Boys & Girls Club of Ridgefield Names Youth of the Year, Junior Youth of the Year, Recognizes Young Community Leaders

Countless young people in our community credit the Boys & Girls Club of Ridgefield (BGCR) with changing the trajectory of their lives for the better. Last night, at the Ethan Allen Hotel in Danbury, BGCR family and supporters had the opportunity to listen to their incredible stories and honor them.

From the first day I walked through the doors of the Club, I was accepted

When one door closes in my life, the Club is always there to open a window

The Club...

 is my second family

is a place where I learn to do the right thing and give back to the community

has taught me that limits are only in your mind

helped me become the best version of myself

Mike Flynn, who has been at the helm of the BGCR for two decades, kicked off last night’s Annual Leadership Dinner, which took place in person for the first time in three years, thanking those who have been instrumental in helping the Club fulfill its mission - creating Great Futures. 

Character and Leadership awards preceded the mainstage event of the evening - naming the 2022 Youth of the Year, and Junior Youth of the Year. 

Annie Cozens, 2020 Youth of the Year and Allie Cauchon, 2019 Youth of the Year and Connecticut’s Youth of the Year, had the honor of awarding eight-year club member, a sophomore at Ridgefield High School (RHS) Emily Yee with Junior Youth of the Year. Introduced in 2021 the Junior Youth of the Year program provides freshmen and sophomores with the training and practice to move on to the Youth of the Year program.

Cozens and Cauchon then welcomed fourteen outstanding young community members and Youth of the Year candidates to the stage. As the young leaders stood in anticipation, Cozens and Cauchon crowned Carter Dean, ten-year club member and senior at RHS, as the 2022 Boys & Girls Club of Ridgefield Youth of the Year, the most prestigious honor bestowed upon a Club member.

Megan and Chris Couri, on behalf of the Couri family, awarded Carter a scholarship for $5,000. Chris is a former Club member and former member of the BGCR Board of Directors.

For nearly two decades, the Youth of the Year program has recognized and celebrated the extraordinary achievements of local teens. 

We are beyond grateful to the BGCR staff including Mike, Kristin Goncalves, Jeff Goncalves. The work you do is among the most important in the world. You are indeed creating Great Futures.

A big thank you to Raffaele Gallo who provided attendees with a delicious dinner.

Learn more about BGCR here.