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Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County Announces the 2017 Youth of the Year

Selected among three outstanding youth, Nicklaus Charles-Crowl has been named the Youth of the Year by Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County. The Youth of the Year title is a prestigious honor bestowed upon an exemplary young person in recognition of leadership, service, academic excellence and dedication to live a healthy lifestyle. Now in its 70th year, the Youth of the Year program honors our nation’s most awe-inspiring young people on their path to great futures and encourages all kids to lead, succeed and inspire. Nicklaus, a senior at Bayshore High School, will now vie for the Florida Youth of the Year title and a $5,000 college scholarship from Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Now 18 years old, Nicklaus has been a Club member since he was six. At the age of 8, Nicklaus and his family were in a car accident that took the life of his mother and brother, Christopher (9 yrs old). Nicklaus recalls the support the Club gave him through that very difficult time. “They helped my family with whatever they needed and still do today,” he said.

“I have seen Nicklaus grow and thrive in the teen program, ‘The CLUB,’ and serve as an inspiration to those that he serves at the Club, at school, on his basketball team and in the community,” said Leann Frink, Club Director of the DeSoto Boys & Girls Club. “His commitment to being a humble leader is infectious.”

Nicklaus says, “My purpose in life is to bring light to the eyes of those who look up to me and to be an example to those that I come in contact with. I know that my life was spared for a reason. I know that I am here to impact my family, friends, teammates and community in a positive way.”

If Nicklaus wins at the state competition, he will compete for the title of Southeast Region Youth of the Year and an additional $10,000 college scholarship, renewable for four years up to $40,000. Five regional winners will advance to Washington, D.C. in September 2017, to compete for the title of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Youth of the Year. The National Youth of the Year will receive an additional scholarship of $25,000, renewable each year up to $100,000 and will have the opportunity to meet with the President of the United States in the White House.

Nicklaus will be attending Wisconsin Lutheran College in the fall, where he will study sport and exercise science and business while playing football and running track for the Warriors.

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Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County Announces Invest In Kids Campaign to Build New DeSoto Club

 

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County officially launched its Invest in Kids Campaign today as volunteers, staff, and local officials gathered for a firsthand look at plans to build a 41,000 square foot building to replace the current DeSoto Club facility located at 34th Street and 53rd Avenue in Bradenton. The campaign, with a goal of $7.5 million, will build a new Club and provide an endowment to sustain operations. To date, more than $4.4 million has been raised.

“As the Chairman of the Invest in Kids Campaign, I must tell you what an honor it is to share this moment with you all,” said local attorney Caleb Grimes, who heads the effort to build the new Club. “I am a product of the Boys & Girls Club and have many fond memories of my time there. We are excited to move ahead with plans to rebuild our DeSoto Club in order to help even more kids to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens for generations to come.

Construction of the new Club will begin sometime in the next 12 months, according to Dawn Stanhope, President & CEO of the organization. Plans include a modern, welcoming new campus-style building just east of where the current Club stands. There will be separate entrances for teens and younger school-aged children, with dedicated space inside to focus on academics, character & citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. After the building’s completion, the current building will be razed for future usage, not yet determined.

“The current site has served us well,” said Stanhope, “but the 50-year-old aging facility is now functionally obsolete. The new site will bring our program spaces into the 21st century, creating dynamic areas that invite kids to learn, grow, work together and most importantly – have fun! We will be able to serve nearly triple the amount of kids we serve now on a daily basis – up to 600 every day. Getting kids off of waiting lists and into the Clubs is important in our ability to further our mission. This building will be a shining example of our community’s commitment to children.”

Conceptual plans include an 18,500 square foot teen center, a learning center for homework help and other academic activities, and a commercial kitchen that will be used to not only provide healthy snacks to the members, but also serve as a culinary laboratory for a future Bobby Flay or Ina Garten. Once the design/build team has been chosen and work commences, the estimated time from pre-construction to completion will be 18 months. In the meantime, the existing Club will remain operational to avoid disruption of service.

Major donors to the project include local developer Patrick Neal and his wife, Charlene. The Neal’s gift of $1 million will underwrite a new sports/flex field. Other donors include the Deerbrook Charitable Trust, which has pledged a matching gift of up to $1 million. The Trust, headquartered in Chevy Chase, MD, has designated its gift in honor of retired Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County President, Carl Weeks. In addition to the board’s 100% participation, over 70 staff members have contributed to the project to date – including many that work in other Club locations throughout the county.

“We still have a way to go to reach our goal, of course,” said Grimes. “But this project is vital to the youth of Manatee County. We have to expand our reach to serve those who need us most. The Clubs provide a safe, nurturing environment that can change the trajectory of a person’s life in a positive way. Invest in Kids is a must-do for the Boys & Girls Clubs and the community as a whole. Our children not only need a new Club, they deserve it.”

More information about the Invest in Kids Campaign click here or call Francine Diemer at 941-761-2582, option 5.

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Taco Bell Teams Up With The CLUB at Southeast H.S.

Graduate-for-Mas-Teens

 

Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County hosted an event at The CLUB at Southeast High School in honor of the Club members who are moving on to the next grade or graduating in the Class of 2016. The celebration, which included food from Taco Bell and educational and motivational guest speaker Toastmasters’ regional champion Dwight Gilmer. This was made possible through a $4,700 grant from the Taco Bell® Foundation.

“The young men and women of The CLUB at Southeast High School have worked so hard and it’s a thrill to share in their success toward earning their diplomas,” said Dawn Stanhope, President/CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County. “We appreciate the Taco Bell® Foundation for recognizing and celebrating our new grads and committing to our future ones through the Foundation’s long-term support right here in Manatee County.”

The grant is part of a partnership between the Taco Bell® Foundation and Boys & Girls Clubs of America that is expected to raise $30 million to support more young people through high school graduation and beyond.

“At Taco Bell, you could say that America’s young people are at the heart and soul of our brand. They are our customers, our employees and our next generation of leaders,” said Frank Tucker Chief People Officer at Taco Bell and President for the Taco Bell Foundation. “We believe it is our responsibility to invest in these future leaders and help them succeed. Our partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America is an extension of our commitment to ensure youth are empowered to graduate from high school and go onto achieve their dreams.”

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The Spirit of Manatee – Fueled By Moore Enthusiasm

MANATEE COUNTY, FL – Elizabeth Moore’s involvement with the Boys & Girls Clubs began long before becoming a board member for the Foundation for Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County. Prior to 2007, the Moore family lived in the Boston area, where Elizabeth was first introduced to the Clubs by the Kraft family, one of many prominent Bostonian names involved with Boys & Girls Clubs .

“The first project I helped with was building a gym for the Club in Chelsea,” said Elizabeth. “After being in school all day, the kids needed a place to have fun and burn off energy.”

Elizabeth served on the board of directors for Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston for over ten years. During that time, one of the other things she enjoyed was serving on a development committee to provide better nutrition for the Club members.

Philanthropy is firmly established in the Boston area. That’s where the Moore family’s charitable enthusiasm originated. Along with Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, the Moore family gave their support to area institutions such as the Boston Symphony, Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Science, Peabody Essex Museum and various independent schools and colleges. Elizabeth currently serves on the board of trustees for the Museum of Science in Boston.

When the Moore family moved to Bradenton in 2007 they brought their philanthropic spirit with them. Elizabeth soon joined the board of Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School, where she led the charge for the world-class Moore Athletic Complex at Turner Fields and the Marine Science Center.

Then, with a recommendation from her friend, Hugh Miller, owner of Pier 22 and one of our foundation board members, Elizabeth joined the board of directors of the Foundation for Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County.

“With my experience with the Clubs in Boston, it made sense to become involved in Manatee County,” said Elizabeth.

When asked what made her want to get involved with the Clubs, Elizabeth replied, “The importance of providing a place for kids to belong, feel ownership and have good role models.” She also shared that, both in Boston and in Manatee County, she heard Club kids say, “The Boys & Girls Club has saved my life!”

Recently, Elizabeth joined the board of Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium. Marine Science is one of her passions, which she shares with her daughter, Merry. She is supporting the new Mote Coral Reef Restoration Lab in Summerland Key. She and Merry literally dove right in with scientists to help restore reefs. Dr. Michael P. Crosby, President and CEO of Mote, described Elizabeth as the “ideal board member” because of her enthusiasm, influence and generosity.

It is because of her enthusiastic support of these local organizations and beyond, that Elizabeth Moore received the Spirit of Manatee Special Recognition Award in March. We are proud of her and thrilled to have her as a member of our leadership.

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