LOCAL TEEN NAMED BOYS & GIRLS CLUB YOUTH OF THE YEAR

 (Freeport, Texas) (March 28, 2008) – Daylon Stewart is a true example of an extraordinary young man. At age 14, he has just been selected as the Youth of the Year for the Boys & Girls Club of Brazoria County.  Stewart is among hundreds of local Youth of the Year winners across the country recognized by Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) for his sound character, leadership skills and willingness to give back to the community.

Being named Youth of the Year is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can receive. The title recognizes outstanding contributions to a member’s family, school, community and Boys & Girls Club, as well as personal challenges and obstacles overcome. This program was founded over 60 years ago through the generosity of the Reader’s Digest Foundation.

Stewart has been a member of Boys & Girls Club of Brazoria County for eight years.  He serves as an officer in the Keystone Club and is also active in his school and church.  An aspiring teacher and choreographer, our Youth of the Year thinks education is essential to aims to earn a graduate degree in the future.  While life has not always been easy for this Freeport teen, Stewart is comfortable marching to the beat of his own drum and exemplifying to others why it is important to be true to yourself.  He is a role model to younger kids and credits the Boys &Girls Club as a key reason why he has been successful in life thus far.

“Daylon Stewart is an incredible kid,” said Executive Director of Boys & Girls Club of Brazoria County Fay Beard.  “He is a talented vocalist and dancer.  Beyond his physical abilities, however, Daylon also cares about giving back to the Club and our community.  He can always be found mentoring younger Club members with homework and is very involved with planning Club special events.  Daylon also been instrumental in the success of annual special events like the Halloween Haunted House and Christmas Pageant.  We are proud he to name him as our Youth of the Year.”

 Earlier this spring, Stewart competed against other Boys & Girls Club members for the Texas Youth of the Year title and a $1,000 scholarship from Reader’s Digest. The regional winner moved onto the state level, then competed for the title of the Southwest Region Youth of the Year and an additional $10,000 scholarship. The five regional winners will advance to Washington, D.C., in September 2008 to compete for the title of BGCA’s National Youth of the Year. The National Youth of the Year receives an additional $15,000 college scholarship and is installed by the President in an Oval Office ceremony.  While Stewart was not selected as the Texas Youth of the Year, he represented our area well and is an outstanding model for other youth in our community.

For 36 years the Boys & Girls Club of Brazoria County, a United Way Agency, has inspired and enabled all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.  Serving more than 5,000 young people through twelve facility-based sites and a variety of programs and

services, the Boys & Girls Club of Brazoria County is the positive place for youth, ages 6 to 18, in our community.  For more information on the programs and services offered by the Boys & Girls Club of Brazoria County please contact Fay Beard at the Boys & Girls Club of Brazoria County at (979) 373-9668 or visit our website at www.bgcbc.com.

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