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What We Do

Youth of the Year

YOUTH OF THE YEAR

The Boys & Girls Clubs of America Youth of the Year Program is an annual initiative to foster young people’s personal growth and leadership qualities, and the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can achieve. Greenwich’s Youth of the Year program was established in 1969 to recognize club members who give back to their club and community. Recipients of the honor have demonstrated service to club, community, and family; academic success; strong moral character; life goals; and poise and public speaking ability.  

The Youth of the Year honorees are shining examples and living proof that great futures start at the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich. Winners go on to vie for the Connecticut Youth of the Year title and then participate in a regional and national competition. Each year a celebratory dinner is held where guests gather to witness the announcement of the winner. 

NOTABLE HONOREES 
Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich has celebrated two national and four state level winners:  

Robert Zikias
1976 Youth of the Year, State of Connecticut Youth of the Year, and National Youth of the Year 

Keith Richard Ward
1979 Youth of the Year, State of Connecticut Youth of the Year, and National Youth of the Year

Deelia Wadsworth
1991 Youth of the Year (1st female) and State of Connecticut Youth of the Year 

Dean Bell
1993 Youth of the Year and State of Connecticut Youth of the Year

Domenica Echeverria
2018 Youth of the Year and State of Connecticut Youth of the Year 

Omar Badr
2024 Youth of the Year and State of Connecticut Youth of the Year 

Joell Molina
2026 Youth of the Year and State of Connecticut Youth of the Year

2026 Youth of the Year

“The Boys & Girls Club showed me that belonging isn’t something you’re born into; it’s something you build, together, in places like this one where love and support await at any door. I’m proof that when you give a kid a place to belong, you give them everything.” —Joell Molina, 2026 Youth of the Year & State of CT Youth of the Year

 

Champion of Youth

The Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich’s Champion of Youth award is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich supporter can achieve. The recipient is recognized as making a significant contribution of time and talent to the members and mission of the Club.

Recognized at the annual Youth of the Year dinner, it is a time when the Club’s friends, supporters, staff and alumni come together to say thank you to the Champion of Youth who has been instrumental in helping the Club continue its mission to serve the youth of Greenwich. 

The Champion of Youth has demonstrated outstanding service to Club, and embodies all that the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich stands for.  

Champion of Youth Honorees

Tony Mann, 2026
George Fox, 2025
Sally Lawrence & Chris Winham, 2024
Jannell Bakrow & Annette Wilson, 2023
Donald Palmer, 2022
Lisa Stuart, 2021 
Susan Bevan, 2020
Rebecca Breed, 2019
Jean Witmer, 2018
Judy Higgins, 2017

BGCG By The Numbers

  • Members Served

    1,023

  • Volunteer Hours by Teens

    525

  • College Scholarships Given

    $463,500

  • Programs Offered

    31

We offer grateful thanks to our major supporters
  • Greenwich United Way
    Greenwich United Way
  • stone point
    stone point
  • Citadel
    Citadel
  • Taco Bell Foundation
    Taco Bell Foundation
  • Morgan Stanley Evergreen 21 Group
    Morgan Stanley Evergreen 21 Group
© 2026 Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich
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Ongoing support is important to enabling projects to continue their work, so we encourage donors to continue to contribute to projects over time. But if you must cancel your recurring donation, please notify us.

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