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Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Westchester Names Yorktown Center Youth of the Year

Yorktown, NY (April 29, 2008) – The Boys and Girls Clubs of Northern Westchester has selected 17 year-old Samantha Rodriguez (of Yorktown) as the Yorktown Center's 2008 Youth of the Year. The national program, administered by Boys and Girls Clubs of America, recognizes exemplary character, superior leadership skills, academic achievement, outstanding service to Boys and Girls Clubs, and community outreach.

"We are pleased to recognize Samantha for her outstanding service and dedication to the Club and local community," said Brian Skanes, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Westchester. "Samantha has done a wonderful job as a leader and mentor to our younger members. We congratulate her and look forward to a bright future."

Samantha Rodriguez is a Yorktown High School junior with passion is to make the world a better place. A Club member for more than five years, Samantha revived the Keystone Club and, after two years as vice president, she is now president. She has organized a number of fundraisers for the Club (Oktoberfest, Battle of the Bands) and advises the Club's Yorktown Advisory Board. For two years, she has coached younger teen girls through the Club's SMART Girls program.

Samantha is drawn to community service. She has collected food for the local food pantries, stuffed envelopes for The Guiding Eyes for the Blind, and participated in the Walk for The American Cancer Society and the Walk for Diabetes. She makes even more of an impact on the community through her service on the Yorktown Youth Court Advisory Board, where she helps plan and implement training as well as design age-appropriate community service projects. Samantha plans to pursue a career in Hospitality Management or Business and hopes to one day open a resort spa.

"The Club started out as a place to hang out with friends instead of going to an empty home," says Samantha. "It has become a place to learn skills to carry with me on my life's journey."

The Yorktown Center was established September 1997 and serves Yorktown and its surrounding communities. Although it was originally established to serve high school youth, widespread community interest and support enabled the Center to also include the middle school population.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Westchester's Yorktown Teen Center is located at the Yorktown Community and Cultural Center, 1974 Commerce Street, Yorktown Heights, NY and can be reached at (914) 962-3439 or www.bgcnw.com.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Westchester was established in 1939 as a place for "boys to get off the streets." It is a non-profit organization dedicated to the service of all youth with a primary focus on children with special needs. The main unit in Mt. Kisco, NY is a 36,000-square-foot facility featuring an eight-lane pool, Child Care Center, gymnasium, games room, two computer labs and an additional 1,600-foot Teen Center facility. The Club has two satellite programs: a youth and teen center in the Yorktown Community Center; and a full service program at The Community Opportunity Center in Tarrytown, NY. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Westchester serves more than 6,000 youths, boys and girls ages 6 months to 18 years, from more than 60 Northern Westchester communities. The Club has been ranked among the outstanding Clubs in the national network of Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

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Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Westchester
351 Main Street, Mt. Kisco, New York 10549 (914) 666-8069