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 15, 2011.

DaSean
North Unit
9 Year Member
Marian High School
12^th Grade

DaSean is a very important part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Midlands’ North Unit.  She has participated in many programs and events at the Club.  The staff and Club members love and appreciate everything she does.  DaSean has a great attitude and a genuine love for The Club.  She is a reliable and positive role model to many.

Jesse
South Unit
8 Year Member
Omaha South High School
12^th Grade

Jesse has had to overcome various obstacles in his short seventeen years of life.  When Jesse was growing up in his neighborhood he witnessed many disturbing images that no child should ever have to witness.  With all kinds of negativity happening around him Jesse admits that he could have gone down the wrong path, but through the grace of God he was introduced to the Club.  A positive place for kids  where he could escape the problems in his neighborhood. Jesse realized that he could express himself in any positive way without having to hear other kids try and put him down with verbal or physical abuse.  Jesse now is going to graduate high school and is looking forward to joining the Marine Corps.

Devin
Carter Lake Unit
6 Year Member
Thomas Jefferson High School
10^th Grade

Devin is a dedicated and hardworking, member of the Club, brother, son, and grandson.  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.  His submission this past year in the black & white category Image Makers was a regional winner for his age group.  On top of being very active at the Boys & Girls Club in Carter Lake, he is active in his school as well.  His is involved in cross country, baseball, basketball, and track.  He also takes part in Engineering Club with his school, learning more about opportunities for his future.  Devin is an intelligent and goal oriented young man with many opportunities in front of him.

Canadi
Westside Unit
5 Year Member
Westside High School
10^th Grade

Canadi demonstrates leadership everyday at the Boys & Girls Club.  The first thing she accomplishes when entering the Club on a daily basis is helping our younger member with their homework in the Education Center.  She does an amazing job of being patient and going over things until they are familiar and have the knowledge to finish it on their own. But she doesn’t quit there. She follows that by going to the Teen Center to help out members her own age.  That’s probably the most surprising and most satisfying service Canadi does for this organization – being a role model for others.

Precious
Mount View Unit
1 Year Member
Benson High School
9th Grade

Precious is a 14 year old freshman at Benson High School and is one of Mt. View’s everyday members and mentors.  Precious is always seen helping out the front office with the coat and bag check in, interacting with the younger members. She participated in the Stock Market Challenge in 2010.  Precious is also a member of the Keystone Club at Mt. View and is looking forward to some of the fun and exciting things that they have planned for the teen center in the spring.

Cameron
Council Bluffs Unit
8 Year Member
Bellevue East High School
10^th Grade

Cameron is a sophomore at Bellevue East High School.  She is involved in many activities including forensics, the school’s newspaper, National Art Honor Society, cross country, soccer, dance and Key Club.  She is also member of French Club, student council, Future Business Leaders of America and did costuming and make up for her school’s production of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing.  Cameron has dedicated her summers to volunteering at her Club.  She spent nearly 40 hours a week at the Club running an art club for younger members and particularly liked working with the kindergartners and first graders.  She also ran Cooking Club, talking with the younger members about different snacks from cultures around the globe.  Cameron has competed in the Stock Market Challenge twice. She has also completed NetSmartz and Date Smart.

Download Year End Appeal 2009 (John & Jerry)

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands celebrates the importance of establishing stronger relationships between adults and youth by leading the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Day for Kids effort. Held this year on Saturday, Sept. 12 at the South Omaha Mammel Unit, Day for Kids encourages adults and children to spend meaningful time together.

Activities will be held from Noon until 3 pm.

Day for Kids video created by Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Most of the kids who come to the Boys & Girls Clubs are good kids from good homes, with parents, grandparents and extended families who work to do the right thing for them. Over 1,100 children a day benefit from the work we do at the Clubs.

Right under our noses there are stories. How do we know these stories exist? How do we know that the work we do makes a real POSITIVE IMPACT in the lives of our members? It’s all right there; you just have to know what to look for. It is the way they walk a little taller after learning something new. The way they smile a little bigger after a job well done and laugh a little louder while playing with friends. (more…)