by guest contributor Emily Towey
Photo credit: Tony Powell & Kevin Wolf/AP
On Tuesday, September 26, Boys & Girls Clubs of America named Carlos Polanco National Youth of the Year in a ceremony held at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. He accepted the honor before an audience that included members of Congress and Boys & Girls Clubs of America partners and supporters, including event emcee, actor and Club alumnus Nick Cannon, Grammy-award winning artist Kelly Rowland, Real Housewives of Potomac star Monique Samuels, among others.
Kelly Rowland Photo credit: Kevin Wolf/AP
Youth of the Year is Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s premier recognition program for Club teens and the National Youth of the Year title is the highest honor a Club member can receive representing the voice of four million Club youth. Celebrating its 70th year, the Youth of the Year program has recognized young people for their outstanding leadership, service, academic excellence and dedication to living a healthy lifestyle. The Youth of the Year program is presented by Disney with support from signature partner Toyota, along with additional partners Taco Bell Foundation and University of Phoenix.
Nick Cannon and Carlos Polanco Photo credit: Tony Powell
As National Youth of the Year, Polanco will receive $145,000 in academic scholarships, as well as a trip to Disney World and a new Toyota Corolla. This year, the Youth of the Year program will award more than $1 million in scholarships to Club teens.
“My Boys & Girls Club has taught me that I can be whatever I want to be,” Polanco told Hollywood on the Potomac. “They taught me that I should always dream big and go after my dreams. Today, as the National Youth of the Year, I am ready to represent and advocate for all 4 million of our Boys & Girls Club kids and teens.”
Carlos Polanco, Jocelyn Woods and Kelly Rowland Photo credit: Tony Powell
Polanco’s family came to the United States from the Dominican Republic when he was five years old. He started attending the Boys & Girls Club, where he discovered his passion for education. Polanco helped found the Clifton Student-Union, which is a student run, student-led advocacy group. In this capacity, he’s helped rewrite the school dress code, addressed the lack of AP classes and led a peaceful march of more than 350 students advocating for fair school funding. Through the support of his Boys & Girls Club, Carlos became a leader, following his passions to make a difference in his community.
Carlos Polanco, Kelly Rowland and Jocelyn Woods Photo credit: Tony Powell
“Carlos symbolizes seven decades of youth leaders that have found a great future with Boys & Girls Clubs,” said Jim Clark, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “Youth of the Year recognizes teens who demonstrate the critical impact that Clubs, and thousands of youth development professionals working at Boys & Girls Clubs around the county, have on the lives of young people. Carlos will be an incredible voice, advocating for the needs of all young people in our country.”
Nick Cannon Photo credit: Kevin Wolf/AP
At the event, Nick Cannon spoke about his involvement with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the impact the organization has had on his life. “As a Boys & Girls Club alum, it’s almost like this is family. To be able to come back to not only honor the organization but also the young people that are going to take over from here on. It’s past, present and future all in one.”
Photo credit: Kevin Wolf/AP
Kelly Rowland, who has come to D.C. for the National Youth of the Year Gala in previous years, spoke about the experience. “You see one person up there deliver the most heartfelt speech and they want to really shake things up a bit with what they feel they have to offer the world, and that’s what gets me excited every year. That’s what makes me want to go out and tell everybody ‘please become involved in the Boys & Girls Clubs of America – because we need you.’ We know as a community that we’re more powerful as a force together in numbers.”
Monique Samuels
While walking the Blue Carpet at the event, Real Housewives of Potomac star Monique Samuels, whose husband Chris Samuels is a Boys & Girls Club alumnus, noted, “I think that it turns people’s lives around. And it really does open up doors for them. It’s a safe-haven and it’s a place that you just feel like you have a family.”
Minority Whip Rep. Steny Hoyer Photo credit: Kevin Wolf/AP
In addition to honoring Polanco as National Youth of the Year, Minority Whip Steny Hoyer was also recognized at the event with the Herbert Hoover Humanitarian Award for his 30 years of service to Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
For more information about Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Youth of the Year program, visit https://www.bgca.org/programs/youth-of-the-year.
Slider photos by Tony Powell
