Meet our 2018 Youth of the Year!
We are pleased to recognize Johnathan H. as our Youth of the Year for 2016! Johnathan is 18 years old and has attended his Saginaw Unit for 11 consecutive years, where he has been an outstanding Club member and an inspiring mentor to his peers.
Johnathan's story does not begin happily. At age 7, he unknowingly followed his cousin into a "trap house", which several young men were using to store guns and drugs. It was that day that he was initiated into their gang. His initiation consisted of all of the men beating him until he could barely stand. Through his involvement in the gang, he learned how to hot-wire cars, steal guns, and deal (and partake in) drugs. He was an alcoholic by the age of 9.
Johnathan's mother died of sickle cell anemia in March of 2010, shortly before his younger brother's third birthday. It was then that his father abandoned them for a life of hard drug use, and the children were left to be raised by their grandparents.
Throughout all of this turmoil, Johnathan was an active member of the Saginaw Boys & Girls Club (now the Saginaw Unit of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Great Lakes Bay Region). One day, he was playing basketball in the gym, and another member tripped him. This caused Johnathan to spiral into a rage, and it was up to our Unit Director, Ray Garcia, to calm him down. According to Johnathan, it was in that moment that he started reflecting on his life and how he had gotten to where he was. Thanks to support from his family and the staff at the Clubs, he was able to get out of the gang and start doing something more with his life.
According to Johnathan, Mr. Ray played an important role in keeping him on track. Every day, he told him that, if he didn't stay busy with something good, something bad would surely find him. These words motivated Johnathan to seek better opportunities for himself. With Mr. Ray's help, Johnathan got a job with the DNR and started leading activities in the Triple Play and Healthy Habits programs at the Club. Now, he talks with members there about gang involvement, violence, and drugs in an effort to keep them from pursuing that lifestyle.
Johnathan's best friend was shot off his bicycle at age 15. He knows that, had he continued down the path he was on, that could have easily been him. We are grateful for Johnathan's wisdom, and for his testimony to the impact that Boys & Girls Clubs can have on children in our community. Congratulations on all your hard work, Johnathan! Good luck at the State Youth of the Year Competition in April!
Johnathan's story does not begin happily. At age 7, he unknowingly followed his cousin into a "trap house", which several young men were using to store guns and drugs. It was that day that he was initiated into their gang. His initiation consisted of all of the men beating him until he could barely stand. Through his involvement in the gang, he learned how to hot-wire cars, steal guns, and deal (and partake in) drugs. He was an alcoholic by the age of 9.
Johnathan's mother died of sickle cell anemia in March of 2010, shortly before his younger brother's third birthday. It was then that his father abandoned them for a life of hard drug use, and the children were left to be raised by their grandparents.
Throughout all of this turmoil, Johnathan was an active member of the Saginaw Boys & Girls Club (now the Saginaw Unit of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Great Lakes Bay Region). One day, he was playing basketball in the gym, and another member tripped him. This caused Johnathan to spiral into a rage, and it was up to our Unit Director, Ray Garcia, to calm him down. According to Johnathan, it was in that moment that he started reflecting on his life and how he had gotten to where he was. Thanks to support from his family and the staff at the Clubs, he was able to get out of the gang and start doing something more with his life.
According to Johnathan, Mr. Ray played an important role in keeping him on track. Every day, he told him that, if he didn't stay busy with something good, something bad would surely find him. These words motivated Johnathan to seek better opportunities for himself. With Mr. Ray's help, Johnathan got a job with the DNR and started leading activities in the Triple Play and Healthy Habits programs at the Club. Now, he talks with members there about gang involvement, violence, and drugs in an effort to keep them from pursuing that lifestyle.
Johnathan's best friend was shot off his bicycle at age 15. He knows that, had he continued down the path he was on, that could have easily been him. We are grateful for Johnathan's wisdom, and for his testimony to the impact that Boys & Girls Clubs can have on children in our community. Congratulations on all your hard work, Johnathan! Good luck at the State Youth of the Year Competition in April!
What is Youth of the Year?
For nearly 70 years, the Youth of the Year program has honored and celebrated our nation's most inspiring teens. Stories of outstanding leadership, service, academic excellence, and dedication to healthy lifestyles have made Youth of the Year one of America's most prominent leadership and recognition programs for teens. These amazing youth represent the voice and spirit of hope for America. They inspire all kids to lead, to succeed, and to motivate other young people to fulfill their goals and visions.
Each year, one exceptional Club member is selected to be the National Youth of the Year, serving as an ambassador for Boys & Girls Club youth, as well as a voice for all our nation's kids and teens. Over the decades, these individuals have exemplified the Boys & Girls Club mission and are proof of the impact that Clubs make in transforming (and, sometimes, saving) kids' lives. National Youth of the Year winners have achieved success in a variety of industries, including entertainment, politics, business, and sports.
To learn more about Youth of the Year, visit the Youth of the Year website.
Each year, one exceptional Club member is selected to be the National Youth of the Year, serving as an ambassador for Boys & Girls Club youth, as well as a voice for all our nation's kids and teens. Over the decades, these individuals have exemplified the Boys & Girls Club mission and are proof of the impact that Clubs make in transforming (and, sometimes, saving) kids' lives. National Youth of the Year winners have achieved success in a variety of industries, including entertainment, politics, business, and sports.
To learn more about Youth of the Year, visit the Youth of the Year website.
