February 4, 2023 – The Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Illinois received an Advocate of Youth award from the national Boys & Girls Clubs of America for their advocacy on behalf of Illinois’ youth.
“Clubs like ours have a unique role as community leaders in providing valuable afterschool programs to our country’s youth that enable them to achieve great futures,” said Tiffany Mathis, BGCCIL CEO. “We are wholly committed to raising the visibility of the needs of our community youth, especially the ones who need us most, and show what we can accomplish with the support of our elected officials and our community.”
“Because of the steadfast advocacy of leaders like Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Illinois 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 Central Illinois for their tireless work on behalf of their community’s youth and congratulate them on this much-deserved recognition.”
The Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Club Advocacy Engagement Recognition Program recognizes the advocacy work Clubs and Alliances do every day, with a major emphasis on impact, creativity and innovation. The program consists of three tiers for Clubs: Advocate, Hero and Champion. Clubs get points for impactful engagements and those points determine what tier a Club is placed.
“Boys & Girls Clubs champion opportunities for all youth, equipping young people with the experiences and tools they need to succeed,” said Mathis. “Our advocacy isn’t just a one-day event. We are raising our voices every single day, to ensure top issues and solutions impacting young people are prioritized in our community, our state and at the national level.”
