SUCCESS STORIES
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There is No Silver Bullet to Success.
It takes an army of people, a safe environment, high-quality programs and unique experiences to level the playing field. We don’t just do one thing, we do whatever it takes to build great futures.
2023 YOUTH OF THE YEAR
Owen
Owen doesn't define his life by the challenges he's faced. Instead, he believes his character is built on how he reacts. "It's the response that defines you, not the challenge," he says. And although he's experienced significant loss, transition, and grief, his response has been to lean into kindness. In fact, he believes a lot of the world's problems could be solved or prevented with simple acts of kindness.
He knows the power of this type of gesture because it's what helped lift him back up from some of his darkest moments. After Owen's mom passed away and he had to move to a new state, he found wasn't the same person anymore. His mental health suffered greatly. It was his family and the kindness of new friends, both at school and the Club, that helped revive him. He's passionate about advocating for mental health and making each moment count - a promise he made to himself after losing his mom.
"Owen has inspired us all to embrace vulnerability, and the power of kindness. He owns his narrative and uses his voice to speak out for others going through hard times. We are so proud to celebrate him as our 2023 Youth of the Year." -- Christina Singh, CEO
Memphis
2021 Youth of the Year
The Club at the Y
Member since 2017
"Memphis is especially skilled at making others feel welcome, and he’s always a good listener when someone is having a hard day. He says he knows what it's like to feel down, and so he strives to help others who may feel the same. Memphis leads with kindness and compassion."
- CEO Christina Singh
Sam
2022 Youth of the Year
The Club at the Y
Member since 2019
"Sam brings joy and excitement to the Club. He is a leader and sets a great example of excellence."
- Staff member Andrew
Program impact
It all adds up. Safe places plus trained staff and impactful programming equals better outcomes for our kids.
economic impact
- A 2016 study conducted by the Institute for Social Research and the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan found that every $1 invested in Boys & Girls Clubs returns nearly $10 in current and future earnings, as well as cost-savings to our community.
- How? Clubs help increase the earning power of parents, as well as of youth when they become adults. They also contribute to major savings for society by helping to prevent costly expenditures for health care, public assistance programs, and criminal justice system involvement and incarceration.
Every $1 invested in the Boys & Girls Club returns nearly $10 in benefits to Sheboygan County.
