Yossymar Rojas Selcted as Youth of the Year for the State of California!

Redwood City April 13, 2103.  Selected among 8 outstanding youth San Juan Capistrano Club member Yossymar Rojas has been selected as the California State Youth of the Year. 

Being named Youth of the Year is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can receive. As BGCA’s premier youth recognition program, Youth of the Year recognizes outstanding contributions to a member’s family, school, community and Boys & Girls Club, as well as overcoming personal challenges and obstacles. Youth of the Year encourages Club members to reach their full potential by achieving academic success, leading healthy lifestyles and contributing to their communities. Youth of the Year honorees are shining examples and living proof that great futures start at Boys & Girls Clubs.

“Yossy is the perfect example of what kind of young men and women the Boys & Girls Clubs help produce each and every year.  We are so proud of not only Yossy, but all the other outstanding young people that were part of the Youth of the Year program and process.” said James Littlejohn, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley.

Unlike many of his classmates at Dana Hills High Yossy has taken on responsibilities that most of his classmates won’t have to address until adulthood.   As both of his hard-working parents work multiple jobs to provide for their family, Yossy has taken on a key father-figure role for his two younger siblings.  Cooking, cleaning, and assisting them with homework along with providing that parental oversight and guidance have all been responsibilities that he has not only taken on but delivered with the dedication and care of a truly special young man.

Yossy has been a club member for seven years, starting at the age of 12.  During his tenure with the club he has not only provided significant service to the club, but has also served as an outstanding role-model for club members of all ages.  Yossy has taken on key leadership role’s during his Club experience including being the President of the Keystone Club, which promotes Character and Leadership qualities among high-school teenagers by focusing on community service, academic success and career preparation.   In addition to his dedication to the Club Yossy has also been a long time volunteer for Serra’s Pantry, an organization that provides food donations from local grocery stores for those in need.

Amazingly, Yossy has not only excelled at the club and at home, he has excelled academically.  Yossy plans on not only becoming the first person in his family to graduate from High School, but with the real possibility of becoming the class Valedictorian.  Recognized as a “AP Scholar” where he has passed three separate National placement exams Yossy was also amazingly the recipient of the “Dolphin Achievement Award for Spanish Speakers” which signifies excellent performance as the best overall student for Spanish Speakers at Dana Hills High!

Pictured are:  James Littlejohn- Executive Director, Jim Clark- CEO Boys & Girls Clubs of America, AC Green Ex LA Laker, Yossymar Rojas, Robert Savage COO Taco Bell

Yossy intends to cash in his hard work by moving on to college where he will study Biomedical Engineering continuing his success by becoming the first person in his family to graduate from college.

If Yossy wins the Orange County competition he then advances to the state competition, he will then have the opportunity to compete for the title of Pacific Region Youth of the Year and an additional $10,000 scholarship from Tupperware Brands, the recognition program’s national sponsor. Five regional winners will advance to Washington, D.C., in September 2013, to compete for the title of BGCA’s National Youth of the Year. The National Youth of the Year will receive an additional scholarship of up to $50,000 from The Rick and Susan Goings Foundation and will have the opportunity to meet with the President of the United States in the White House.

MICHAEL AND ANNE CRAWFORD HOST ANNUAL YULETIDE EVENT TO RAISE $30,000 FOR THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF CAPISTRANO VALLEY

The 17th Annual Yuletide, hosted this year by Michael and Anne Crawford, raised over $30,000 for The Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley.

Founded by Hunt Club residents, Yuletide is an annual fundraiser to celebrate the holiday spirit and give back to a good cause.  The event is typically hosted at an exclusive home in San Juan Capistrano on the first Friday each December.  This year the event moved to Dana Point’s exclusive “Strand” neighborhood at the Headlands.   Guests were greeted by Boys & Girls Club members caroling to classic Christmas songs.  The evening festivities also included a cocktail hour, dinner, a gorgeous ocean view and of course, Santa.  Proceeds from the event go directly to benefit youth ages 7 – 18 who attend the  Clubs and support activities and programs that promote and develop literacy, self-confidence, sportsmanship, leadership and character-building.

“It was an honor to host the 17th Annual Yuletide.  Our family is proud to help make a difference to the youth in San Juan Capistrano and the surrounding communities,” said the Crawfords.

“We are truly thankful.  Yuletide is a holiday tradition for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley.  The support and dedication of all our sponsors is what makes this event such a success,” said James Littlejohn, executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley.

Pictured are:  Michael Crawford, Anne Crawford, Santa,  James Littlejohn, Paula Chambers and Mike Chambers.

Check out Executive Director James Littlejohn talking about the Clubs and Operation Holiday Homework

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzjphhe8zeM&feature=BFa&list=PL79CEE6A7825FC12D

What is Operation Holiday Homework?
Operation Holiday Homework is a homework incentives program. Monday- Thursday from 2:30 to 3:30pm every member in the building participates in Power Hour (homework hour). At the end of the power hour time each member who did their homework and stayed on task receives two power hour points. Two weeks before Operation Holiday Homework the points for each member are tallied.

Why is Operation Holiday Homework important to our Youth and Community?
For many of our members the gifts they receive from Operation Holiday Homework are the only gifts their family members receive during the holiday season.
Operation Holiday Homework encourages youth to take their education seriously.

How do the points work?
The points only refer to the time frame in which the members come to the event. The members with the highest points get to come in first and get to pick the best items for their family members. A month before the event, staff will meet with each member to fill out a 3 x 5 card listing all the members of the youth’s family who live in their immediate household. The 3x 5cards come in handy for the shoppers.

How you can help!

Collect new unwrapped gifts.

The Club staff will supply your company with a box to collect new unwrapped gifts. By collecting gifts your company makes the event possible. Gifts are broken down into these following categories: boys, girls, mother, father, babies, and teens. We need around 1,000 toy pieces, 500 female gifts and 500 male gifts.

Gift types include but are not limited to: Lego’s, board games, Barbie’s, remote control cars, gift cards, lotions, nail polish, tools, sports equipment, etc.

How you can help the day of the event.

During this event there are many different volunteer opportunities like:

Shoppers- these individuals go around with the member to get the gift for everyone on their 3x5 card.

Wrappers- these individuals wrap presents once the member gets done shopping.

San Juan Capistrano Site:

Saturday, December 15th 9:00AM-11:30 AM

Contact Nicole Watson for more info @ (949) 240-7898 x19

Aliso Viejo Site:

Saturday, December 15th 9:00-11:30 AM

Contact Mac McMillan for more info @ (949) 699-2552

Rancho Santa Margarita Site:

Friday, December 14th 4:00-6:30PM

Contact David Dickinson for more info @ (949) 216-9700 x 1280

TUTTLE CLICK 13th ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT RAISES OVER $55,000 FOR THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF CAPISTRANO VALLEY -Tuttle Click Automotive Group raised over $50,000 for The Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley at the 13th Annual Tuttle Click Golf Tournament held September 17th.

The Tuttle Click Golf Tournament hosted a full field of golfers at El Niguel Country Club including 7 1st Battalion Marines who were sponsored to play.  The one-day event featured 18 holes of golf, on-course lunch, dinner and awards, as well as hole-in-one opportunities to win a Ford Escape, Jeep Cherokee, Sonata Hyundai and Volkswagen Beetle.  Retired baseball star Bobby Grich formerly of the Anaheim Angels played along with Club Executive James Littlejohn.  Proceeds from the event go directly to benefit youth ages 7 – 18 who attend the  Clubs and support activities and programs that promote and develop literacy, self-confidence, sportsmanship, leadership and character-building.

“We are very proud to sponsor this event and we feel fortunate to help make a difference to the youth in Capistrano Valley,” said George Saad, vice president of Tuttle-Click Automotive Group.

“We are truly thankful.  The support and dedication of all our sponsors is what makes this event such a success,” said James Littlejohn, executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley. 

The Tuttle Click Golf planning committee recognized the tournament sponsors:  Title Sponsor- Tuttle Click Capistrano Ford; Sukut Construction; Gordon Mt. Joy Construction; Partners Bank of California;  Arrowhead Advertising, Wells Fargo, Cox Communications; Doctor’s Ambulance; Farmers & Merchants Bank; William Ryan Company; Fluor; BDS Marketing; Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, LLC; Independence Bank; AT&T; Prenovost, Normandin, Berg & Dawe; Sauers Lopez Construction; Haskell and White, Fluidmaster, Enterprise Rent a Car, Cox Castle and Nicholson; Capistrano VW and Southwest Dealer Services.

For twenty-one years, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley (BGCCV) has changed and saved lives, enabling young people to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens.  Today, the Club serves over 2,300 children and teens and provides a wide variety of youth development programs conducted by trained, professional staff. Key programs emphasize academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles.

For more information about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley 13th Annual Golf Tournament, or any of the Club’s programs, call (949) 240-7898, extension *13 or visit www.bgccapo.com.