Boys & Girls Clubs of Elkhart County received the Champion of Youth award from Boys & Girls Clubs of America for their advocacy on behalf of Indiana’s youth.
“Clubs like ours have a unique role as community leaders in providing valuable afterschool programs to our country’s youth that enable them to achieve great futures,” said Dr. Tami Hicks, President & CEO. “We are wholly committed to raising the visibility of the needs of the youth in our community, especially the ones who need us most, and show what we can accomplish with the support of our elected officials and our community.”
Members of our Clubs visited the Indiana Statehouse to meet with our representatives and advocate for funding in the state budget. Boys & Girls Clubs of Elkhart County also played a crucial role in Governor Braun’s designation of December 15 as a statewide Boys & Girls Club Day, and they were specifically named in the official proclamation.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Club Advocacy Engagement Recognition Program recognizes the advocacy work that Boys & Girls Clubs do every day, with an emphasis on impact, creativity, and innovation. The program consists of three tiers for Clubs: Advocate (first 50% of Clubs), Hero (next 40% of Clubs), and Champion (top 10% of Clubs). Clubs get points for impactful engagements, and those points determine in which tier a Club is placed. “Boys & Girls Clubs champion opportunities for all youth, equipping young people with the experiences and tools they need to succeed,” said Dr. Hicks. “Our advocacy isn’t just a one-day event. We are raising our voices every single day, to ensure top issues and solutions impacting young people are prioritized in our community, our state, and at the national level.”
About Boys & Girls Clubs of America For over 160 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA.org) has provided a safe place for kids and teens to learn and grow. Clubs offer caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Boys & Girls Club programming promotes academic success, good character and leadership, and healthy lifestyles. More than 5,500 Clubs serve over 4.2 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. National headquarters are located in Atlanta.
