7th AnnuaL YOUTH OF THE YEAR CELEBRATION & fundraiser
5:30-8:30 pm, Saturday, March 16, 2019
Hilo Hawaiian Hotel’s Moku Ola Ballroom
Youth of the Year Event will be an inspiring evening filled with youth member performances of ‘oli and mele to celebrate ‘ohana and community. The event will include youth-led entertainment that will warm your heart, plus silent and live auctions, guest speakers, honoring outstanding community supporters and a banquet-style meal.
Youth of the Year Program Celebrates Our Youth Members’ Achievements
One of the highlights of the evening will be hearing from an extraordinary youth member who will share her dreams and stories with you. She was selected based on her leadership, academic achievement and community service. She will receive an academic scholarship and will serve as youth spokesperson for BGCBI in the coming year. BGCBI’s Youth of the Year winner will represent Hawaiʻi Island in the state competition at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol and has the chance to compete at the regional and national levels, earn additional scholarships, and possibly visit the White House.
In addition to the youth performances, we will also be celebrating and honoring our esteemed colleagues and supporters:
Boys & Girls Club of the Big Island’s Honorees of the Year:
The Honorable Billy Kenoi
Growing up on Hawaiʻi Island in the small, tight knit community of Kalapana, former Hawaiʻi County Mayor Billy Kenoi learned firsthand the value of aloha and importance of ‘ohana and community. Taking these childhood values to heart, throughout his tenure as Mayor of Hawaiʻi County, “Billy” exemplified his understanding of aloha, especially towards Hawaiʻi Island’s most disadvantaged children. He has been an exceptional supporter of Boys & Girls Club of the Big Island and the vital services the organization has provided throughout the years. His attendance at previous Youth of the Year Celebrations were high points of the events as he connected, inspired and influenced youth in attendance through genuine, heartfelt conversations and enthusiastic encouragement. Mahalo to Billy Kenoi for enriching the lives of our island youth and enabling them to be equipped to pursue their dreams.
Jay Ignacio, P.E.
Jay Ignacio recently retired as president of Hawai‘i Electric Light Company after 28 years of service. Born and raised in Hilo, he has been actively involved in the Hawai‘i Island community, and a long-time supporter of Boys & Girls Club of the Big Island. Under Jay’s leadership, Hawaiian Electric Industries Charitable Foundation committed $100,000 toward BGCBI’s Meal Supplementation Program, which provides daily healthy meals or snacks to youth members. In addition, Jay mobilized Hawaii Electric Light employee volunteers to help remove 11 old poles from BGCBI’s Hilo baseball fields to keep the area safe for youth activities. Jay has served on the board of directors for numerous community organizations including the Hawai‘i Island United Way, Hawai‘i Island Economic Development Board, Hawai‘i Island Adult Care, Hawai‘i Island Chamber of Commerce, and Hilo Medical Center Foundation. He also was an active supporter of the Employees of Hawai'i Electric Light Toys for Tots Program. Jay has also been a mentor and coach for youth baseball and basketball on Hawai'i Island.
Champion for Youth Award: Hawaiian Electric Industries Charitable Foundation and Hawaiʻi Electric Light are strong, generous and long-standing supporters of BGCBI and island youth. In 2016 they presented BGCBI with an electric smart car (complete with BGCBI logos). In 2017, they contributed $100,000 to our nutritional supplementation program which provides full meals or healthy snacks to BGCBI members islandwide. This past October, Hawaii Electric Light volunteers using specialized company equipment, removed light poles from Hilo Club baseball fields. Many of the poles contained hazardous materials and were old, termite eaten and in danger of falling down. The estimated cost for this work was over $70,000, which BGCBI would not have been able to afford. With this award, we honor Hawaiian Electric Industries Charitable Foundation and Hawaiʻi Electric Light and their dedication to Hawaiʻi Island youth.
For over 67 years, BGCBI has been positively impacting thousands of our Big Island youth by providing safe facilities and positive activities; instilling healthy living practices along with good character and leadership skills. Services offered in Hilo, Keaʻau, Kealakehe, Pāhala, Pāhoa and Ocean View present our young people with the opportunity to grow, learn and have fun.
We humbly ask you to help continue this tradition of nurturing Hawaiʻi Island youth. There are a number of different ways you can kokua:
· Become an Event sponsor
· Purchase tickets for the Event
· Donate an auction item
· Make a financial donation
Click on the button below for information on various ways you can support positive youth development for Big Island youth.
For additional information, please call or email:
808-961-5536 / anela@bgcbi.org