Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich is proud to announce Omar Badr as the Club’s 2024 Youth of the Year. The award was announced at the 56th Annual Youth of the Year Celebration on April 3, 2024.
Selected from 11 outstanding youth across the organization, Omar Badr is a senior at Greenwich High School who will attend University of Connecticut, Storrs in the fall. Badr, along with Salma Badr (Greenwich High School senior), George Benner (Greenwich High School senior), Christian Dudzinski (Greenwich High School sophomore), Scott Dudzinski (Greenwich High School sophomore), Daniela Hernandez (West Hill High School junior), Ryder King (Greenwich High School sophomore), Daniella Mutis (Greenwich High School senior), Sydney Niemynski (Greenwich High School sophomore), Jake Phillips (Greenwich High School senior), and Diego Silva (Greenwich High School senior) were the finalists for the 2024 award.
“Greenwich’s Youth of the Year program was established in 1969 to recognize club members who give back to their club and community,” according to Cristina Vittoria, Chief Executive Officer of Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich. “Youth of the Year winners have demonstrated service to club, community and family; academic success; strong moral character; life goals; and poise and public speaking ability. Omar is a shining example of these traits.”
“I moved from Brooklyn to Greenwich at the end of fourth grade, and that same week, my mother signed me up to attend the Boys & Girls Club” said Badr. “Since that first day, BGCG has shaped my life and helped make me the person I have become. The various programs I attended combined with the mentors I’ve had have shaped me and given me valuable skills. Most of all, the Club has helped me discover my passion of helping others.”
In addition to naming the Youth of the Year winner, Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich also honored Yasmine Bruce (Grade 8 at Eastern Middle School) as the 2024 Jr. Youth of the Year; Jake Phillips as the 2024 David Ogilvy Award for Character, Kindness and Integrity recipient; and 2024 Champions of Youth, Sally Lawrence and Chris Winham, with 30+ years of combined dedication to BGCG.
Sally Lawrence joined the Boys & Girls Club Board twenty years ago and has been an active volunteer throughout her tenure. Her passion at the Club has been co-chairing its Scholarship Committee for the last ten years. She was the Board Secretary for 14 years. Sally says it has been an honor for her to serve on the Youth of the Year Committee twice and interview the outstanding applicants. She loves volunteering at the Thanksgiving Feast, the Pancake Breakfast and the Holiday Party. She also serves as a trustee for the Greenwich Historical Society and the Florence Griswold Museum.
Chris Winham has been a dedicated board member of the Boys and Girls Club of Greenwich for the past 12 years. For the last decade, he has co-chaired the Scholarship Committee. This role, which he describes at the most gratifying of his tenure, has allowed him to witness the remarkable journey of high school seniors evolving into college graduates. Chris finds inspiration in the growth and success of these young individuals, a testament to the transformative power of the support and opportunities provided by the Club. Chris also continues to serve on the Endowment Committee, a role he has held since joining the Board, including a term as Chairman.
Addressing the crowd, Lawrence remarked, “It is hard to put into words what working on the scholarship program for 12 years has meant to me. It has been inspirational to watch the members begin here as little kids and grow up into the exceptional young adults we see here today. I admire you all.”
Echoing her fellow honoree, Winham commented, “The scholarship program has given me perspective. Every one of these young adults has an inspirational story, and they have given me confidence knowing the quality of this rising generation. And it gives me a lot of confidence in the future for the Boys & Girls Club knowing that these alumni feel such responsibility to come and be part of the Club going forward.”
Omar Badr will go on to vie for the Connecticut Youth of the Year title and a $5,000 college scholarship from Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
