Boys & Girls Club Of Greenwich Names 2022 Youth Of The Year

Information from Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich

GREENWICH, CT — Last week, the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich named Paige Pray as the 2022 Youth of the Year, and honored Don Palmer as its Champion of Youth inside the club's field house.

The Youth of the Year Award was established in 1969 to recognize club members who give back to their club and the community, and display leadership, service, academic excellence and dedication to a healthy lifestyle.

Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich member Paige Pray has been named the 2022 Youth of the Year for her leadership, service, academic excellence, and dedication to live a healthy lifestyle.

"Youth of the Year winners have demonstrated service to club, community and family; academic success; strong moral character; life goals; and poise and public speaking ability. Paige Pray is a shining example of these traits," said Cristina Vittoria in a news release. Vittoria is the Chief Executive Officer of Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich

As the club’s 2022 Youth of the Year, Pray, a senior at Greenwich High School, has been a member of Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich since age 6. She will serve as an ambassador for all teens in the community and go on to contend for the state Youth of the Year title, and ultimately the national title.

Pray, along with Katie Coyle, Sofia Devito, Isaac Dumeny, Serena Fakhoury, Ava Galley, Raquel Garcia, Jonathan Maldonado, Saskia Phillips, Paige Pray, Jesse Sanchez, Starla Tejada, and Ashley Torres-Brown, were the finalists for the 2022 award.

Event co-chairs Sally and Larry Lawrence, Sally and Alex Lynch, and Jean and Rick Witmer were among the panelists who chose Pray as the winner.

"Our Youth of the Year process is quite rigorous, and every applicant is truly outstanding," Sally Lawrence said in a news release. "Each of you does so well in school, you are engaged in other activities and most importantly you help others here at the Club and elsewhere. You all were impressively poised and confident in your interviews. It was an honor for us to have the opportunity to interview you."

Pray is the vice president of the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich's service organization, Keystone Club. In addition to working with younger members as a part-time staff member, she has also participated in numerous club activities including basketball, lacrosse, LEGO robotics, yoga and swim lessons.

A National Honors Society student with stellar grades, and recent recipient of the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizens award, Pray will attend Quinnipiac University in the fall where she’s enrolled in their 3+3 Law Accelerated Dual-Degree program.

The club also honored Don Palmer as the 2022 Champion of Youth. The award is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich supporter can achieve. The recipient is recognized as making a significant contribution of time and talent to the members and mission of the club.

Palmer joined Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich in 1992 as the aquatics director and was quickly promoted to positions of greater responsibility and now serves as vice president of programs & youth development.

Palmer has been instrumental in helping thousands of children grow and reach their full potential through honesty, hard work and sportsmanship.

When Palmer sees that someone looks like they are having a difficult day, he makes them a leader of an activity and encourages them to do their best.

When Don’s not at his desk writing referral letters for members applying to college, or creating action plans for Camp Simmons, he’s coaching kids on winning checkers or chess. The list goes on. If he

The community recognizes that Palmer has been instrumental in helping thousands of children grow and reach their full potential through honesty, hard work and sportsmanship. He is kind, firm and supportive and has a big heart. It is Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich’s honor to recognize Don Palmer’s unwavering commitment to the youth of Greenwich for the past 30 years.

"My first and only job started Aug. 22, 1992, and I have been here for 30 years, so far. I loved it from the start," Palmer told the crowd at last week's event. "From day one I enjoyed being with the members. You can get to know how a child is doing just by listening. Kids will tell you everything if they know you care about them. What you do with that information is how you can really make a difference in that child’s life."