Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg wins Hero For Youth Award
From left center, Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg members Braxton M., Bella T., Jay-cee M., Raleigh P., Alanna C., Hadleigh F., and middle, Aaron M. and Jasmine D., pose with a Babydog figure during their visit to the state capital in Charleston. The Parkersburg club recently received the Hero For Youth award which was established by Boys & Girls Clubs of America to honor clubs that advocate for children. (Photo Provided)
From left, Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg CEO Lynn Reins, U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg COO Justin Clark and Stacie Rohn, CEO of Boys & Girls Club of the Eastern Panhandle, pose for a photo during the National Days of Advocacy event in Washington, D.C., earlier this year. The Parkersburg Club was recently recognized for its advocacy efforts. (Photo Provided)
From left center, Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg members Braxton M., Bella T., Jay-cee M., Raleigh P., Alanna C., Hadleigh F., and middle, Aaron M. and Jasmine D., pose with a Babydog figure during their visit to the state capital in Charleston. The Parkersburg club recently received the Hero For Youth award which was established by Boys & Girls Clubs of America to honor clubs that advocate for children. (Photo Provided)
From left, Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg CEO Lynn Reins, U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg COO Justin Clark and Stacie Rohn, CEO of Boys & Girls Club of the Eastern Panhandle, pose for a photo during the National Days of Advocacy event in Washington, D.C., earlier this year. The Parkersburg Club was recently recognized for its advocacy efforts. (Photo Provided)
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PARKERSBURG -- This month, the Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg was selected for the 2023 Hero For Youth Award for its efforts increasing state and federal support for critical club priorities.
Created in 2021 by the nationwide Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the Advocacy Recognition Award recognizes the advocacy work clubs and alliances do every day, with a major emphasis on impact, creativity and innovation with advocacy engagement.
The award system is made up of three tiers: Champion, Hero and Advocate for Youth. By ranking in the top 40% of clubs nationwide for its efforts, the Parkersburg club earned the Hero for Youth title.
"Because of the steadfast advocacy of leaders like Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg, our nation's youth have access to skills and experiences that can put them on the path to great futures," said Jim Clark, CEO & President of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "These successes aren't possible without a strong partnership with elected officials at the local, state and federal levels. I commend the Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg for their tireless work on behalf of their community's youth and congratulate them on this much-deserved recognition."
Parkersburg CEO Lynn Reins said the support of local, state and national governments helps clubs gain funding and resources needed to serve youth.
"We are incredibly fortunate to have wonderful relationships with our representatives on all levels at BGCP. The City of Parkersburg and Mayor (Tom) Joyce provide funding for the club and Council Woman Wendy Tuck volunteers with the kids and teaches them valuable life skills," Reins said. "Club kids and staff visit state representatives and Delegate (Vern) Criss and Delegate (Bob) Fehrenbacher who always make time for us, and the club received Congressional Directed Spending monies through the joint effort of Senator (Joe) Manchin and Senator (Shelley) Moore Capito. Advocacy on all levels makes the clubs better."
In the coming years, the national organization aims to help pass the Youth Workforce Readiness Act, develop and pass federal funding to address youth mental health, increase pass-through funding for state alliances, increase funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers and Youth Mentoring and increase accessibility and efficiency of meal programs.
Earlier this year, Reins and Parkersburg COO Justin Clark attended the National Days of Advocacy event in Washington, D.C., and met with leaders like Manchin, D-W.Va., staff of Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and staff of U.S. Reps. Alex Mooney and Carol Miller, both R-W.Va.
"We advocated for support of 21st Century Community Learning Center funding (which the club currently receives), Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention mentoring funding, Summer Meals Act, and more. All of those dollars directly affect club youth and their peers not yet served by clubs," Reins said.