGCM Facebook page

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands will join Clubs from around the country during National Boys & Girls Club Week in an attempt to break this world record. At the event, each participant will begin the Star Jumps at the exact same time as everyone else in the country and jump for two minutes nonstop.

This attempt to break the world record will bring attention to the importance of young people living healthy, active lifestyles and how Boys & Girls Clubs help fill this need every day. Clubs do this through programs like Triple Play, BGCA’s proven health and wellness program that encourages kids to eat healthier, become more physically active and increase their ability to engage in healthy relationships.

DaSean and Cameron gave their speeches in front of a panel of judges. While the judges deliberated, the two joined members of the Lincoln, Grand Island and Winnebago Clubs at the Nebraska State Capitol to be applauded by members of the Unicam.

Following their time observing Nebraska senators debate current issues, the candidates returned to the Cornhusker Marriott for a luncheon in their honor, where Chancellor Smith (pictured), the 2010 BGCM and NE Youth of the Year served as emcee. After DaSean and Cameron were given the opportunity to speak directly to the group in attendance, Chancellor stepped to the front of the room and announced DaSean the State’s winner.

click here for photos

DaSean’s next stop is the Regional Youth of the Year Competition in Chicago this July. There she will compete against other state winners from across the Midwest Region for a $10,000 college scholarship and a chance to compete  for the national honor in Washington, DC.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands is excited to announce Omaha native and Boys & Girls Clubs alum, Ivan Gilreath, as President and CEO, effective February 1st, 2011. Ivan returned to Omaha from Minneapolis, after five years with insurance giant ING, most recently as the President of the company’s Employee Benefits Division. Before ING, Ivan spent 20 years with Mutual of Omaha.

“It feels really good to be back in Omaha, leading the organization that gave me so much,” says Gilreath. “I have spent my entire professional career in the corporate world, but never lost my passion for serving at-risk youth.”

Ivan grew up in a single-parent household with four siblings. While his mother worked hard to support the family, Ivan spent much of his time at the North Omaha Boys Club. He recalls certain staff members at the Club as being the positive male role models who set positive examples, and laid the foundation upon which he would achieve great things.

“I am a product of my club and my community,” Gilreath says with conviction. “I hope my story and my experiences will inspire the youth of our Clubs to dream bigger and expect more of themselves and their futures. The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands is a great organization and I look forward to continuing that tradition of greatness. Today more than ever our young men and women need the Boys & Girls Clubs. Our mission is to provide the programs and activities that will lead them towards becoming positive and productive members of society.”

“A committee of community and board members organized the national search for our new President,” says BGCM Board Chairman, Tim Holland. “We received hundreds of qualified resumes both nationally and locally. Through an exhaustive process we found the best candidate in Ivan. His leadership skills and passion for youth development will be a great asset for the children of Omaha.”

Ivan takes over the Club reins from retiring CEO, Fred Schott. Schott will play the role of senior advisor and will work closely with Ivan during the transition process, and beyond as needed.

Ivan’s management team will include two experienced Club professionals; Tom Kunkel, Chief Professional Officer, and Laura Schabloske, Chief Development Officer. Kunkel and Schabloske will continue to play key roles in Club operations and fundraising. Both are passionate believers in the Boys & Girls Club movement and the impact it has on the youth in Omaha, Carter Lake and Council Bluffs.

About Ivan
Ivan Gilreath joined the Boys & Girls Clubs after a 28-year career in the for-profit sector, most recently with ING as the President of the Employee Benefits Division. Prior to joining ING, he spent 20 years at Mutual of Omaha and four years with Xerox Corporation.

Gilreath serves on the board of counselors at University of Nebraska Medical Center and the national advisory board of the University of Nebraska-Omaha College of Business. He has a long history of community leadership having served as a volunteer for numerous nonprofit organizations, including the board of the Urban League of Nebraska, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, the YMCA Black Achievers, the Urban League Black Executive Exchange Program and Omaha Chamber of Commerce 21st Century Steering Committee. He founded the Midwest Trailblazers mentoring and basketball organization, which provides opportunities for young men and women to develop leadership and social skills, while supporting athletic ability.

He graduated with a bachelor of science degree in marketing from the University of Nebraska in 1982, where he also played intercollegiate Division I basketball. In 1989, Gilreath earned a masters degree in business administration from the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

Gilreath was honored with the “Living the Dream” award from the City of Omaha, and in 2002, was given the University of Nebraska-Omaha’s Distinguished Alumni award from the College of Business. In 2007, he was awarded the Whitney M. Young Leadership Award from the Urban League of Nebraska.