Receives National Recognition for Youth Advocacy
Club presented with Champion for Youth award from Boys & Girls Clubs of America
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (Month 23, 2024) –Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County (BGCGTC) has been named the top Club in the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Southwest region and is ranked among the top 10% of Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide for the impact it is making on the lives of young people in Tarrant and Denton counties. In recognition of its advocacy on behalf of youth, Boys & Girls Clubs of America presented BGCGTC with its prestigious Champion for Youth Award at the organization’s national conference May 15-17 in Atlanta, Ga.
The Champion for Youth Award is given annually to Clubs that effectively advocate for youth at the state, federal and local levels, by building meaningful relationships with government officials, conducting social media outreach, and offering Club tours to government and legislative leaders.
Local advocacy efforts are aimed at increasing support for youth mental health, academic readiness, and life and workforce development. Daphne Barlow Stigliano, BGCGTC CEO and president, said receiving the national Champion for Youth Award is a reflection of how deeply her local leadership team is living the organization’s mission and innovating to solve the needs of youth in this community.
“Our mission is to champion opportunities for all youth, equipping young people with the experiences and tools they need to succeed,” Stigliano said. “This is a tremendous honor, a tribute to our staff and volunteers, and a source of motivation to do more.”
Last year, BGCGTC nearly doubled its goal of serving 35,000 kids and teens, reaching more than 66,000 young people in 2023. That includes introducing programs and services like Mobile Clubhouse, featuring three fully-outfitted RVs that bring Club services into communities with unmet needs; Blue Door Kitchen, a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen that offers daily high-end, nutritious meals and snacks to 3,500 club members, with a goal of eventually supporting the nutritional needs at other youth-serving organizations; and a variety of career exploration and training opportunities for young people interested in music, culinary arts and other professions.
Stigliano said the organization is focused on sustaining those efforts and continuing to look for innovative ways to make a positive impact on the lives of young people in the years to come.
