YOUR clubs
Stories about the kids and families you have helped
Cleveland teen is our 2025 Youth of the Year
Ty’Janeya Gordon grew up in the Boys & Girls Club.
When Ty’Janeya was in kindergarten, her mom enrolled her at the King Kennedy Club adjacent to where they lived. For the next decade, she spent most of her afterschool hours at the Club, getting help with schoolwork, learning to play volleyball and becoming a strong leader.
Later, she joined Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio’s East Tech Teen Center.
Today, Ty’Janeya, 18, is a Club luminary. She has been named BGCNEO’s 2025 Youth of the Year by a panel of judges that examined her commitment to the Club, her school and her community.
She said the Club “has made me the young lady I am today.
“They pushed me to be better and gave me a place to feel safe at knowing the kind of community I lived in. The Club never failed me or my family. When I needed help with my homework, they helped me. I learned how to communicate, express how I feel and remove myself from situations without acting with anger because of the staff at King Kennedy and East Tech.”
Ty’Janeya was awarded a $10,000 college
scholarship from Cleveland Guardians Charities for winning the title. Finishing in second place was Jason Richardson, 14, a freshman at St. Mary Catholic High School in Sandusky. Jason earned a $5,000 scholarship from the Guardians.
Other finalists were Airyonah Tomlinson, a senior at Archbishop Hoban High School in Akron and a member of the Steve Wise Club; De’Shawn Gore, a sophomore at Lorain High School, is a member of the Westview Terrace Club in Lorain; Kamora Keahey, a freshman at Sandusky High School; and Mariah Witherspoon, a senior at Horizon Science Academy in Cleveland.
At East Tech, Ty’Janeya played volleyball all four years and was team captain. At the teen center, Ty’Janeya has been president of Keystone Club, a leadership group, since 2023 and co-led three community service projects.
In 2023, she was the student coordinator for a clothes drive benefiting the City Mission.
Teen Center Director Nikia Dandridge said Ty’Janeya is an exceptional leader. “She has a natural talent for bringing people together and fostering a sense of collaboration and teamwork,” she said.
Ty’Janeya plans to attend Central State University and major in accounting.
‘Big Christmas’ hoops it up with our kids
Guardians Player Joins WKYC’s Celebrity Knockout Challenge
Maybe basketball isn’t Cleveland Guardians outfielder Jhonkensy Noel’s sport. Still, he made no excuses for his elimination from Boys & Girls Clubs Celebrity Knockout Challenge on WKYC.
“I am disappointed in myself,” he told host Mike Polk Jr. with a giant smile.
Jhonkensy, aka Big Christmas, is one of the local celebrities who have competed with each other and our Club kids in the popular hoops contest. Others have included Jason Lloyd of The Athletic, Random Acts of Kindness Everywhere founder Ricky Smith, radio personality Sam Sylk, Cleveland Cavaliers legend Campy Russell, Cavs Spanish radio voice Rafa, members of the band Tropidelic and BGCNEO CEO Allen Smith.
Our kids are holding their own against the celebrity competition. The one involving Big Christmas was won by Jaylen, 12, a member of our King Kennedy Club. Scan the QR code for a link to the episode.
Celebrity Knockout Challenge airs monthly on WKYC’s Front Row Fridays news show. Check our social media platforms for upcoming episodes. We are grateful to WKYC for providing BGCNEO and our kids with the opportunity.
Club skiing was Epic for Everyone
Maddie was excited about her first ski lesson.
“I’m adventurous, and I like to do new things,” says the 9-year-old, one of 20 members of the Steve Wise Club in Akron who participated in Vail Resorts’ Epic for Everyone program, which expands access to the next generation of skiers and snowboarders and showcases career opportunities. Club members received free weekly lessons in February at Boston Mills Resort.
It was the fourth year that BGCNEO members have taken part in the program, which is supported by Vail Resorts and the Katz Amsterdam Charitable Trust. Four-year veteran skier Tristan, 13, (pictured) is now so in love with the sport that he wants to make it his career, possibly as an instructor.
“For me it is just so much fun,” he says.
Scan the QR code to watch WKYC’s coverage of the program.
‘It is good to be a leader, not a follower’
The Club is helping Leanna, 11, grow and thrive.
“Here you get to meet new people and have fun,” says the three-year King Kennedy Club member. “It is also helping me get better grades in school and make friends. I feel I’m just a better person.”
Club Director Gloria Jones she sees immense potential in Leanna, who is active in Club activities and dances in BGCNEO’s Opening Track program, which incorporates music into the everyday lives of members. She says Leanna is making better decisions and showing leadership.
Leanna also sees that in herself.
“It is good to be a leader, not a follower,” she says.
A pupil at Cleveland’s Harvey Rice Elementary School, Leanna loves art, which she calls “my calm-down space.” The soft-spoken artist loves to do pencil drawings of people, anime and animals. She says she looks forward to the times when she can hold a pencil and create something new.
Leanna says attending the Club has been a wonderful experience.
“I love being here,” she says.
Create a legacy of opportunity for our youth
You can make a lasting impact on the lives of Northeast Ohio’s youth by including Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio in your estate plans.
There are many ways to create a lasting impact, such as bequests, beneficiary designations, gifts of highly appreciated securities, or donor-advised funds. Whether you choose to leave a gift in your will, designate Boys & Girls Clubs as a life insurance beneficiary, or make a tax-smart gift during your lifetime, your generosity ensures that future generations of young people have access to safe, enriching programs that empower them to succeed.
To learn more about planned giving opportunities, talk to your financial advisor, contact Director of Individual Giving Kim Cole at kcole@bgcneo.org or scan the code on this page.
Your legacy can help change lives—today, tomorrow and for years to come.
Join us for the June 21 Race for Kids
Get ready to lace ‘em up.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio’s Race for Kids, a popular family tradition, will take place on Saturday, June 21 at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. The event includes a 5K run, a 1-mile walk, kids activities and all-day zoo admission. All runners and walkers receive an official race T-shirt.
Early Bird registration pricing runs through May 31. Cost is $25 for the 5K run, $22 for the 1-mile walk and $20 for the virtual 5K or walk.
To register, go to www.bgcneo.org or scan the code on this page.
Sponsorship opportunities, which include on-course and social media recognition, are also available. For more information on sponsorships, contact Director of Corporate Relations Erin Turner at eturner@bgcneo.org .
Sponsors already on board for this year’s race include CFNA Bridgestone, GOJO Industries, Cleveland Cliffs, Ken Ganley Auto Group, Swagelok, Charles Schwab, Sherwin-Williams, Mark and Carol Bachmann, Premier Bank and Savant.
Interested in volunteering at the race? Contact Adria Chavers at achavers@bgcneo.org.
Heads up: New event on horizon
We are excited to announce a new signature event to benefit our Club kids.
Dare to Dream, an event aimed at raising awareness and critical funding for Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio’s mission, will take place later this year. BGCNEO Board Member David Hastings, CEO of Hastings Water Works, Inc., is the event chair.
The new event will showcase BGCNEO programs, and proceeds will help empower Club members to “dream” outside of their current circumstance and build a path toward a brighter future.
Ticket and sponsorship information is coming soon. Visit www.bgcneo.org for updates.
EVENTS
An amazing project was unveiled at our King Kennedy Club, where the Cleveland Chapter of Jack & Jill of America Inc. officially opened a cool, inviting Book Nook for Club members. The nook contains comfortable seating, colorful décor and, of course, lots of books. At the opening, author Kathi Howard-Primes read her book ‘Walking in Ava’s Shoes’ to Club members.
More than 100 young people from seven Clubs attended BGCNEO’s second Teen Takeover at Dave & Buster’s in Westlake. Club members from around Northeast Ohio played games, enjoyed dinner and learned about life and career opportunities.
Thanks to Cleveland Cavaliers forward Max Strus for helping Broadway Club members practice their Bigger Than Basketball presentation before Cavs and ClevelandCliffs representatives. Max gave the kids pointers before they presented their idea for a Stop the Violence Project this summer.
Thirteen Franklin D. Roosevelt Club members got the chance to visit Case Western Reserve University. They toured the CWRU campus, including the athletic facilities, and went to a men’s basketball game.
Thank you to the Case Western Reserve University Underrepresented Minority Women in STEM group members for speaking to our East Tech Teen Center members about campus life balance and making good financial decisions.
HIGHLIGHTS
Our Broadway Club members had a lot of fun with Lubrizol employees as they tested out Chem Cars using a mixture of baking soda and vinegar to propel the vehicles forward.
Kenneth Wilson Jr., a product of Boys & Girls Clubs in Dallas, Texas, is an engineer and motivational speaker. He recently visited the Broadway Club and spoke to members about a career in mechanical and industrial engineering. He also brought robots, with which our youth were able to interact with and learn more about technology.
WEWS-TV (Channel 5) anchor Tiffany Tarpley, a Lorain Admiral King High School graduate, was once a volunteer at our Larkmoor Club in Lorain. She recently returned to the Club to talk to our kids and reconnect with old friends. Tiffany worked at WTOL in Toledo as a morning show anchor before coming to WEWS.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America has recognized BGCNEO with the Hero of Youth Award for our committed and innovative advocacy efforts around issues impacting Northeast Ohio youth. The Hero for Youth Award is given annually to Clubs who place in the top 50% of Clubs for their Advocacy engagement
WHY I GIVE
WHY I BELONG
“My mom put me in the Club, and it is like really fun to be here. I have new friends. They even have a PS5 that we can play with. Everything here is so much fun.”
Vivienne, 7 Desich Family Campus
My wife Karen and I give monthly to Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio. We do this because it lines up nicely with our values: wanting to give back to the local community, supporting children, and hopefully making a difference for the future. She and I both had “that special person” growing up, the one who stepped up when they didn’t have to, filling the role of our anchor in sometimes tempestuous childhoods. We have tried to fill that role for specific people as adults and donating to BGCNEO allows us to expand that reach. We are happy to donate to the Clubs because they have a stellar reputation, and we feel fortunate that we are able to pay it forward and help in this way.
David and Karen Brill, Bay Village
WHY I VOLUNTEER
The answer is very simple: I volunteer and have been volunteering with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio since 2014 because I love how this organization serves as a dynamic platform to support youth through academic success, healthy life choices and building good character. I enjoy giving my time into building up the youth one child at a time. They are our future, so why not help guide them in the right direction and give back to the community? Volunteering is rewarding in nature, and I really do enjoy working with students of all ages. These are the reasons why I volunteer.
Ashley Oliver,
Bedford
To join a Club, make a gift or volunteer, visit www.bgcneo.org.
6114 Broadway Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44127
May 24: Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast, Broadway Club
June 21: Race for Kids at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
June 23: Taco Bell Charity Golf Classic at Barrington Golf Club, Aurora
TBA: Stop the Violence Project, Broadway Club
TBA: Dare to Dream event Boys & Girls Clubs
Northeast Ohio 6114 Broadway Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44127 (216) 883-2106 www.bgcneo.org
