On Friday, Feb. 25, seven exceptional local youth from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County will compete to be named the 2022 Palm Beach County Youth of the Year. Finalists will have the opportunity to demonstrate their leadership abilities, academic success and cultivating experiences with a speech at a dinner held at Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The Youth of the Year program highlights the Boys & Girls Club mission and its impact on 10,000 young people annually in Palm Beach County.
“This incredible event takes place every year, allowing our teen members to showcase all of their accomplishments,” Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County President & CEO Jaene Miranda said. “On one of the biggest nights of their lives, they will have the opportunity to share their stories and will receive recognition for all that they have achieved. We’re excited to host this event once again and to crown the next county winner who will not only compete in the state competition but will proudly represent the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County.”
Youth of the Year is a Boys & Girls Clubs of America premier recognition program, celebrating the extraordinary achievements of club members across the country. Each year, one exceptional member is selected to be the Palm Beach County Youth of the Year and then compete in the state competition for the chance to move onto the regional and then national competitions.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County is excited to announce the continuation of the Mary Alice Fortin Foundation scholarship program. This program provides four-year Florida Prepaid College scholarships to the seven Youth of the Year finalists, and a four-year university scholarship, including room, board and applicable fees, for the county winner.
The 2022 Palm Beach County Youth of the Year candidates are Kaleb Rolle from the Florence De George Boys & Girls Clubs of West Palm Beach, Marissa Alteus from the Marjorie S. Fisher Boys & Girls Club of West Palm Beach, Alysa Williamson from the Max M. Fisher Boys & Girls Club of Riviera Beach, Aryatha Dornezon from the Boys & Girls Club of Delray Beach, Jean Dalmacy from the Boys & Girls Club of Boca Raton, Jermaine Lovely from the Smith & Moore Family Teen Center of Belle Glade and Valencia Jean from the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club of Wellington.
Finalists were selected to represent their club by a preliminary competition that included a comprehensive application, three essays, three letters of recommendation and an interview in front of a panel of judges made up of the club’s advisory board members. Three-minute speeches presented live at the dinner will serve as the final scoring factor.
Leading the charge as event chairs are Olympia Bishop and Wilder Regalbuto. Supporting as honorary chairs are the Honorable Danielle H. Moore and the Honorable Lesly S. Smith. The Youth of the Year Dinner is presented by Publix Super Markets Charities and is powered by Comcast. This year’s Great Futures Champion is the Mary Alice Fountain Foundation. Senior Sponsors include Office Depot, the C. Kenneth & Laura Baxter Foundation and Cresset Capital, Debbie & Bob Dunkin. Joining them are Junior Sponsors Olympia & Brooks Bishop, Carrier, the John A. Moran Charitable Trust and Wilder & Jason Regalbuto. Sophomore Sponsors are Ann-Britt & Christian Angle, Ed Morse Automotive Group, Mary & Mark Freitas, Christine & Bob Stiller and the Taylor Family Foundation. Freshman Sponsors include Fischer, Sylvia James, Norwest Equity Partners and Lisa Russo.
To purchase tickets, or for more information, contact Development Manager Nicole Miranda at (561) 676-5472 or nmiranda@bgcpbc.org, or visit www.bgcpbc.org.
