By Melissa Falcone | Development Manager
Joshua-John Slaney, a 9-year member of the Blazers Boys & Girls Club has been named the Youth of the Year for the state of Oregon by Boys & Girls Clubs of America. On April 10th at the Benson Hotel, Slaney competed against 7 youth from around the state of Oregon to capture this honor. In addition to winning this prestigious title, Slaney will also receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Reader’s Digest Foundation. He is among hundreds of Youth of the Year winners across the country recognized by Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) for his sound character, leadership skills and willingness to give back to the community.
Being named Youth of the Year is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can receive. The title recognizes outstanding contributions to a member’s family, school, community and Boys & Girls Club, as well as personal challenges and obstacles overcome. This program was founded over 60 years ago through the generosity of the Reader’s Digest Foundation.
Bounced around among 9 foster homes and 10 different schools, Josh has faced abuse, abandonment and loneliness. Despite this, Josh is an incredibly caring, joyful and exuberant young man who brings a positive attitude to everything he does. Josh credits the Boys & Girls Club for providing him with a true sense of what family means. When he was hungry and left to fend for himself, the Club provided him a hot meal and a healthy snack. When he was alone, the Club provided the safety and companionship missing from his life at home. In Josh's words, "The Boys & Girls Club not only gave me a family, it gave my life purpose.”
Josh follows two other Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland winners, Ashley Turner and Delores McDaniel. Ashley competed at the national level in 2008 and Delores was a regional competitor in 2009. Slaney, Turner, and McDaniel represent three separate Clubhouses for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland: Blazers, Meyer, and Inukai, respectively.
In July, Slaney will compete against other youth from states located in BGCA’s Pacific Region. If named regional winner, he will be awarded a $10,000 college scholarship and advance to the national competition in Washington. The National Youth of the Year receives an additional $15,000 college scholarship and will be installed by President Barack Obama during a ceremony in the Oval Office.
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