Monthly Newsletter

CEO Letter

Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County’s Youth of the Year program is my favorite way to reconnect with our mission and it couldn’t have come at a better time as I was needing a little pick me up this month! I get the opportunity to see this leadership development competition at both the Club level and during our countywide event and it never fails to bring a huge smile to my face. Watching youth as young as 8-years-old brave the podium and share their stories of personal growth, friendship, and fun reminds me why BGCLC is such an important part of our community.

During our Loveland Pulliam Club Youth of the Year competition, the final senior youth presenter closed her speech talking about the importance of our staff. “They helped me become who I really am,” she said. As my eyes filled with tears, I was reminded of how challenging the journey of adolescence is and how elusive our own identity and sense of self can be in those early teen years.

Our staff are pros at creating places of belonging and continually bolstering the self-esteem of our kids, encouraging their own unique passions and dreams. In many ways, working with our team has helped me understand the needs of my own son as he quickly approaches his 13th birthday. Parenting is hard. BGCLC makes me better.

Registration for our summer programs will be opening next week and we’re looking forward to hosting our Summer of Discovery program again this year. This 7 week program with weekly field trips is specifically geared to our middle and high school students, showcasing local career opportunities, sparking new interest in learning, and igniting excitement for their futures. We can’t wait to spend the summer creating memories, laughter and fun with your kids. Great futures truly do start here!

With Gratitude,

Chief Executive Officer

Meet our 2025 Youth of the Year Winners!

Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County, in partnership with Colorado State University and Front Range Community College, hosted our county-wide Youth of the Year Competition on Sunday, February 23.

Youth of the Year is one of our most impactful programs, equipping youth with 21st-century leadership skills and empowering them to strengthen and use their voice in the community. Youth of the Year winners demonstrate service to Club, service to community and family, academic success, strong moral character, goal-setting skills, communication skills, and public speaking ability. Congratulations to all of our Club-level winners! These high achievers personify the values and character of their hometown Club.

Special thank you to our judges: Fred Abramowitz (Attorney, Abramowitz & Franks and BGCLC Board Member), Paul Benson (Retired HR Executive and BGCLC Board Member), Lilian Clemente, (Executive Vice President and CCO, FRCC), Nashara Ellerbee (2024 State YoY Winner and CSU student), Dr. Rickey Frierson (Assistant Vice President for Strategic Student Success Initiatives, CSU), Blanche Hughes (VP of Student Affairs, CSU) and Pete Meyer (Vice President of Real Estate Services, CSU STRATA and BGCLC Board Member)

Meet Genesis, Senior Youth of the Year Winner:

Genesis has been a wonderful addition to the Sage Homes Wellington Club over the last couple of years. She demonstrates all of the qualities that being a Club member is about: honesty, respect, hard work, and an open heart. These qualities are not only shown at the Club but are also reflected in her school work, after-school activities, and in her high standards for herself and her future.

Genesis sees herself becoming a vet when she is older because of her great love of animals.

Meet Camden, Junior Youth of the Year Winner:

Camden is an exceptional leader at the Edmondson Club. She is a role model for Cub expectations and good character for other members.

According to her Club staff, Camden is always so enthusiastic about our programs and encourages others to participate.

Camden sees herself being a teacher because she loves to teach the kids new subjects like math, science, history, Spanish literacy, and reading.

Save the Date for the Spring Soirée

Friday, May 9, 2025

Hilton Fort Collins

425 W Prospect Rd, Fort Collins, CO 80526

Doors: 6:00 p.m.

Mark your calendars for our largest fundraiser of the year as we celebrate our 2025 Senior Youth of the Year, Genesis, our Club members, and the great futures that bloom, grow, and flourish at Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County!

Enjoy an evening of music, drinks, a Tuscan-inspired dinner, an exciting silent auction, and more.

Sponsorships for this event are available! Contact our Development Manager, Caitlin Carter, at ccarter@bgclarimer.org for more information. Registration will open here next week!

Program Highlight: FullSTEM Ahead Camp Engages Girls in STEM

Last summer, BGCLC members were able to attend FullSTEM Ahead, a three-day STEM camp designed to engage girls in STEM fields. Participants explored a variety of STEM concepts, including programming robots, isolating DNA, and more.

These middle-school-aged students spent time with their peers and learned from GE Vernova professionals and Colorado School of Mines faculty. Thank you Colorado School Of Mines Foundation for providing this extraordinary opportunity for middle-school girls to have fun and gain confidence in STEM.

We’re so excited to offer this program again this summer! For more information, please contact Emily Hill, Operations Administrator, at ehill@bgclarimer.org.

News & Announcements

BGCLC Recognized as 2025 Club Advocate for Youth

Boys & Girls Clubs of America recognized the Boys & Girls Club of Larimer County with the Advocate for Youth award for their committed and innovative advocacy efforts around issues impacting Larimer County youth.

Our grassroots advocates accomplished a lot this year and we’re just getting started!

Help us further grow our movement and

reach by encouraging others to join our Catalyst for Change Advocacy Network to take action on urgent issues

affecting our community’s youth!

Support BGCLC at Ross Dress For Less Stores!

To show their continued support in preparing today’s youth for a brighter tomorrow, Ross Stores, Inc. is partnering with Boys & Girls Clubs of America for the 11th annual three-week in-Store “Help Local Kids Thrive” fundraiser.

Now through March 2, Customers in Fort Collins and Loveland can donate to Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County during checkout at their local Ross store. Help us finish out the fundraiser strong!

Customers’ donations will go toward the Club’s Power Hour program, providing homework help and academic resources to Club youth in Larimer County and across the country.