Boys & Girls Club Of Greenwich To Name 55th Youth Of The Year

Information via Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich

GREENWICH, CT — The Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich (BGCG) will name its 2023 Youth of the Year at its annual diner on April 4 at 6 p.m.

This year will mark the 55th time the club has given out the award, the highest honor a BGCG member can achieve.

Also at the dinner, the club will name the inaugural recipient of the David Ogilvy Award for Character, Kindness and Integrity, as well as honor the 2023 BGCG Champions of Youth Award winners, Jannell Bakrow and Annette Wilson.

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 are hoping to be named the 2023 winner: Omar Badr, Jada Brewington, Nargis Hussaini, Jake Phillips, Dina Quevedo and Jesse Sanchez.

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

The David Ogilvy Award was established in 2023 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.

Ogilvy's commitment to the BGCG's mission was matched by his exceptional reputation and dedication to the youth of Greenwich.

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.

Bakrow and Wilson will receive the Champions of Youth Award, which 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.

"It has been a true honor to be a part of the BGCG and see first-hand what a difference the club makes in the lives of so many children. I am in total awe of the dedication, energy and love that the BGCG staff puts forth every single day. The team is tireless in their commitment to the youth of our community," Bakrow said in a news release.

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, including chairing the annual benefit, developing revenue producing programs, acting as the financial and development committee chair, and co-chairing the 2003 construction committee.

"I have had the privilege to be part of this tremendous organization that fosters character, education in mind and spirit, and deep, meaningful friendships between children and adults alike," Wilson said in a news release. "It is each child’s bright future that inspires me and so many dedicated volunteers to devote our time and energy to ensure this nurturing environment continues to flourish."

Tickets for the celebration are available at bgcg.org, and a limited number of alumni tickets are also available by emailing MSmith@bgcg.org.