2023 Youth Of The Year Honored At Boys & Girls Club Of Greenwich

GREENWICH, CT — The Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich last week announced its 2023 Youth of the Year Award winner during its annual dinner, and also honored several other people for their contributions to the club over the years.

Jada Brewington, a junior at Greenwich High School, was named as the club's 55th Youth of the Year.

Greenwich’s Youth of the Year program was established in 1969 to recognize club members who give back to their club and community. Recipients of the honor have demonstrated service to club, community, and family; academic success; strong moral character; life goals; and poise and public speaking ability.

This year, six worthy applicants who embody what the club is all about were considered for the award: Brewington; GHS juniors Omar Badr and Jake Phillips; GHS seniors Dina Quevado and Jesse Sanchez; and Nargis Hussaini, a senior at Greenwich Country Day School.

Brewington will now go on to vie for the Connecticut Youth of the Year title and then participate in a regional and national competition.

During her speech, Brewington spoke about the impact the BGCG has had on her, ever since she was 6 years old. After being a member of the club for 10 years, she became a part-time staff member during after-school hours, and has worked at various club camps.

She also said she participates in Torch Club and Greenwich Alliance’s Finance Champs program to develop additional life skills.

"As I’ve grown up, the Boys and Girls Club has presented me with many unforgettable opportunities and inseparable bonds. The Boys and Girls Club has always been there when I needed it most. I found refuge in the staff members that worked there, I was taught social etiquette and manners through the various programs that will resonate with me through my future years, the club was also there for me when I was ready for my first job," Brewington said.

"At the Boys and Girls Club I felt heard, I felt understood, I found comfort. I’ve made such strong and comfortable bonds with everyone I’ve interacted with here, and that is a feeling that resonates with you. A feeling so strong and so familiar that you never want to let it go, and that is part of the reason I am still involved and want to continue being connected to my club," she added.

New this year was the inaugural David Ogilvy Award for Character, Kindness and Integrity , which was presented to GHS junior Alex Flook.

The award was established to honor the memory of Ogilvy, a longtime board member and board chair who also served as the co-chair of the club’s 2003 capital campaign.

The award is given to an exemplary high school club member nominated by the club’s staff as an individual who embodies Ogilvy’s reputation of trusted character and integrity and his incomparable kindness, and who has demonstrated outstanding contributions to the club.

"I am honored to be the first recipient of the David Ogilvy Award. I have been a member of the Boys & Girls Club since I was 6 years old and I wouldn’t change my time here for anything," Flook said. "This award means a lot to me because of what it stands for: character, kindness, and integrity. But not only that, but also because of the person the award is named for."

This year's Champions of Youth Award winners were Jannell Bakrow and Annette Wilson. The award is the highest honor a BGCG supporter can achieve. Honorees are recognized for making a significant contribution of time and talent to the members and mission of the club.

Bakrow joined the BGCG's Board in 1995 with her main initiative to develop revenue generating programs to supplement the programs for the club members.

In addition to serving on the Executive Board, Bakrow co-chaired the September Benefit in 1996, 1997, 2003 and 2004, with her favorite event being the Recycled Gift Boutique and Holiday Party which she has been involved in since its inception in 2008.

An active volunteer and board member at numerous nonprofits in town, it is the BGCG which has called to Wilson the most.

She served on the Executive Board and wore many hats. She chaired the annual benefit, developed revenue producing programs, acted as the financial and development committee chair, and co-chaired the 2003 construction committee, to name a few.

Taylor Tejada, an 8th-grader at Western Middle School, was named as the 2023 Junior Youth of the Year.

"This award will always be dear to me. It will always be a reminder of the positive and enriching experiences that I have had at the Boys & Girls Club over these years," Tejada said.