18-Year-Old is 2nd Consecutive Youth of the
Year Recipient from Boys & Girls Club of Bristol
BRISTOL,
Conn., May 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Brianna P. was
introduced to the Boys & Girls Club of Bristol at age 9, timid and unsure of what her
future held. Having watched her family struggle with addiction and
difficult life choices, Brianna grew up much faster than many of
her peers.
Determined to take charge of her future, it was through the Club
that she immediately found a safe environment with positive
influences among Club staff to remind her of her full potential.
Now, she's resolved to change the narrative for kids and teens who
may be facing similar challenges.
"The most important thing to me is my mission to empower the
youth of America to take advantage of the opportunities and
resources that the Boys & Girls Club provides, and I hope my
story will inspire others to do just that," she said.
Brianna's amazing story is the reason why she was selected as
the 2021-22 Boys & Girls Clubs of America National Youth
of the Year Winner, and why she was awarded a new Toyota Corolla
during a special presentation at Stephen
Toyota in Bristol,
Connecticut, on April 1.
Brianna was joined by the 2020-21 winner Josias R., who is also a
member of Bristol Boys & Girls Club and was awarded a Corolla
from Stephen Toyota last year.
Representatives from Toyota, Bristol Boys & Girls Club and the
Bristol community attended the
celebration.
National Youth of the Year is Boys & Girls Clubs of
America's premier recognition for teens who have made outstanding
contributions to their family, school, community and local Club
while overcoming personal obstacles. Nominations begin at the Club
and continue through the state, regional and national levels.
Participants are chosen on local and state levels, with five
regional winners meeting each September in Washington D.C., to compete for the National
Youth of the Year title. Five judges individually interview each
candidate and select the national winner.
"Brianna represents everything the Youth of the Year program is
about," said Steve Barberino, Jr.,
dealer principal and owner of Stephen Toyota. "She has worked hard
to overcome many obstacles in her life and has become a
compassionate, caring young woman who is a role model for others.
We are proud to partner with such a great youth organization to
celebrate and support such an extraordinary young woman."
This is the 11th Corolla that Toyota has awarded to a National
Youth of the Year winner since 2011. And it's one component of
Toyota's longstanding relationship with Boys & Girls Clubs of
America. Toyota has remained committed to not only providing
resources at the local and national levels, but also providing time
and expertise with volunteerism and workforce readiness
programs.
"I will forever be thankful to Boys & Girls Clubs of America
and Toyota for all they have done to broaden my economic
opportunity and mobility," Brianna said.
Brianna is a graduate of E.C. Goodwin Technical High School in
New Britain, Connecticut, and
attends Central Connecticut State
University where she studies social work.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of
the cultural fabric in North
America for more than 60 years, and is committed to
advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota
and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800
dealerships.
Toyota directly employs more than 48,000 people in
North America who have contributed
to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 43 million cars
and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota's 14th
plant in North Carolina will begin
to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With
the more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker,
more than a quarter of the company's 2021 North American sales were
electrified.
Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights
the way it partners with community, civic, academic and
governmental organizations to address our society's most pressing
mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move,
anything is possible. For more information about Toyota,
visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
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 4,700 Clubs serve
over 4.3 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.
Media Contact:
Kimberly Agnello
kimberly.agnello@toyota.com
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SOURCE Toyota Motor North America