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Awards Contact Name: Sara Bealor Contact Email: sbealor@bgcsarasota.com Contact Phone Number: 941-366-3911 : Six local high school students are finalists for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County’s 2020 Youth of the Year title. This prestigious honor will be presented to the selected candidate at the organization’s annual Steak & Burger celebration on Friday, February 7. Since 1947, Youth of the Year has been the premier recognition program of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America that fosters a new generation of leaders, fully prepared to live and lead in a diverse, global and integrated world economy. The program celebrates the extraordinary achievements of Club members across the nation. The following teens have exemplified the Boys & Girls Clubs mission and are proof to the impact the Clubs make in transforming lives: • Marguerite A. is a 17-year-old senior at Pine View School and attends the Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club in Sarasota; • Yaeli B., 17, is a senior at Riverview High School and attends the Roy McBean Boys & Girls Club in Newtown; • Rah’Nia H. is a 14-year-old freshman at Booker High School and attends the Newtown Estates Park Boys & Girls Club in Newtown; • Isaiah L., 15, is a sophomore at Community Christian School and attends the Gene Matthews Boys & Girls Club in North Port; • Madison M. is a 15-year-old freshman at Student Leadership Academy and attends the Robert and Joan Lee Boys & Girls Club in Venice; and • Vanessa T., 17, is a senior at Riverview High School and attends the Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club in Sarasota. The 2020 Youth of the Year will have a chance of becoming the 2020 State of Florida Youth of the Year and opportunities to win academic scholarships, speak at national conferences and meet elected officials. Since 2012, the organization has had four State of Florida Youth of the Years, two Southeast Region Youth of the Years and one National Youth of the Year. The organization will also present Wells Purmort, former owner of Purmort & Martin Insurance Agency and founding Board member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County, with the Honorary Alumnus Award, and Shaneeka (Lee) Foster, Senior Medical Quality Assurance Specialist with Leidos and former Roy McBean Boys & Girls Club member, with the Alumna of the Year Award. Presented by the Floyd C. Johnson and Flo Singer-Johnson Foundation, Inc., this western-themed event will kick off at 6 p.m. at the Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club, located at 3100 Fruitville Road in Sarasota. Individual tickets are $150 and can be purchased online at bgcsarasota.com. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Adult guests will be served burgers while Club members in attendance will eat steak. Guests are encouraged to dress in casual western attire. Proceeds from the event will give thousands of Club members greater opportunities to excel in school, become leaders, live healthy lifestyles and plan for success after high school graduation. Sponsorship support will ensure our Clubs continue to provide the best services possible for local youth to achieve their full potential. Sponsors include the Floyd C. Johnson and Flo Singer-Johnson Foundation; Louis and Gloria Flanzer Philanthropic Trust; Sarasota Kiwanis Foundation; Intertape Polymer Group; Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation; Caldwell Trust Company; Gulf Coast Community Foundation; Wells Fargo; Marilyn Naiditch; Palm Printing; Sarasota Scene; Captivation Agency and SRQ Media. Contact Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County for more information by calling 941-366-3911. ABOUT THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SARASOTA COUNTY: Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County has been a leading youth-serving organization in Sarasota County and its surrounding area since 1970, and provides enriching after-school and summer programs to thousands of youth, ages 6 to 18, in Sarasota, Venice, North Port and Arcadia. The organization’s mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need services the most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. The programs are designed to empower youth to excel in school, become leaders, adopt healthy habits and create plans for success after high school graduation. For more information, visit bgcsarasota.com or call 941-366-3911.