By Rick Baker
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale will honor its 2013 Youth of the Year branch winners at its annual Celebrate Youth Gala & Auction on Saturday, March 9, 2013, at Talking Stick Resort.
Presented by Tiffany & Bosco and Great American Title, the annual gala includes a dinner, silent and live auctions, paddle raiser, and live entertainment by Club members.
The highlight of the evening will be hearing each of the nine branch’s Youth of the Year honoree give inspiring speeches, followed by one of the teens being named the 2013 Overall Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale Youth of the Year – the highest honor given to a member of the organization.
Each year, all of the greater-Scottsdale Clubs have the honor of taking their teens served through the Youth of the Year nomination program, with one overall teen being honored as their branch’s Youth of the Year.
This year’s branch-by-branch honorees are:
Ariana Alvez, senior at Desert Mountain High School and member of the Virginia G. Piper Branch, located in Scottsdale
Jessica DuBois, junior at Coronado High School and member of the Hartley & Ruth Baker Branch, located in Scottsdale
Samantha Elder, sophomore at Fountain Hills High School and member of the Mary Ellen & Robert McKee Branch, located in Fountain Hills
Amari Gonzales, junior at Westwood High School and member of the Lehi Branch, located on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
Dani Haboush, sophomore at Cactus Shadows High School and member of the Vestar Branch, located in Desert Ridge
Alexa Jenouri, junior at Cactus Shadows High School and member of the Thunderbirds Branch, located in Scottsdale
Marissa Masters, junior at Saguaro High School and member of the Rose Lane Branch, located in Scottsdale
Kristofferson Walker, junior at Seligman High School and member of the Hualapai Branch, located in Peach Springs
Lane Yazzie, freshman at Salt River High School and member of the Red Mountain Branch, located on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
What They Earn
The 2013 Youth of the Year winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship from General Dynamics C4 Systems, a laptop from NPCE Technology Solutions and a Young Leadership Training scholarship from U & Improved. Each of the eight runners-up will receive a $1,000 scholarship from General Dynamics C4 Systems and Google tablets from NPCE Technology Solutions.
Who Helps Make it Possible
Title sponsors are Tiffany & Bosco and Great American Title, and other major sponsors include General Dynamics C4 Systems, Republic Services, Talking Stick Resort and Casino Arizona.
The 2013 Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale Youth of the Year will continue on to the state-level competition with other organizations from across Arizona. The state finalist will be announced during the Arizona State Youth of the Year Legislative Breakfast to be held on April 3, 2013, at U.S. Airways Center.
The winner of the state competition advances to the Pacific Region Youth of the Year competition held later this year, with the opportunity to continue to the national event.
Come Join Us!
Tickets for Celebrate Youth Gala & Auction start at $125 per person. Tables and event sponsorships are still available. For more information or to see our 2013 sponsors please visit www.celebrateyouthgala.org or call 480-344-5682.
About Rick Baker
Rick Baker is Chairman of the Board at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale. He has been involved with the organization since 2001 and is currently working with the team on “Angels for Kids, Mentors for Life,” the annual giving campaign for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale. Mentoring helps youth in their personal and educational development as well as prepares them to be productive future citizens. For more information, please visit www.bgcs.org.
