Rosetta S.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Lorain County

As a young child Rosetta faced a lot of hardships growing up on the south side of Elyria, such as domestic violence, homelessness and worst, the loss of her grandmother who she consider her best friend, at just 8 years old. With so much going on in her life and the youngest of six, Rosetta felt she had nowhere to go and no one to turn to. As a result she began acting out in school and hanging out with her older brother's friends, who were drug dealers. Rosetta's elementary school principal noticed her going down the wrong path and suggested she attend the Boys & Girls Clubs. It was at the Clubs where Rosetta received support and care from staff in a way she never received before. Most importantly, Rosetta was able to find happiness within herself again. The Clubs served not only as a safe haven for Rosetta but also a place for her to grow and mature as a young lady. The Elyria High School graduate expressed that without the Clubs she would probably be in jail or down the path of destruction. Rosetta attends Kent State University majoring in education.

Malaya  O.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Reserve (Akron)

When Malaya stepped into the Clubs, she was reserved and cautious, until the guided hands from support staff reassured her that she would have fun and succeed at the Club with their direction. Through participating in targeted programming, such as Smart Girls, Fine Arts, and Torch Club, Malaya has been transformed into a leader, in the Club, her school and her community. Malaya has conveyed that her experiences at the Club helped her choose her path of positive change. With encouragement, support, and program participation, Malaya became the LeBron James Clubhouse Torch Club vice president. She leads her peers through community service projects and is an academic role model as she maintains an honor roll status.

William W.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Reserve (Akron)

William has been a Club kid since 2011. Since then he has been inspired to overcome obstacles including moving away from his Clubhouse. But William was determined to continue his journey with the Club. He travels 10 miles by bike from Cuyahoga Falls (approximately a 75 minute bike ride) to his Club in all types of weather just to continue his Club experience. William is a leader in Torch Club and assists younger members during Club hours, in addition to assisting and developing volunteer efforts for the Club. William has been an active leader for five years and the Club will continue to foster his determination, so he can do GREAT things!

Ian B.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbus

Ian, 8, has been a member of the Columbus Clubs for a year. Even though Ian has only been a member for a short period of time, his Club staff express that the Club has a positive impact on Ian.

"Ian is a very enthusiastic member and has made it clear how much he appreciates having the Boys & Girls Club in his life. He says that although he doesn't feel as safe at home or in his neighborhood, he has made many friends here and thinks this is a friendly and comfortable place for him to spend the summer. He has fit in quickly and often volunteers to help around the Club, keeping the games room tidy, and lining up when we transition to the next program."

Mariah H.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbus

Mariah, 8, was selected as Columbus Boys & Girls Club member of the week. Her staff stated, "Mariah is our member of the week because she brings so much positive energy to the room. She is happy to participate in any activity, especially when we take field trips to try new things. She has good relationships with all of our staff members and even helped to organized our arts and craft supplies."

Aliyha G.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Dayton

Aliyah, the older of two and raised by a single mother living in a high-risk community, joined the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dayton when she was in 6th grade. She was full of attitude and always needed to have the last word. She remained an active member of the Club until she graduated from Stivers School for the Arts in 2014 and over time became a strong leader in the Club. She was an active member of Keystone Club and participated in SMART Girls and Diplomas2Degrees. Aliyah is now preparing to enter her junior year at Central State University where she serves as a campus ambassador and majors in Business with a concentration in Marketing.

Josh R.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland

Josh, 7, knew no English when his family came to Cleveland from Puerto Rico about three years ago. That summer Josh enrolled in the Boys & Girls Club of Cleveland. At BGCC's West Side Club, he learned to speak and read English even before he attended school for the first time in the United States. Since his mother only knows Spanish, Josh now serves as her translator when they go to the grocery store. He also helps classmates and fellow Club members who struggle with the English language. 

Nyemah G.

2018 Columbus Youth of the Year

A member since the age of six, Nyemah credits the close friendships she has at the Club to sports, where she plays on both the Club’s soccer and basketball teams as well as her high school softball team and bowling league. As President of the Keystone Club, Nyemah leads a select group of teens dedicated to tackling service projects in the community. Her dream is to attend The Ohio State University in biology with hopes of one day becoming a trauma surgeon.