Philadelphia, PA, April 14, 2005—
Corey Stewart was announced as Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia’s Youth of the Year at the annual Youth of the Year dinner tonight. Stewart is a member of the Nicetown Boys & Girls Club. A junior at Girls’ High, Stewart is the school mascot and runs track year-round as a member of the varsity cross-country, indoor track and track teams. Cited by many as a natural leader, Stewart has distinguished herself by balancing a demanding set of family responsibilities with robust academic challenges. After completing college, she plans to open and operate a day care center and build on the examples set by the Boys & Girls Club staff she has known over her years of membership. “They don’t just work for a paycheck,” Stewart says; “they sincerely care about children … a staff member is always available with an open heart willing to listen and talk about anything.”
Stewart was presented with a $1,000 scholarship for college, and will be BGCP’s representative at the State Youth of the Year competition in Harrisburg on May 8, 2005. She has a chance of winning more college scholarships as she advances to the next level of competition. Youth of the Year is a Boys & Girls Clubs of America program designed to recognize outstanding teens at each Club, and to give them a chance to win scholarships for post-high school education. Teens from each Club undergo a rigorous process that includes written recommendations from peers and teachers, essays, and an interview with a diverse panel of judges. The runner-up of BGCP’s Youth of the Year competition is Andrew Garson from the Bridesburg Boys & Girls Club. The senior at Central High School is heading to Drexel University’s College of Engineering this fall.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia
has been serving children since 1887 and is a member agency of Boys & Girls Clubs of America as well as a Community Impact Affiliate of the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia seeks to inspire and empower young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize and reach their fullest potential. There are currently Clubs in seven locations in Philadelphia: Bridesburg, Northeast Frankford, Germantown, Kensington, Nicetown, West Kensington, and Wissahickon. The Clubs deliver proven-effective programming for preschool day care, and for all ages through 18 after school and during the summer.
