Great Futures Gala and Youth of the Year Awards Coming February 26

Ten outstanding youth will be recognized at the Great Futures Gala & Youth of the Year Awards event, along with honoring this year’s Giving is Living recipient, Mary Osborn. This re-imagined event will showcase the many ways our community invests in Shaping Tomorrow Together for the youth of Collier County. The event, which begins at 5:30PM Wednesday, February 26, 2024, at Club Pelican Bay, raises critical funding to support 3,500 youth in Collier County. Tickets are $750 each(includes $450 donation) and includes cocktails, dinner, keynote address, awards presentation, and a special appeal. Sponsorship and ticket information is available at bgccc.com/gala. 

Youth of the Year is the Boys & Girls Club of Collier County’s highest honor for youth, celebrating their leadership, service and academic excellence. The Youth of the Year candidates range in age from 14 to 18 and come from schools throughout Collier County, including Immokalee Middle and High Schools, Lorenzo Walker Technical High School, Lely High School, and East Naples Middle School. Local winners move on to state, regional, and national Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year competitions. 

2025 YOY Candidates 

Chelleza, 15, 9th grade at Lorenzo Walker Technical High School. Club member for 6 years. Interests: Music, public speaking, digital advertising. Club programs: Torch Club, Junior Women of Initiative, sports (volleyball). 

Elijah, 18, 12th grade at Lely High School. Club member for 11 years. Interests: Writing and sports (football and track). Club programs: Junior Men of Initiative, Road Code Ambassador, Junior Culinary staff member, and Youth of the Year. 

Isaiah, 15, 9th grade at Immokalee High School. Club member for 2 years. Interests: Business management (leadership, strategic thinking) and sports (baseball, tennis). Club programs: Work-Based Learning (mentoring second graders). 

Jennica, 14, 8th grade at Immokalee Middle School. Club member for 2 years. Interests: Ballet, art projects. Club programs: Arts. 

Juliana, 17, 12th grade at Lely High School. Club member for 6 years. Interests: Academics, including engineering. Club programs: Arts (Club Dance Team) and sports. 

Leina, 17, 12th grade at Immokalee High School. Club member for 3 years. Interests: Volunteers with Girls Scouts (mentors younger girls). Club programs: Work-based learning, professional development with Mrs. Tasheekia, and the Youth of the Year program. 

Lindsay, 15, 9th grade at Lorenzo Walker Technical High School. Club member for 7 years. Interests: Reading, volunteering, health sciences. Club programs: Junior Women of Initiative, Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation Summer Camp, Torch Club, and Youth of the Year.  

Melkijah, 16, 12th grade at Immokalee High School. Club member for 4 years. Interests: Art, volunteers with Girls Scouts (mentors younger girls), financial literacy. Club programs: Smart Girls, Work-Based Learning (helping 1st graders with homework), Interact (tax assistance), Crop Club (leads fundraisers). 

Paola, 16, 10th grade at Immokalee High School. Club member for 4 years. Interests: Sports (school cheerleader, volleyball), color guard, art, dance. Club programs: Work-Based Learning (homework help to younger students) and Leadership Workshops. 

Sarah, 16, 11th grade at Immokalee High School. Club member for 5 years. Interests: Creating educational vlogs on social media, performing in school productions, Superintendent Student Advisory Council, Beta Club, environmental studies. Club programs: Maintaining My Inner Beauty Club, Youth of the Year.  

Sponsors for this year’s Gala include: 

Platinum Sponsors - Mary Pat Hussey and The Schoen Foundation 

Diamond Sponsor - George Phillips 

Ruby Sponsors - Audrey & Vaughn Pengelly and The Wellington Group at Morgan Stanley 

Scholarship Sponsor: LMCU 

Silver Sponsors - Comerica and Jim & Dianne Safley 

Bronze Sponsor – L.E.A.D. (Law Enforcement Against Drugs and Violence – Collier County) 

Media Sponsor -Naples Illustrated 

Boys & Girls Club is the largest out-of-school provider in Collier County, serving 3,500 youth every year.