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Released 13 March 2009
LOCAL TEEN NAMED MARYLAND
YOUTH OF THE YEAR
BY BOYS &
GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA
Annapolis,
MD, March 10,2009- Today Governor Martin O'Malley announced Naa Adei Mante, a
member of Fort Meade Youth Services Boys & Girls Club, as winner of the
2009 Boys & Girls Clubs of America Youth of the Year award for the state of
Maryland . In addition to winning this
prestigious title, Mante also will receive a $1,000 scholarship from the
Reader's Digest Foundation. She is
among hundreds of Youth of the Year winners across the country recognized by
Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) for her sound character, leadership
skills and willingness to give back to the community.
Being
named Youth of the Year is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can
receive. The title recognizes outstanding contributions to a member's family,
school, community and Boys & Girls Club, as well as personal challenges and
obstacles overcome. This program was
founded more than 60 years ago through the generosity of the Reader's Digest
Foundation.
"The
Reader's Digest Foundation has been the proud sponsor of the Youth of the Year
program since 1947," said Susan Fraysse Russ, executive director, Reader's
Digest Foundation. "For over 60 years,
we have had the great honor of saluting amazing teens, like Naa Adei Mante, for
their dedication to their families, the Club,
their community, and their academic and career goals."
When
her mother decided to enlist in the Army Reserves in 2004, the decision caused
a great deal of fear in Mante and created concerns regarding how she would
spend her time after the school day ended. Mante was still dealing with the
stress of transitioning from elementary to middle school and was very
apprehensive about meeting new people and interacting with them. However, once
her mother enrolled Mante in the Children and Youth Services Boys & Girls
Club at Fort Meade, her outlook began to change. "The welcoming youth and staff
at the Club helped me to overcome my fears," states Mante. "Because of
the amiability of the CYSS
family, I became comfortable with myself. My membership with the Club CYSS
program established the foundation for my character, which I am steadily
building upon today."
Mante
is involved in several volunteer initiatives in school, at the club and in her
church; including serving as the vice president of the Keystone Club, a
community service and leadership club for teens; serving as a computer lab
facilitator and as the class of 2011 school president. An A student at Meade
Senior High School, Mante plans to pursue a career in law after attending
Stanford University.
Naa
and all Youth of the Year nominees are living proof that Boys & Girls Clubs
across the country are fulfilling their mission of inspiring and enabling young
people," said Roxanne Spillett, president, BGCA. "We are most
appreciative to the Reader's Digest Foundation for
their long-time support of our Youth of the Year program and for helping Club
members attain their goals."
This
summer, Mante will compete against other youth from states located in BGCA's
Northeast Region. If named regional
winner, she will be awarded a $10,000 college scholarship and advance to the
national competition in Washington, D.C.
The National Youth of the Year receives an additional $15,000 college
scholarship and will be installed by President Barack Obama during a ceremony
in the Oval Office.
As the
founding sponsor of the
Youth of the Year program, the Reader's Digest Foundation has given nearly $8
million towards BGCA and 62 teens have been selected as the National Youth of
the Year. For more information about
the Youth of the Year program, visit www.bgca.org
About
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For
more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (www.bgca.org)
has been changing and saving young lives, providing hope and opportunity for
kids who need them most. Today, some
4,300 Clubs serve 4.8 million young people through Club membership and
community outreach. Known as The
Positive Place for Kids, Boys & Girls Clubs can be found all across the
country and on U.S. military bases throughout the world. Clubs provide
young people 6-18 years old
with guidance-oriented character development programs conducted by trained,
professional staff. In communities
large and small, Clubs positively impact lives and help young people reach
their full potential as productive, caring citizens. Key Boys & Girls
Club programs emphasize leadership
development; education and career exploration; community service; financial
literacy; health and life skills; the arts; sports, fitness and recreation; and
family outreach. In a recent Harris Survey of Club alumni, 57 percent said the
Club saved their lives.
National
headquarters are located in Atlanta.
Contact:
Lida Payne, Fort Meade Youth Services, 301.677.1437,
lida.payne@us.army.mil