YOUTH OF THE YEAR
Youth of the Year Celebration • April 3, 2024
Hyatt Regency Greenwich
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
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
2023 Youth of the Year
“One of the things that truly makes the Club special to me is the people. Even from my first time attending the Club, the sense of community has kept me coming back every year. I’m eager to continue building these relationships and volunteering my time to provide others with the same experiences as I’ve had. I have made many close friendships at the Club, and more impactful than this are the role models that I learned from.” —Omar Badr, 2024 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
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