Youth of the Year Winner Announced at BGCSTL Great Futures Gala

Kahalia Adams Wins Youth of the Year, $5,000 Scholarship & A NEW CAR
Over 700 guests and $400,000+ raised for Club kids!

St. Louis, MO, November 10, 2018 – Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) is proud to announce the 2019 Youth of the Year winner is Kahalia Adams! Being named Youth of the Year is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can receive and a signature national youth recognition program that celebrates the recipient’s contributions to their family, school, community, and their Boys & Girls Club. The winner was announced at the Great Futures Gala, the largest fundraising event for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis which raised a grand total of over $400,000 and met its “fund-a-need” goal of $120,000+ that same evening.

Kahalia, age 17, is a junior at Parkway North High School and has been a member of BGCSTL Herbert Hoover Club for ten years. In addition to winning the Youth of the Year title and honor to represent the Club as a Teen Ambassador, she won the Wanda and Michael DeHaven Boys & Girls Clubs Youth of the Year scholarship in the amount of $5,000. And, a Honda Accord courtesy of Frank Leta Automotive Group!

During her speech given at the organization’s largest fundraiser of the year, the Great Futures Gala, held on Friday, 11/9 at the Chase Park Plaza, Kahalia reflected on the impact the Boys & Girls Clubs had on her life, saying, “Being a member gives me the opportunity to be around like-minded individuals who aspire to be more than their current situations. The Club impacted my life tremendously by giving me a controlled environment to thrive in. I believe that my divine purpose involves leading my generation by example; while setting the tone for the youth and the elders by carrying myself with the respect and dignity I expect from others. These things would be unattainable for me without the guidance of the Club. The Club has not only shaped me into the young lady I am, but it is grooming me for the type of women that I want to become. ”

Now that she’s won the honor, Kahalia plans to fulfill her purpose and use her voice to positively influence young people across the nation. Once she graduates from high school she plans to attend her dream college, Jackson State University. Kahalia was selected from a group of four finalists who shared their stories of outstanding leadership, service, academic excellence and commitment to living a healthy lifestyle at the Great Futures Gala.

“The Youth of the Year program honors our nation’s most awe-inspiring young people on their path to great futures and encourages all kids to lead, succeed and inspire. All of the honorees are shining examples and living proof that great futures start at the Boys & Girls Clubs. We are so proud of all of this year’s participants who took the time to complete a challenging yet worthwhile process. All possess the ability and ambition to be successful, and, should be recognized for their leadership, service, academic achievements and commitment to live a healthy lifestyle,” said Dr. Flint Fowler, President, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis.

Congratulations to all of the Youth of the Year top finishers listed below (pic attached, left to right):
2nd Place Winner, Danielle Kain ($2,500)
3rd Place Winner, Fatuma Euli ($1,000)
4th Place Winner, Jennifer Sandford ($500)
Youth of the Year Winner, Kahalia Adams ($5,000)

Special thanks to the Great Futures Gala committee including Honorary Co-chairs – Jimmy & Janet Williams and Event Co-chairs: Mark & Flora Stallion and Dave & Barb Touchette. And, to the following sponsors for their support: Presenting Sponsors, Centene Charitable Foundation and Emerson; Great Futures Sponsors, Greensfelder Hemker & Gale, P.C., Express Scripts, Argent Capital Management LLC and Stifel Nicolaus; Youth of the Year Sponsors, Bayer, Edward Jones, Enterprise Bank and Trust, KAI Design & Build — The UP Companies, Laborers’ International Union of North America, Lewis Rice, Nestle Purina, Paul & Laura Miller, Thompson Coburn, LLP, U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo.

For more information on how the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis is helping our community, visit www.bgcstl.org. To view all photos from the evening, click below.

To view the video highlighting the Club’s impact on teens and alumni, click below.