More than 250 guests gathered on Friday, January 27, 2012 at the Boys & Girls Club of Whittier’s annual Youth of the Year Awards Dinner to celebrate and honor the achievements of 20 outstanding Club members.  “Seeing the excitement of our award recipients and their families reminds us why the Boys & Girls Club of Whittier is so important to this community, as we are truly changing lives one child at a time,” shares Carl Cheffers, BGCW President.

Among the awards presented that evening was the honor of Youth of the Year, which was given to Whittier resident Itzel Rodriguez.  Itzel, a senior at California High School, is actively involved in the Club’s Leaders-In-Training program, Keystone Club, Smart Girls, and College Bound program.  She has volunteered more than 200 hours this year in a leadership capacity and has helped plan parties for children at a homeless shelter, raised funds for the Club’s Relay for Life Team, and the United Way Homeless Walk.  She serves as a mentor for some of our younger members encouraging them to work hard in their school work, while maintaining a 4.27 GPA and serving as President of her school’s National Honor Society. 

“Being named Youth of the Year is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can receive.  Our local Youth of the Year will go on to compete in Los Angeles County and perhaps all the way to the national level where the regional winners get to meet the President of the United States,” commented Samantha Ridout, Executive Director.