Stars shine on Boys & Girls Club gala night

Feb. 10—It was a night for area youth to shine at the 2024 Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Carolina's Youth of the Year Gala on Thursday evening at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic & Convention Center.

Parents, grandparents, staff members, youth and supporters gathered for the ceremony, which included a meal prepared by the Culinary Department at Southern Lee High School. The Pittsboro Club was showcased in a combined program by the Dazzling Diamond Divas and Pitch Perfect and the Sweet Smart Sassy Sisters of Siler City also helped kick off the ceremony.

In addition to the 10 Youth of the Year candidates, the Junior Youth of the Year, Mission Movers, Rising Stars and Shining Stars were honored.

After a panel discussion between the candidates hosted by basketball standout Chasity Melvin, Davion Quinones, a ninth-grader and club member in Sanford, was named Youth of the Year.

"I'm so honored to receive this award," he said. "It is such a privilege and I'm so glad that I got it. I want to thank my family for being my biggest supporters and also for my club staff members — I love you. I want to thank all of my friends for always being there for me and always given me love and stayed positive. And I want to thank myself, because if I had not trusted myself, I probably wouldn't be up here today. I'm so grateful."

Quinones was closed from a group that included students from clubs in Lee, Chatham and Harnett counties. Other finalists included:

—Kamari Jones, an 11th-grader and club member in Sanford.

—Makayla Headed, a 10th-grader and club member from Siler City.

—Darion Hancock, a ninth-grader and member in Sanford.

—Casie McCrimmon, an 11th-grader and club member in Sanford.

—Dylan Jennings, a 10-grader and club member in Sanford.

Izaiah Gittens, and eighth-grader and club member in Harnett County was named Junior Youth of the Year.

Other candidates for Junior Youth of the Year included:

—Sanai Lee, an eighth-grader and club member in Pittsboro.

—Jaxon Green, an eighth-grader and club member in Pittsboro.

—Brianna Balderas, an eighth-grader and club member in Siler City.

"It's really remarkable to see three counties and four communities rise up and support these kids," Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Carolina CEO Sarah Reese Womack said.

She began the program by showing the children the amount of support they had, asking parents, then grandparents, aunts, uncles, invited guests, board members, staff and supporters to stand — by the time Womack finished, nearly every person in the room was standing.

"Young people, I want you to look around the room," Womack said. "You have an incredible support group in this room and outside of this room. We want you to know that there are people here in this room that are pouring into you, that are invested in your future success and who believe in you. You are our future, so thank you all so much.

Ed Strickland, who serves as vice president of the organization's board of directors, also spoke about his experiences with the Boys & Girls Clubs and why he gives back.

"Just a wee bit over 50 years ago, I was introduced at that time, the Boys Clubs of North Carolina down in Wayne County," he said. "Growing up in a pretty volatile situation, when I got the opportunity to go to that club, I felt like it was a rite of passage. It was really a saving grace for me. It was a place that gave me my spot to go in the world."

He told the audience it was then when he saw the coaches and people volunteering their time to help the young people.

"I would have never guessed 50 years ago that I would be standing here and be a part of serving in this organization," he said.

He spoke about the opportunities the clubs give area kids and the contributions to those children's future successes.

COO Brandon Kivett, who started working for the Sanford club as a member more than 20 years ago, also spoke of the club's importance to him. He first started attending the club in 1997.

"I loved it — it ended up becoming a home away from home," he said. "I was going into middle school. I was still trying to learn myself. It's one of the toughest times as a kid — the transition phase. Your family always tries to support you and help you, but sometimes you need that help from outside people. It takes a village. The Boys & Girls Club at the time had so much impact."

Another special moment during the night was the announcement of a new award, the Pearl Award.

As he concluded his talk, Kivett asked Jimmy Murchison to come up to the stage. Jimmy's late wife, Paula, whose nickname was Pearl, was a longtime part-time employee.

"In honor of Paula Murchison and her passion and dedication to the youth of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Carolina, the annual Pearl Award is established to recognize a part-time employee who displays the hard work and all of the qualities that Paula did during her time with the clubs," Kivett said.

The award went to Melanie McNeill, "A smiling face for thousands of children," Kivett said.

Sponsors for the evening included Fred Anderson Toyota and Arc3 Gases.