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Boys & Girls Clubs of America Midwest Youth of the Year Celebration
On Thursday, June 26, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) will host the annual Midwest Youth of the Year celebration honoring standout teens from across the region for their leadership, academic excellence, and service. Local youth will share their inspiring stories, with one teen awarded a $20,000 scholarship and the title of Midwest Youth of the Year and Midwest Military Youth of the Year — the highest honor for Club youth.
Expect powerful speeches, unforgettable performances, and appearances from:
🏅Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Olympic Gold Medalist
🎤 Amy Vanderoef (Emmy-nominated host)
🧑🎓Teen finalists from across the Midwest
Event Details:
WHAT: Boys & Girls Club of America (BGCA) will honor the Midwest region’s most inspiring teens for their outstanding leadership, service, academic excellence, and dedication to health and well-being.
WHEN: Thursday, June 26, 2025 from 6:00-9:00pm ET
6:00 PM: Reception | 7:00-9:00 PM: Dinner & Program
WHERE: Theater on the Lake (2401 N Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60614)
WHO:
2025 Midwest Youth of the Year teen finalists
BGCA President & CEO Jim Clark
Emceed by Amy Vanderoef
Notable special guests, like Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Club mentors & alumni
WHY: Amplify uplifting, local human interest youth and Illinois and the Midwest’s future changemakers.
TICKETS: Purchase tickets HERE
On-site interview opportunities available with Jim Clark, BGCA CEO, notable guests listed above, and the inspiring local youth. We’d love for you to join us for dinner and/or to amplify these uplifting human interest youth and Illinois and the Midwest’s future changemakers.
A full media alert is here and more about BGCA and its Youth of the Year program is included below.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than 160 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA.org) has provided a safe place for kids and teens to learn and grow. Clubs offer caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Boys & Girls Clubs programming promotes academic success, good character and leadership, and healthy lifestyles. Over 5,500 Clubs serve more than 4 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. The national headquarters is located in Atlanta. Learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of America on Facebook and LinkedIn.
About Youth of the Year
The Youth of the Year (https://bgca.org/yoy) program is Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s premier youth recognition initiative. It celebrates outstanding teens who are committed to leadership, service, and academic excellence. Each year, Boys & Girls Club members across the country participate in local, state, and regional Youth of the Year events, culminating in the selection of the National Youth of the Year. As the Signature Sponsor of Youth of the Year, Kohl’s, through Kohl’s Cares, empowers Boys & Girls Clubs through staff training in trauma-informed care and curriculum updates that support youth mental health and wellbeing within the Youth of the Year program.
Event Links
Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/3122573-0
