By Laura Portier-LaLumiere | Director of Development
At the Boys & Girls Club, we say “Great Futures Start Here.” And it’s true! Great futures do start at the Boys & Girls Club. Our Clubs in Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley have a couple of celebrity alumni that we couldn’t be more proud of like Tony Gonzales of the Atlanta Falcons and CJ Wilson of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. We’re proud of them not only for their amazing talents, but because they are good people, with good values. They work hard, they care about the people in their community, and they put that caring into action to do good for others who may be less fortunate than they are.
Most great futures don’t come with the kind of fame that CJ and Tony have, but they are great nonetheless and so important. I’d like to tell you about a young woman named Sasha and how the Club helped her get on the path to a great future.
Sasha was a Club member from 1st grade through 7th grade and the Club is proud to have helped her on the way to becoming the wonderful young woman she is today. When she was just 11 years old, back in 2004, she was named "Youth of the Year" of the Club's Kid Connection Branch in Huntington Beach for being such a kind, generous, and thoughtful kid. At that time, the Club asked her, "If you could write the script of your life, what would the storyline be?" She answered, "It will be about a young lady who learned many life lessons in her childhood that she will take with her throughout the rest of her life."
The Boys & Girls Club has been a big part of the life lessons she has carried with her. Sasha says, “The Club taught me how to get along better with big groups of people and how to treat others kindly and respectfully.” She was also inspired to give back and help other kids. During the school year, she helps special needs kids, including many who participate in the Special Olympics. During summers, she comes back to work at the Huntington Beach Branch of the Boys & Girls Club. She loves being able to give back to the place where she started as well as working with and encouraging other children just as the Club's staff encouraged her. She especially remembers a staff member named Eric who taught her how to shoot a basketball. He encouraged her to play ball with the boys and kept her motivated with constant positive feedback on her playing. That made a big difference to her and basketball has been an important part of her life ever since. She played all through high school and helped lead her team to the San Diego Classic Championship and the Nike Tournament of Champions Championship. This year, Sasha is a sophomore at Lewis and Clark University in Portland, Oregon. She plays center for Lewis & Clark's women's basketball team and also has a rigorous academic schedule.
She's the first generation in her family to go to college and she's taking advantage of every opportunity. Sasha is double majoring in political science and international affairs. When she finishes with college, her plan for her great future is to become a lawyer.
By helping open the door to California’s first Boys & Girls Club on a college campus, you are opening the door to great futures for thousands of kids like Sasha. Thank you!
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