Meet Our 2026 Youth of the Year Winners

Youth of the Year: Olivia Beliard

An 11-year Club member and Stamford High sophomore, Olivia carries a 4.0 GPA while participating in Keystone leadership development, serving as an UpNext Junior Staff member, and playing on the varsity basketball team. Once a quiet observer, she's grown into an influential force at the Club, supporting peers, volunteering her time, and uplifting others around her. Learn more about Olivia!

Junior Youth of the Year: Maria

A 7th grader at Schofield Magnet, Maria founded the Club's Friday Chess Club, where she teaches, organizes matches, and brings peers together every week. With a passion for art and a future goal of pursuing medicine, Maria is already making her mark at the Club. Learn more about Maria!

Keystone Club Represents BGCS at Regional Conference

Our Keystone Club members joined over 250 teens from across the Northeast at the 2026 Regional Keystone Conference, hosted by Wakeman Boys & Girls Club. Members gained leadership experience, connected with peers from other Clubs, and represented BGCS with pride. Keystone is at the heart of our character and leadership development programming, helping promising young people grow into confident leaders who create positive change in their communities and beyond.

Last Call: Join us for the Annual Corporate 5K 

Thursday, May 14, at 7 p.m.

Ready, set, run for the Club! Join 50+ corporate teams and 1,500+ runners and walkers for the Boys & Girls Club Annual Corporate 5K on Thursday, May 14, at Mill River Park. Whether you run, walk, or cheer from the sidelines, every step supports the Club. Grab your colleagues, lace up your sneakers, and help open doors of opportunity for the kids who need us most. Registration is open now through race day!

Exploring STEM with Bartlett Arboretum

Thanks to our partnership with Bartlett Arboretum, Club kids dive into hands-on STEM lessons every week. Recently, binoculars turned the Cloonan Auditorium into a world of discovery as members zoomed in on hidden objects and messages across the room. We believe every child deserves access to high-quality STEM education. Our year-round programming is designed to ignite curiosity, build real-world skills, and open doors to future opportunity in science, technology, engineering, and math.

Building Confidence, One Interview at a Time

Our College & Career Development Program helps teens explore interests, gain marketable skills, and connect with mentors and employers to help them discover their future. Recently, teens practiced answering situational interview questions with special guest Anthony Rooney, building the confidence and communication skills that open doors to future opportunities. From resume prep to mock interviews, this program gives young people the real-world tools they need to take their next step with confidence.

UpNext Junior Staff: Real Work, Real Skills

Our UpNext Junior Staff program gives 15 young leaders ages 13–16 hands-on work experience right inside the Club. Junior Staff rotate through roles that keep the Club running: manning the front desk, working the Snack Shack, setting up for weekly rec basketball, and helping behind the scenes at events like City Chic Reimagined. Along the way, they build professional skills, leadership, and the confidence to thrive in any future workplace.

Behind the Programs: Staff Professional Development

In February, BGCS paused regular programming for a two-day professional development retreat led by Marie from Bridge to Belong and Tatiyana from Connecting Differences. Staff explored trauma-informed care, compassion, and emotional regulation, and practiced the skills needed to meet every young person where they are. Here, Club CEO Craig Baker sits with the workshop facilitators from Connecting Differences and Bridge to Belong, who helped make it happen.

Making the Most of Our New Space at Cloonan

Our K–3 members have settled into Cloonan Middle School and are already taking advantage of everything it has to offer. Weekly ballet lessons now take place on the Cloonan stage, giving our young dancers a performance-ready space to practice and grow. Members are also making full use of the gym, cafeteria, and dedicated classrooms for everything from homework help to hands-on activities. No matter the location, the Club experience continues.

Spring Break College Tours Across CT

During Spring Break, our Junior Staff members traveled across Connecticut to tour college campuses at Eastern Connecticut State University, Yale University, and the University of Connecticut. These visits give teens a firsthand look at college life, helping them envision their futures and explore what's possible after graduating high school

City Chic Reimagined: A Night to Remember

What an incredible evening! Over 250 guests came together at Rockrimmon Country Club to celebrate BGCS and the young people at the heart of our mission. We were proud to honor Subaru Stamford and longtime board member Karyn Ward for their extraordinary dedication to opening doors of opportunity for Stamford's kids and teens. A heartfelt thank you to every attendee, auction bidder, and sponsor. Your generosity raised critical funds to keep programming within reach for the 550+ youth we serve every day.

Give Your Time. Change a Life.

We're looking for volunteers to join us. Whether it's tutoring, leading an activity, mentoring teens, or lending a hand during Summer Camp, there's a role for you: weekday afternoons, virtually, or as part of a corporate or school group. Bilingual volunteers and Spanish speakers are especially needed.