Boys & Girls Clubs Of Metro Phoenix Announces Renee LaBelle Parsons Girls Leadership Award.

Youth Recognized for Demonstrating Strong Leadership Skills

During its “Fueling our Future” community breakfast, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix (BGCMP) unveiled the new Renee LaBelle Parsons Girls Leadership Award and scholarship. Spearheaded by businesswoman and philanthropist, Renee Parsons, the award honors girls who have exhibited three key leadership qualities – collaboration, assertiveness and empathy – and provides the recipient with a new laptop and four years of scholarship funding up to $20,000 a year.

“While many of our grants support a broad range of youth and underserved adults, I am personally interested in providing motivated girls with the resources and support they need to become happy, thriving and successful women,” said Parsons.

Parsons formally introduced the award and announced the 2018 honoree, Yareli Guadalupe Martinez Medina, via video address. More than 250 business and community leaders attended the breakfast which highlighted the impact of BGCMP and the effect its programs have on the community. The organization provides structured, comprehensive educational and recreational programming designed to help youth reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible members of the community. Much of the focus is on academic achievement, personal development and leadership, resulting in higher than average graduation rates among Club members.

“More than half of our members live at or below the federal poverty level and the chance to pursue a higher education is crucial to breaking the cycle of poverty,” said Marcia Mintz, CEO of the BGCMP. “We are grateful for the continued support from Bob and Renee Parsons and are proud to recognize Yareli for her outstanding achievements this year.”

Longtime supporters of the BGCMP, The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation has given more than $8 million to the organization, including several Youth of the Year scholarships. The Renee LaBelle Parsons Girls Leadership Award, with an annual benefit of $20,000 and renewable up to four years, will provide financial support of up to $80,000 per student, making it the largest scholarship created by the Foundation to date.

BGCMP serves more than 30,000 youth each year with 12 clubhouses located in some of the Valley’s most underserved communities. To learn more visit   https://bgcmp.org/.