Dennis Fujimoto – The Garden Island Jazzlyn Pasion-Saflor, a student at Kapa‘a High School, was on hand to ensure the participation of Boys & Girls Club members in the Youth of the Year competition. Pasion-Saflor, a member of the B&G
Dennis Fujimoto – The Garden Island
Jazzlyn Pasion-Saflor, a student at Kapa‘a High School, was on hand to ensure the participation of Boys & Girls Club members in the Youth of the Year competition.
Pasion-Saflor, a member of the B&G Kapa‘a Clubhouse, accepted a $1,000 grant from the Young Brothers Community Advisory Board, which is intended to support the participation in the annual B&G Club of Hawai‘i Youth of the Year Training Academy and Competition.
“We are very pleased to be able to play a key role in ensuring Kaua‘i youth are given the opportunity to explore and expand their leadership skills and participation in their communities,” said Wanda Shibata of the YB CAB.
“As a longtime kama‘aina company with our roots deeply based in communities throughout Hawai‘i, we appreciate the importance of providing Hawai‘i youth with all the resources and support they need to develop into sound citizens and leaders. They are the heart and future of our communities and state.”
In a press release from the B&G Club, last year, in addition to Pasion-Saflor being named the 2008 B&G Club of Hawai‘i Youth of the Year, Benjie Caclig of the B&G Waimea Clubhouse was selected as the Speech of the Year winner.
Rowena Dela Cruz from the B&G Waimea Clubhouse was also a finalist in the competition.
Keith Cruickshank, the regional director for the B&G Club of Hawai‘i, said the YB CAB donation will help make the 2009 program accessible to more youth and cover program costs for Kaua‘i finalists to attend the numerous workshops, overnight retreats and other special training events offered as part of the Youth of the Year Academy and Competition on O‘ahu.
“The YB donation is greatly appreciated and will allow our teens to take full advantage of the Youth of the Year program activities,” Cruickshank said. “Full participation in the Youth of the Year program provides Kaua‘i teens opportunities to gain a great sense of accomplishment and confidence that will inspire them to continue to give back and become future leaders for our community.”
The Youth of the Year competition offers exceptional Clubhouse teens the opportunity to compete for the Youth of the Year title at the organizational, state, regional and national levels.
Youth finalists are selected from B&G Clubhouses across O‘ahu and Kaua‘i including Waiana‘e, Ewa Beach, Nanakuli, McCully, Papakolea, Kailua, Wahiawa, Aliamanu, Lihu‘e, Kapa‘a and Waimea.
Criteria for selection include leadership, community service, strength of character and outstanding service to their respective Clubhouses.
Once chosen, finalists enter the Youth of the Year Academy, a series of fun and challenging workshops designed to prepare the finalists for competition and foster leadership, self-confidence, poise, public speaking and interview skills.
During last year’s program, a special “Dress for Success” component sponsored by Macy’s was added to the curriculum.
Each of the finalists had the opportunity to meet with a Macy’s personal shopper to select and be outfitted from head to toe with a professional competition outfit. The segment was completed when the finalists attended a half-day training session at Macy’s Ala Moana covering fashion, skin care, hair styling, shoes and overall presentation skills.
The B&G Club of Hawai‘i Leadership in Training and Youth of the Year programs are made possible by the support of donors such as the YB CAB and community partners like Macy’s and Jack in the Box.
