Tim Williams was recently honored at the Boys & Girls Club of America’s Illinois Area Conference, held in Champaign, as the 2009 Outstanding Board Volunteer for the Midwest Region.  Tim has been a volunteer at the local Club for over a decade and was the Board President in 2001 and 2002.  He continues to be a major presence on the Club’s Board as well as sitting on its Program Committee.  At the state level, Tim is a member of the Illinois Alliance Board and is currently the Illinois Area Council Chair.

 “Tim’s passion for helping the at-risk you of our community and his ability to think strategically have really helped transform the Boys & Girls Club of Elgin”, explains Rose Reinert, Executive Director.  “He is one of those rare volunteers that continues to stay positive and supportive, it is wonderful to see him receive the honor and recognition he deserves!”

As part of a national celebration with Clubs across the country, we will be hosting "Game Show Week" and have some fun events for our members including:

• Members doing 30 minutes of silent reading will get one vote for the staff member pie in the face contest.
• Teens that bring a friend will be entered into a special drawing.
• Every member will vote on the color of our new membership cards.
• On Friday we will have a special pep rally for Alejandra who goes to Champaign to compete in the state Youth of the Year competition!

Meet Alejandra Palomar, the winner of the 2009 Marisa Martinez Youth of the Year Award. 

 Alejandra has been a member of the Boys & Girls Club of Elgin for five years.  She has become a role model for the younger members and enjoys helping the staff.

 Alejandra was born in Mexico and her family moved to the United States when she was four years old.  She has worked very hard at being a success in school, and learned English outside of the home.  In 6^th grade, she won the award of Those Who Excel when she was able to move from a bilingual to mainstream classroom.  She has been beating the odds ever since!

 A junior at Elgin High School, Alejandra gets good grades, and as a senior will be in advanced Spanish and Computer classes.

 According to Alejandra, “the Club is a place that feels like home.”  She credits the Club with filling her “with qualities I need to be an outstanding citizen.  I have learned a wide range of things from learning how to behave to setting goals and making plans to reach them.”

 Here at the Club, we have no doubt that Alejandra will reach any goal she puts her mind to!  We are proud to have her as our Youth of the Year.