We’re excited to introduce you to each of our high school Youth of the Year nominees! Follow along as we highlight each of these amazing young leaders as they share what the Club means to them.
Each year, all 48 Clubs that make up Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida nominate up to three Youth of the Year candidates for elementary school, middle school and high school categories.
These Youth of the Year nominees represent their Boys & Girls Club in this competition, celebrating Club members’ academic achievements, leadership abilities and communication skills.
The Youth of the Year winner in each age group will be announced at our Youth of the Year Awards Ceremony on February 23.
Let’s meet this year’s nominees who represent the positive voice and spirit of hope for Northeast Florida.
It had been decades since Jerron Wheeler attended the Baxter E. Luther Boys & Girls Club as a kid. However, during his recent tour of the Club, Jerron was excited to see that his favorite Club staff member, Ms. Hattie, was still there to greet him with a smile. She couldn’t wait to hear about the successful life he had built for himself.
Click to hear more about Jerron’s Club experience and how you can connect with other Boys & Girls Clubs alumni!
Hundreds of our Boys & Girls Clubs kids were excited to “Shop with a Jock” this week as Jacksonville Jaguars players hosted a generous shopping spree at Academy Sports and Outdoors and Walmart Supercenter. Thank you to all the Jaguars players who made this holiday season so special for our young people!
Parents & Club Families: Please be aware of the following 2022 Boys & Girls Clubs holiday schedule. We wish you and your family a very happy holiday season!
Kids and teens at Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida are building positive relationships with local law enforcement through a shared passion for bicycling.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida (BGCNF) expanded its impactful bicycle program to include the Baxter E. Luther Boys & Girls Club in Arlington.
During the grand opening of the “Baxter Bikes” program on Monday, Dec. 5, off-duty law enforcement officers from local bicycle units volunteered to lead young people from the Baxter E. Luther Boys & Girls Club on a bike ride around the neighborhood.
WWE NXT Superstars inspired local kids and teens at the Baxter E. Luther Boys & Girls Club in Arlington during their visit on Friday, Dec. 2. The NXT Superstars visited with Boys & Girls Club members during their regular programs, signed autographs and encouraged them to stand up to bullying as part of the Be a STAR bullying prevention program.
As part of the WWE’s Season of Giving, the Superstars also generously donated funds for Baxter Club members to receive gifts this holiday season.
Local Jacksonville teen and 2022 Youth of the Year for Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida Laniya Flowers recently received a surprise life-changing gift of a Nissan Altima for her 19th birthday.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida chose Flowers as the recipient of this surprise car giveaway because of her shining example of the organization’s mission to enable all young people to reach their full potential.
“We are so proud of Laniya and how well she has represented Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida. We are excited to continue to play a role in her inspiring story,” said Paul Martinez, President & CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida.
Through the Great Futures Weekend, Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida raised more than $400,000 and welcomed more than 1,100 runners and walkers for the 13th Annual McKenzie’s Run and more than 100 golfers for the 2nd Annual Great Futures Golf Classic.
The Great Futures Weekend helps Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida continue their 60-year mission to help create great futures for young people like longtime Club member Darius B. who credits his 12-year experience at McKenzie’s Beaches Boys & Girls Club with helping him become the man he is today.
Club members from our River City Science Academy and Southwind Villas Boys & Girls Clubs recently enjoyed a unique STEM field trip to Kennedy Space Center. They had an opportunity to hear from two astronauts, learn from NASA educators, complete hands-on STEM challenges, and see the launch site for a real rocket.
Although launch was postponed for Artemis I, this trip successfully engaged our young people in the engineering and technological aspects of rocket launches and will potentially inspire them to pursue a career in the space industry or another STEM-related field.
Club members from our Baxter E. Luther Boys & Girls Club closed out their summer program with several exciting field trips highlighting local music, art and culture.
Through a partnership with Warehouse Studios, our Baxter E. Luther Boys & Girls Club members had the truly unique opportunity to learn a wide range of musical and sound mixing skills.
At the Ritz Theatre and Museum, our Club members had the privilege to learn about the past, present and future contributions and stories of African American arts and culture in Jacksonville.
Thirteen-year-old Club member, Melanie, painted this masterpiece titled “African Dreams” while spending time at our Baxter E. Luther Boys & Girls Club this summer.
As a kid, Herb Turner considered the Boys Club of Jacksonville, known today as Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida, as his “home away from home.” For Herb, the Laurence F. Lee Boys Club in Jacksonville’s Springfield neighborhood was a major part of his childhood, going to the Club every day after school and during the summers.
The Lee Club, now known as the Citi Teen Center, provided so many opportunities for Herb. He fondly remembers the chance to travel to Washington D.C. with the Boys Club Chorus and, at the age of 11, presenting an award to entertainer Bob Hope at Jacksonville University for his service to the Boys Club over many years.
Thank you to the attendees, sponsors, restaurants, entertainment, auction bidders and donors who supported our mission to create great futures through our recent Summer Nights event.
We are thrilled to announce that this event surpassed our goal, raising more than $260,000 to help our local young people reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.
One of the highlights of our night was hearing from two of our Youth of the Year winners, Kennadi and Lauren, about their experiences at their Club.
Culminating with its 60th anniversary celebration, Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida is now expanding into Clay County with seven new Boys & Girls Clubs in elementary, middle and high schools.
This growth is part of the organization’s strategic vision to serve more young people. With this recent Clay County expansion, Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida now provides after-school and summer youth development programs at 48 Clubs throughout Alachua, Clay, Duval and St. Johns counties.
Thanks to everyone who helped us commemorate our 60th Anniversary at our “Cheers to 60 Years” party on July 25! We are so honored to celebrate six decades of creating great futures for our local young people.
The 988 Youth Wellness Event at our Citi Teen Center is a free mental health awareness and suicide prevention program for our teens and their parents.
Named for the new nationwide 988 suicide prevention hotline launching July 17, this event is intended to encourage our young people and their parents to better understand mental health while breaking down the stigma that surrounds the issue.
Club members from our Citi Teen Center are gaining valuable workforce development training aboard the USS Orleck naval ship through our CareerLaunch Summer Apprenticeship Program.
Action News Jax interviews our teens about their experience working on the USS Orleck as they prepare for the opening of the Jacksonville Naval Museum.
There’s nothing quite like Summer Academy at Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida! During the summer, our Club members experience fun, educational activities ranging from games and challenges to local field trips and celebrations.
Join us as we journey through the excitement and adventure of the first week of Summer Academy, through the eyes of our Crown Point Elementary Boys & Girls Club members!
Thank you to the amazing teams, coaches, judges, parents, friends and families who helped in the success our 2022 Cheer, Step & Dance Competition at our Ed White High School Teen Center!
And a special shout-out to our Northwestern Legends Elementary Boys & Girls Club for dominating all three Elementary Categories of cheer, step and dance under Ms. Catherine Graham’s amazing leadership!
Our Northwestern Club was also honored with the Spirit Award, named in honor of retired Boys & Girls Club team member Yvonne Thompson to celebrate the team with the strongest leadership and crowd engagement.
Our 2022 Youth of the Year Laniya F., a senior at our Ed White High School Teen Center, recently had the privilege of visiting the City of Jacksonville Mayor’s Office. Mayor Lenny Curry presented her with a City Proclamation honoring and acknowledging her as our Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida Youth of the Year. Laniya had the opportunity to share her story with him and even got to sit in his chair!