Download Press Release (PDF) - Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley

Lincoln Kennedy, a former NFL Pro Bowl football player, Fox Sports Radio host and Boys & Girls Clubs alumni was the event’s
keynote speaker and spoke directly to the candidates. Judges for the 2010 competition included Marc Martinez,
Reporter/Anchor for Fox 10 News; LuAnn Leonard, Arizona Board of Regents Member; Chuck O’Conner, Fiesta Bowl
Board Member; Kerri Raichert, Governor Brewer’s Office for Children, Youth & Families and Angela Woods, Director of
the Darden Foundation.
After the legislative breakfast, Dixon and other candidates visited the State Capitol where Dixon led the pledge of
allegiance on the Senate floor. Dixon is now preparing for the regional competition to be held in July at Disneyland. The
regional winner will then advance to the National Youth of the Year competition in Washington, D.C. in September and
meet President Barack Obama in the Oval Office.
Sponsored by Reader’s Digest and Darden Restaurants, the National Youth of the Year program is designed to promote
and recognize service to the community and Club, academic performance and contributions to family and spiritual life.
The five regional winners will each receive a $10,000 in educational scholarship from Reader’s Digest and the overall
national winner will receive a $15,000 educational scholarship.
The Arizona Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs Youth of the Year competition has produced regional and national winners.
One of those regional winners, Donald E. Smith from the Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley, captured the national title
in 2002. Coincidently, Smith attended the same Club as Dixon. For more information or for photo requests, contact
Mindee Padilla at mindeep@clubzona.org or 480.820.3688.
About the Boys & Girls Clubs Arizona Alliance
The Boys & Girls Clubs Arizona Alliance (http://www.azabgc.org) is made up of 21 organizations comprising 72 Clubs
across the state. Clubs offer programs and services that promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by
instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence. Boys & Girls Clubs in Arizona serve over 140,000
kids each year, and that number continues to grow. Boys & Girls Clubs are a safe place to learn and grow -- all while
having fun, making it truly The Positive Place for Kids.
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