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The Youth of the Year Banquet was held Tuesday, May 1st at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers.  Local and state dignitaries were on hand to honor Laramie Glynn, the 2011 Boys and Girls Club of Benton County Youth of the Year.

The Youth of the Year is and outstanding youth who has overcome adversity to achieved school success, served their community, and be a positive model for other youth.  Laramie was chosen through a rigorous selection process.  Laramie is a member of the HLM Teen Unit where she served as an officer of the Keystone Club – a service learning, leadership program. She is now a junior at Bentonville High School.  At school she has participated in the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America and is a past treasurer.  She has plans to continue her education after graduating to pursue a degree in international business.

Jacob Hutson, Joe Grady, Stephanie Brown, Bob Hrin, Jim-Breach

Great futures are begin at the Boys & Girls Club of Benton County and to celebrate this, the Club hosted its annual Great Futures Gala on April 20. Held at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers, the Gala was sponsored by Unilever. Joe Grady, Vice President of Candy and Impulse Merchandising for Walmart, served as honorary chairman of the event.

Nearly 500 people attended the gala. The evening kicked off with a social hour and VIP wine tasting.  After a silent auction and dinner, children from the local clubs came onstage to talk about what they want to be when they grow up. Their “great futures” included everything from being a taxi driver to a doctor. A live auction included use of the Cox Communications suite for a Northwest Arkansas Naturals game and a five-night stay for 12 in a French chateau. The party carried into the night with dancing to the music of Ultra Suede.
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Roughly 30 teens and 8 families attended the April 19th Ice Cream Social held at the HLM Teen Unit.  The event was planned and sponsored by the HLM Parent Committee.  The parents served ice cream to our teens and families.   Ice cream was available with just about whatever topping you could want on top from fruit, candy, cookies, sprinkles, to fudge and caramel.

On March 2, 2012 the Rogers Unit of the Boys and Girls Club of Benton County participated in the national Read Across America Day.  Ninety-seven children, ages 6-14, celebrated Dr. Seuss’ birthday by reading simultaneously. While reading, they wore hats to pay tribute to Dr. Seuss.  After reading, they culminated the event by saying “Happy Birthday” to this great American author.

On Saturday, March 3rd, Boys and Girls Club of Benton County mentors and their mentored youth in the  Be Great Graduate program spent the morning volunteering at the Samaritan Community Center.  Together they completed several projects, including packing snack packs and organizing and stocking the food pantry.  This was a great way for youth and their mentors to spend quality time together working side by side in service to their community.

Be Great Graduate is a program that provides a mentor for kids that are “at risk” for dropping out of high school.  By providing them a mentor these same kids have a substantially greater chance of being successful in school and graduating!

Twenty-nine members of the Keystone Club from the Rogers and HLM Boys and Girls Club facilities went to Joplin, MO to help beautify the city.  The Club partnered with AmeriCorp, the National Civilian Community Corps, and Wildcat Glades Conservation and Audubon Center.  The clean-up initiative was part of Joplin’s community-wide environmental awareness day.  The teens helped remove invasive plant species, picked up trash in the conservation area, and provided trail maintenance.