Congratulations to the 2013 Arizona State Youth of the Year!

Johana Lopez
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix

Phoenix, AZ – Johana Lopez of Phoenix, was named Boys & Girls Club State Youth of the Year this week at the 12th Annual Arizona Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs Legislative Breakfast, presented by Fiesta Bowl Charities. The national “Youth of the Year” recognition program is the cornerstone of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Character and Leadership Development core program area. “Youth of the Year” promotes and celebrates service to the Club, community and family values, academic performance, moral character, life goals, poise and public speaking ability.

The 18-year-old Lopez, who attends the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix’s Ed Robson Branch, was chosen over eight other candidates representing Clubs across the state. After being named the winner at the breakfast at the US Airways Center in Phoenix, Lopez will take home scholarships from Fiesta Bowl Charities and Tupperware Brands totaling $4,000. She has already been accepted into eight different colleges, carries a 4.3 GPA and plans to pursue a career in forensics, with the hopes of one day working for the FBI. Read more...

The Arizona Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs

• Arizona Clubs have 47,000 registered members, plus another 87,000 youth served who benefit from the clubs’ program or facilities annually, mostly from disadvantaged circumstances

• Operate 73 full service Clubhouses daily, in 12 counties and 22 Arizona cities, including at all of our state’s military facilities

• Most of these people are between the ages of 6 and 18, some of whom are foster children

• Of those youth, 45 percent are girls and 55 percent are boys

• Forty-seven percent of members within the Arizona Alliance live at or below the Federal poverty level

• Boys & Girls Clubs provide over 60 different programs for youth such as

• Character and leadership development

• Education programs which help youth with schoolwork, teach positive study habits, promote computer and job skills and prepare older children for college

• Health education, self-esteem and wellness, including counseling against the dangers of drugs, alcohol and premature sexual activity

• Gang prevention to intervene in the lives of gang members to help them and their families regain control of their lives

• Family support activities, program and events are designed to benefit Club members by promoting family stability, cohesion and connection. Examples include family fun nights, parenting classes, referral services, job skills training programs and single-parent support groups

• Clubs provide a safe place for children who are at-risk or facing difficult family situations

• Have collective budgets that total over $26 million annually, with no more than a 10% administrative cost

• Provide specialized prevention programs that combat the spread of alcohol, drugs, tobacco and teen pregnancy

• Operate after-school programs for over 4500 children daily

• Operate 12 Clubs in Native American communities in the state