The Youth of the Year Ambassadors Hosted the 19th Annual Brighter Futures Awards Banquet
+9 The Youth of the Year Ambassadors Hosted the 19th Annual Brighter Futures Awards Banquet
The Youth of the Year Ambassadors Hosted the 19th Annual Brighter Futures Awards Banquet
The Youth of the Year Ambassadors Hosted the 19th Annual Brighter Futures Awards Banquet
The Youth of the Year Ambassadors Hosted the 19th Annual Brighter Futures Awards Banquet
The Youth of the Year Ambassadors Hosted the 19th Annual Brighter Futures Awards Banquet
The Youth of the Year Ambassadors Hosted the 19th Annual Brighter Futures Awards Banquet
The Youth of the Year Ambassadors Hosted the 19th Annual Brighter Futures Awards Banquet
The Youth of the Year Ambassadors Hosted the 19th Annual Brighter Futures Awards Banquet
The Youth of the Year Ambassadors Hosted the 19th Annual Brighter Futures Awards Banquet
The Youth of the Year Ambassadors Hosted the 19th Annual Brighter Futures Awards Banquet
The Youth of the Year Ambassadors Hosted the 19th Annual Brighter Futures Awards Banquet
The Youth of the Year Ambassadors Hosted the 19th Annual Brighter Futures Awards Banquet
Over 60 students competed to earn scholarship funds to continue their education on graduating from high school. The winners were announced at the Brighter Futures Awards Banquet at River Oaks Country Club. Youth of the Year Ambassador, Merele Yarborough, Chaired the banquet. Yarborough expressed sincere gratitude to HEB Grocery Company for being our Presenting Sponsor. We recognized all of our Sponsors and honored Houstonian philanthropist and business owner Charles Roff. Mr. Roff is a member of The Salvation Army Advisory Board and former Chair of The Salvation Army’s Boys & Girls Clubs Advisory Council.
Paving the way for brighter futures for students from the six Salvation Army Red Shield Youth Centers in Houston, formerly known as the Boys & Girls Clubs, is what the Youth of the Year Ambassadors (“Ambassadors”) are about. The Ambassadors are some of Houston’s best women and men who oversee and provide important life skills training for students who join the optional scholarship program. The Youth of the Year Scholarship Program was founded by Salvation Army Advisory Board member, Judi McGee, almost 20 years ago, and thanks to our donors like you over $3 Million dollars has been raised and over 400 scholarships have been awarded to participants in the year-round youth development program for students, ages 12 through 18 years of age. Most of our students are the first in their family to attend college. The funds may be used by the students to attend a college of their choice or a trade school on graduating from high school.
Prior to the competition, the students in the Youth of the Year Scholarship Program received important life-skills training conducted by the Ambassadors including public speaking, basic etiquette skills, extensive essay writing, preparing a resume, interview skills and more. The Salvation Army Branch Managers also participate in the important training. Judges for the competition were Ambassadors and community leaders including, but not limited to, Salvation Army Advisory Board Chair Vicki West, Ralph Burch, Sidney Faust, Susan Binney, Debby Leighton, John Hrncir, Maureen Higdon, Tamara Bonar and Dr. Jim Bonar.
Ambassadors Frances Howard and Mary Sage explained the Youth of the Year Scholarship Program is about helping our young people to achieve their dreams of continuing their education on graduating from high school. The scholarship Program is life-changing for both the students and their families. An investment in a student today means a “Brighter Future” for tomorrow.
