National Youth of the Year

GULFPORT, MS. TEEN NAMED BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA

NATIONAL YOUTH OF THE YEAR
WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 21, 2005

Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) today announced that Jarvis McInnis, a 10-year member of the Boys & Girls Clubs from Gulfport, MS. on the Gulf Coast, has been named 2005 -2006 National Youth of the Year.

In addition to the title, McInnis, who was honored at a Congressional Breakfast held today in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, will receive a $15,000 scholarship from the Reader Digest Foundation and the opportunity to meet the President of the United States. He also will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at tonight Washington Nationals game.

The Youth of the Year program, which has been nationally sponsored by the Reader Digest Foundation for 58 years, recognizes outstanding contributions to a member family, school, community and Boys & Girls Club; academic excellence; as well as personal challenges and obstacles overcome.

Jarvis McInnis and all Youth of the Year nominees offer 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 thankful to the Reader Digest Foundation for their long-time support of our Youth of the Year program and for helping Club members reach their goals.

In order to compete for this prestigious national honor, McInnis as well as four finalists garnered the Youth of the Year title at their respective local, state and regional levels. The other finalists were Ashley Echavarria (Carlsbad, N.M.), Paris Echoles (Beloit, Wis.), Jazelle Hunt (Jersey City, N.J.), and Chantel Sanchez (Phoenix).

The Reader Digest Foundation awarded each state finalist a $1,000 college scholarship and each regional finalist a $10,000 college scholarship.

Overcoming a speech impediment, Jarvis McInnis has grown to use his gift of voice for more than mere dialogue. Through his motivational speaking and singing, he has touched the lives of numerous people. At his local Boys & Girls Club, he is known for his leadership as a youth mentor, tutor and instructor for the youth choir. The Keystone Club, which focuses on teen leadership and community service, is another vital component of McInnis' involvement with the Club, where he has participated in numerous community clean-ups and safety initiatives.

One can also find him teaching his peers about the risks associated with premature sexual activity and the importance of nonviolence. McInnis is certified as a peer counselor and STD/HIV/AIDS instructor. At Harrison Central High School, he launched a choral program and was elected student body president. He graduated with a 4.2 GPA and was inducted into the school Hall of Fame.

McInnis currently is a freshman at Tougaloo College in Mississippi, where he will pursue a degree in political science, followed by a law degree. One day he hopes to become President of the United States. The Reader Digest Foundation has been the proud sponsor of the Youth of the Year program since 1947, said Susan Russ, executive director, Reader Digest Foundation.

We are thrilled that we can honor amazing teens, like Jarvis McInnis, for their dedication to their families, Club and community, and help them achieve their academic and career goals.

As the founding sponsor of the Youth of the Year program, the Reader Digest Foundation has given nearly $8 million to BGCA and 58 teens have been selected as National Youth of the Year.

Boys & Girls Clubs of America Boys & Girls Clubs of America (http://www.bgca.org/) comprises a national network of some 3,700 neighborhood-based facilities annually serving more than 4.4 million young people, primarily from disadvantaged circumstances. Known as The Positive Place for Kids, the Clubs provide guidance-oriented character development programs on a daily basis for children 6-18 years old, conducted by a full-time professional staff.

Key Boys & Girls Club programs emphasize character and leadership development, education and career development, health and life skills, the arts, sports, fitness and recreation.