Saving Lives through Youth Guidance & Development

The newley chartered Inukai Torch Club tied for first place in the Samsung Climate SuperStars Competition. (Torch Clubs are chartered, small group leadership and service clubs for boys and girls ages 11-13, teaching them character & leadership skills which are one of the 5 main core BGC programs.)

For the past few months, Inukai Torch Club has been working diligently to complete the Climate SuperStar Challenge. Torch Club youth completed several rounds of challenges by learning about energy consumption and climate change, visiting a local power plant, planting trees, participating in Earth Hour 2015, sharing an earth friendly project with their Club on Earth Day, and more.  They were Round One winners and the Club received two Samsung Chromebooks.

Throughout the competition there were a total of 28 tasks and all were completed within the allotted time frame.  There were 149 Torch Clubs that competed in this competition (both nationally and overseas) and as one of the ten final round winners, Inukai Torch Club received a Samsung 55” TV. Teen Coordinator, Steven Schutz said, "we learned a lot about climate change and ways to reduce our carbon footprints. This was our first undertaking as a newly chartered Torch Club and I'd say that beating 135 Torch Clubs from around the world is a pretty amazing feat."

The Climate SuperStars is an environmental responsibility partnership between Samsung Electronics America and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. The purpose of the contest is to excite young people about helping our environment and global community by lowering energy consumption, conserving resources, and minimizing our impact on climate change.

We are very excited to announce that our very own Brian was named the State Youth of the Year by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Oregon on March 19, 2015.  He competed against other youth from all over the state.  He will go on to represent the state of Oregon at the regional level this summer.  Brian was awarded a $5000 check that he said he will use for college. 

Brian has been a member at the Wattles Club since the age of 6.  12 years later he is graduating from high school and has been accepted to two 4-year Universities.  When he entered high school he never thought he would attend college. Brian credits the Boys & Girls Club for his success in high school, sports and the leader he has become. He says the Club inspired him to get active and take leadership roles. He’s the captain of his wrestling team, plays soccer and lacrosse, and has entered the Gresham Fire & Rescue cadet program.

Coming from a single parent family, Brian delt with poverty and financial hardships. 

“Having to move every year because my mom couldn’t pay rent made it hard for me to get comfortable in my community,” said an emotional Cleveland High School senior.  He said the Boys and Girls Clubs of Portland were always there to help with food, shelter, clothing and stability. "The Club gave me somewhere I could go after school. They gave me a roof over my head, food to eat, and a place to play."

“No matter how much I move around Portland, I always know that the Boys and Girls Club will be a place I can call home. The club has made me who I am today."

Bryan is a perfect example of someone that has come full circle in the Boys and Girls Club program.

*Due to personal reasons, John Grall, who was the winner of the City competion had to step down. Brian was the runner up in the City Youth of the Year competition, and graciously stepped in to fulfil the role.