Florida Teen Named National Youth of the Year for Boys & Girls Clubs of America

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Maryah Sullivan was named the 2014-15 National Youth of the Year this morning at a Congressional Breakfast in Washington, D.C. She accepted the honor before an audience that included senators, representatives and Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) partners and supporters, among them American ballet dancer and National Youth of the Year Ambassador Misty Copeland, Speaker of the House John Boehner, and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer. Sponsored by Tupperware Brands Corporation, Youth of the Year is BGCA's premier recognition program for Club members. The program recognizes young people for their service to their community, as well as academic success and strong moral character. As the National Youth of the Year, Maryah receives up to $61,000 in academic scholarships from Tupperware Brands and the Rick and Susan Goings Foundation, as well as a new car from Toyota, a BGCA national partner.

An Orlando native and Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida member for 11 years, Maryah will serve as the official teen spokesperson for BGCA over the next year. Later this year, Maryah and the five other National Youth of the Year finalists will head to the White House for an exclusive meeting with President Barack Obama in the Oval Office.

"I am so honored to be named National Youth of the Year. I look forward to serving as an ambassador for young people in our Clubs across the country and around the world," said Maryah Sullivan, 2014-15 National Youth of the Year, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "I know there are many young people in the 4,100 Boys & Girls Clubs across the country and overseas who have stories like mine. I am proud to represent them and the impact Clubs have on our lives."

Maryah is both an extremely driven Club member and student. In addition to her dedication to her Club, she has also served as National Honor Society President, senior class secretary, BETA Club member, French honor society member, captain of the girls track and field club, captain of the weightlifting team in addition to being named the 2012-2013 weightlifting district champion. She maintained a 4.4 GPA at Edgewater High School and was the first person in her family to be accepted into college. Maryah is currently a freshman at University of South Florida, majoring in biomedical sciences.

"The selection of Maryah as National Youth of the Year for our organization is more important now than ever before," said Jim Clark, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "With today's generation projected to be the first not to do as well as their parents, and 1 in 5 students nationwide who won't graduate from high school on time, the role of Boys & Girls Clubs is critical. With the support of organizations like Tupperware Brands and the Rick and Susan Goings Foundation, we can help kids surmount the issues and obstacles they face and achieve a great future. We are confident Maryah will go on to accomplish great things and be a tremendous advocate for young people."

About National Youth of the Year

The highest honor bestowed on a Boys & Girls Club member, the National Youth of the Year receives $11,000 in academic scholarships from program sponsor, Tupperware Brands. The winner is also awarded a scholarship worth up to $50,000 by the Rick and Susan Goings Foundation, the personal foundation of Tupperware Brands Chairman and CEO Rick Goings and his wife, Susan, active supporters of Boys & Girls Clubs for more than 20 years.

Since 1947, Youth of the Year has recognized outstanding young people for service to their Club and community, academic performance and contributions to their family. To claim the national title, Club members advance through local, state and regional competitions. The year-long competitions culminate in Washington, D.C., where judges select the National Youth of the Year honoree from six exceptional candidates – five regional finalists and the Military Youth of the Year, which recognizes a Club member served on a military installation who has overcome enormous odds and demonstrated exceptional character and accomplishments.

To combat the nation's state of poor academic performance, obesity, drug use and youth-related violence, BGCA is taking a leadership role in elevating the impact of the critical out-of-school time in enabling kids to achieve a great future. The celebration of the National Youth of the Year serves as a proof-point of the success of Boys & Girls Clubs and the positive impact that Clubs have on kids and teens across the country.

Maryah's fellow 2014 National Youth of the Year finalists were: Sparkle Prevard, Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City, N.J.; Jasmnika Newbern, Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton Harbor, Mich.; Cecilia Garza, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas, Texas; Tae McKenzie, Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound, Tacoma, Wash.; and Natalia Lynch, U.S. Army Garrison Youth Center, Wiesbaden, Germany. To learn more about the Youth of the Year program and this year's finalists, visit BGCA.org/YOY.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (GreatFutures.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 4,100 Clubs serve nearly 4 million young people annually through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in Boys & Girls Clubs of America-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun, friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Priority programs emphasize academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 57 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at http://www.bgca.org/facebook and http://bgca.org/twitter.

About Tupperware Brands Corporation
Tupperware Brands Corporation is the leading global marketer of innovative, premium products across multiple brands utilizing a relationship-based selling method through an independent sales force of 2.9 million. Product brands and categories include design-centric preparation, storage and serving solutions for the kitchen and home through the Tupperware brand and beauty and personal care products through the Avroy Shlain, BeautiControl, Fuller Cosmetics, NaturCare, Nutrimetics, and Nuvo brands.

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SOURCE Boys & Girls Clubs of America