The Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha Receives Advocacy Award

Kenosha, WI – Boys & Girls Clubs of Kenosha received a Hero of Youth award from Boys & Girls Clubs of America for their advocacy on behalf of Wisconsin’s youth.

“Clubs like ours have a unique role as community leaders in providing valuable afterschool programs to our country’s youth that enable them to achieve great futures,” said Tara Panasewicz, CEO. “We are wholly committed to raising the visibility of the needs of the youth in our community, especially the ones who need us most, and show what we can accomplish with the support of our elected officials and our community.”

The Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha has been a strong advocate for youth in 2024, working closely with local and state representatives to address critical issues impacting our members. Through active participation in State Legislative Days, we have voiced the needs of our youth, ensuring their concerns are heard at the highest levels. Our social media campaigns have amplified these efforts, sharing powerful stories of our members and the positive impact of Club programs. From championing policies that support after-school funding to advocating for safer communities, our advocacy initiatives continue to drive meaningful change for the nearly 18,380 youth we serve annually.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Club Advocacy Engagement Recognition Program recognizes the advocacy work Clubs do every day, with a major emphasis on impact, creativity, and innovation. The program consists of three tiers for Clubs: Advocate (first 50% of Clubs), Hero (next 40% of Clubs) and Champion (top 10% of Clubs). Clubs get points for impactful engagements and those points determine in which tier a Club is placed.

“Boys & Girls Clubs champion opportunities for all youth, equipping young people with the experiences and tools they need to succeed,” said Panasewicz. “Our advocacy isn’t just a one-day event. We are raising our voices every single day, to ensure top issues and solutions impacting young people are prioritized in our community, our state and at the national level.”

The Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha is a youth guidance organization dedicated to promoting health, social, educational, vocational, cultural, character and leadership development. The Club helps youth improve their lives by building skills, values and self-esteem. When you support the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha, you support the kids who need us the most and their great futures ahead. Visit www.BGCKenosha.org/donate to donate today.

For 160 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA.org) has provided a safe place for kids and teens to learn and grow. Clubs offer caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Boys & Girls Clubs programming promotes academic success, good character and leadership, and healthy lifestyles. More than 5,400 Clubs serve over 3.3 million young people 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 BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of America on Facebook and Twitter.