The Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis

This core program area empowers youth to support and influence their Club and community, sustain meaningful relationships with others, develop a positive self-image and good character, participate in the democratic process, and respect their own and others' cultural identities.

Youth of the Year

This program is a youth recognition program for Club members.  The program promotes and celebrates service to Club, community and family; academic performance; moral character; life goals; and poise and public speaking ability.  The Youth of the Year program is a great tool for fostering young people's character, personal growth and leadership qualities.  Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis presents this award in three categories, Elementary Youth of the Year, Middle School Youth of the Year and High School Youth of the Year.  The High School Youth of the Year then participates in state competition, and state winners participate in regional competitions.  Five regional winners each receive an engraved plaque and a $5,000 scholarship and compete on the national level.  The National Youth of the Year receives an additional $10,000 scholarship and is installed by the President of the United States.  Reader's Digest Foundation has sponsored the Youth of the Year program for more than 50 years.

Keystone Club

The Keystone Club is a chartered leadership and service Club for boys and girls ages 14-18.  Keystoners elect officers and implement activities in six areas: service to Club and community, character and leadership development, education and career exploration, unity, free enterprise and social recreation.

Each year Keystone Club members participate in a National Keystone Project.  This year, the Lilly Keystone Club set out to do a project to change adults perception of teens through their Young America Acts: Can you see us now? project.  Through the "Look at Me Now" project, their goal was to capture the positive contributions of teens and promotes their efforts throughout the community.  The Keystone Club worked with local schools, youth agencies and churches to identify teens making a difference in the community, and here is one teenager they found:

Aleshia Smith - Aleshia is a seven-year member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis - Lilly Unit.  A senior at Emmerich Manual High School, she ranks at the top of her class.  While her grades are her top priority, Smith also feels it is imoportant to be involved with extra-curricular activities and volunteerism.  Through school, she participates in varsity volleyball and tennis, Leadership Education and Public Service (LEAPS), Future Educators of America, Junior & Senior Council, Willing to Wait, the Leadership Club and the Philanthropy Club.  Through the Club, she has participated in neighborhood clean-ups and volunteers for numerous projects, including United Way's Youth Day of Caring.  As the president of the Keystone Club, she has developed numerous Youth as Resources projects, including:

• Souper Stars - focused on bringing families together for dinner and family activities
• Bettering Indy Baby Shower - aimed to provide teen mothers with the skills and necessary items they would need once their babies were born
• Ultimate Connection - designed to give single parents a special day with their children to strengthen the bond between parent and child
• Feeding the Heart - addressed the issue of hunger in the Fountain Square community and was intended to provide a food pantry to the community for those in need

Because of all of her hard work, Aleshia was named this year's Youth of the Year for Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis.  She proves each and every day the positive contributions teens can make to their Clubs and communities.

Torch Club

The Torch Club is a chartered small-group leadership and service club for boys and girls ages 11-13.  The Torch Club is a powerful vehicle through which Club staff can help meet the special character development needs of younger adolescents at a critical stage in their development.  Torch Club members learn to elect officers and work together to implement activities in four areas: service to Club and community, education, health and fitness, and social recreation.

T3: Teen Tech Teams

Teen Tech Teams, or T3 (pronounced "T Cubed"), are small-group teen leadership clubs that promote technology volunteerism, education and career exploration.  Members, who are 12 and older, explore technology-related careers and issues, increase technology skills, assist staff and other members with technology in the Clubs, and conduct annual volunteer projects benefiting the Club or community through technology.