Desert Ridge Teen Named Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale Vestar Branch Youth of the Year
By Kelly Potts
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale is pleased to announce that Dani Haboush has been named the 2014 Vestar Branch Youth of the Year. In addition to representing the Desert Ridge-area branch as Youth of the Year for the next 12 months and earning $1,000 scholarship from General Dynamics C4 Systems, Haboush will be honored at Celebrate Youth on Saturday, March 22 at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort. Presented by Tiffany & Bosco and Great American Title, more than 600 civic and community leaders are expected at the gala to recognize Haboush and nine other greater-Scottsdale
branch Youths of the Year. The gala also includes a silent and live auction, dinner and live entertainment and performances from the Club youth.
Haboush, who has been a member of the Vestar Branch for nine years, is a dedicated local fundraiser and volunteer, and has been active in many Club programs, including:
• The Keystone Club, which focuses on community service including volunteering monthly at a local food bank and assisting with homeless shelters.
• What’s Hip, which is an eight-week program for high school girls covering issues such as relationships, drug and alcohol use, self-esteem, and fashion, among others.
• Leaders in Training, which allows members ages 11-15 to volunteer and learn basic job responsibilities and work habits during summer months as unpaid staff assistants.
• “The Youth of the Year program is a premier character and leadership initiative which has been in existence for more than 60 years,” said Janet Caldarelli, co-chair of the Celebrate Youth. “Recipients of the award are chosen based on each finalist’s demonstration of moral character, life goals, leadership, poise, public speaking ability and service to the Club, community and family.”
During the Gala, one of the 10 branch Youths of the Year will be named as the overall Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale Youth of the Year, taking home a $5,000 scholarship. Some other corporate sponsors joining Tiffany & Bosco and Great American Title are General Dynamics C4 Systems, Republic Services, UMB Bank, Chasse Building Team, First Bank and First Western Trust.
The winning 2014 Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale Youth of the Year will continue on to the state-level competition with other organizations from across Arizona. The winner of the state competition advances to the Pacific Region Youth of the Year competition held later this year, with the opportunity to continue to the national event.
Tickets for Celebrate Youth start at $175/per person. Tables and event sponsorships are available at www.celebrateyouthgala.org or by calling 480-344-5682.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale provides a positive, safe and fun environment to help 17,500 youth of all ages and backgrounds develop the qualities needed to reach their full potential. The Club offers more than 100 youth development programs emphasizing five core areas including: the arts; character and leadership development; education and career development; health & life skills; and sports, fitness and recreation. The organization’s nine branches and multiple outreach sites are located in Scottsdale, Phoenix, Mesa, Fountain Hills and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa and Hualapai Indian Communities.
For more information, visit www.bgcs.org.
