Shaheen Receives Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s ‘Champion of Youth’ Award
Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) was honored by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America today with a 2019 Champions of Youth Award. Shaheen was presented with the award in her Washington, DC office by New Hampshire Boys & Girls Club leaders, who are visiting the nation’s capital for the organization’s fifth annual National Days of Advocacy, where they meet with members of Congress to advocate on behalf of America’s youth. These Granite State leaders included Diane Fitzpatrick, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Manchester, Lisa Thorne, President-elect of the Board of the Boys & Girls Club of Manchester, Richard Lowney, President of the New Hampshire Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, and Lynda Lowney, board member of the Souhegan Boys & Girls Club.
“Senator Shaheen is a prime example of a leader who goes above and beyond, demonstrating an outstanding commitment to our nation’s youth,” said Jim Clark, President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “The Senator’s commitment to serving youth elevated the critical need for youth opioid prevention and helped shape policies that will positively impact children and families in New Hampshire and across the country. On behalf of the over 27,000 kids Clubs serve in New Hampshire, we are proud to recognize her distinguished leadership and exceptional service in representing the interests of kids and teens.”
Created in 2016, the Congressional Champion of Youth Award recognizes distinguished leadership and extraordinary commitment to the shared goal of encouraging the nation's young people to reach their full potential. Senator Shaheen’s efforts to elevate youth opioid misuse prevention and resiliency, and her strong support for the National Youth Mentoring program and 21st Century Community Learning Centers are commendable examples of what it means to be a champion for America’s youth.
“I’m humbled by this incredibly kind recognition from the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, who have long been a critical resource and community partner in New Hampshire’s efforts to help youth impacted by the opioid crisis,” said Senator Shaheen. “New Hampshire is fortunate to have Boys and Girls Clubs across the state, empowering kids from Nashua to the North Country with the tools they need to succeed in and out of the classroom. I’m grateful to be a part of this special community and thank the Boys and Girls Clubs of America for all they do for Granite State families.”
"Senator Shaheen has been a valuable partner and steadfast supporter for the New Hampshire Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs,” said Richard Lowney, Board President of the New Hampshire Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs. “She has consistently shown her unwavering dedication and reliable leadership on the issues and challenges affecting our kids and teens. We are proud to call her a Champion of Youth.”
Serving more than 4 million youth at 4,300 sites, Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in Boys & Girls Clubs of America-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. Supporting America’s youth has never been more urgent in the nation's history. Currently, one in five young people lives in poverty and one in six is unlikely to graduate high school on time. Over 11 million young people are unsupervised after school, when juvenile crime escalates. Clubs are open every day after school and, as the data suggests, provide programming that closes this opportunity gap.
