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Melissa Melendez Named 2007 Youth of the Year —

Formerly Homeless Youth Contributes 1,000 Hours in Community Service to the Club and Maintains Three Jobs to Support Household and Disabled Mother

Mount Kisco, NY (April 1, 2007) — The Boys and Girls Clubs of Northern Westchester announced today that Melissa Melendez will be honored as the 2007 Youth of the Year, which represents the highest honor the Club gives to one of its members. The national program, administered by Boys and Girls Clubs of America, recognizes exemplary character, superior leadership skills, academic achievement, outstanding service to Boys and Girls Clubs and community outreach.

This accomplishment earned Melendez a $1,000 college scholarship from the Corporation for National Service and an additional $1,000 from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Westchester. Melendez will compete against other Boys & Girls Club youth for the New York State Youth of the Year title. Five regional winners selected among state winners will compete for the national honor in Washington, D.C., where the National Youth of the Year will officially be installed by the President in a White House ceremony in September. In addition, the winner will receive a $10,000 scholarship from The Reader's Digest Association, the sponsor of the program since its inception in 1947.

Seventeen-year-old Melendez is a five-year Club member and junior at Sleepy Hollow High School. Melissa's family lost their home in 2002 and she was often separated from her family so that her mother and younger siblings could stay together. The family's unstable situation began to affect Melendez's school and social lives. Ultimately, her mother found the Boys and Girls Club and enrolled the entire family.

Melissa has amassed over 1,000 hours of community service since joining the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Westchester. She is currently vice president of the Keystone Club and participates in many Club activities, some of which include CLUBService, Smart Girls, and the Junior Staff program. Melissa also tutors younger Club members and assists with the backpack program, a service which provides food for needy families over the weekend. When the Tarrytown Center faced closure in June of 2006, Melissa worked tirelessly to keep the Center open by writing letters, contacting local officials, and circulating petitions. Melissa serves as the Youth spokesperson for the Club at board, community, and cultivation events. Her contribution to the local community mirrors her efforts with her work at the Club.

It is Melissa's goal to assure that her family will never be homeless again. She currently maintains three jobs to contribute to the household rent. Melissa also helps her mother, who is disabled, care for her siblings. Her lifelong dream is to be a fashion designer and she has aspirations to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.

Barbara Cutri, Director of Operations of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northern Westchester, has enjoyed watching Melendez mature and develop into a role model for others in the community during her years at the Club. "Melissa has made very mature decisions to ensure the comfort of her family and her future success. Her work ethic, drive, and determination are outstanding," she said.

The Youth of the Year award will be presented at the Clubs' 13th annual Humanitarian Award Dinner on Saturday, June 9, 2007 at the Saw Mill Club in Mt. Kisco. The dinner will honor Leslie Cecil of Mt. Kisco, NY. The Humanitarian Award Dinner is open to all by advance reservation. A sit-down dinner will follow the cocktail reception and silent auction, which begins at 6:00 p.m. There will be an award presentation, live auction and dancing. Individual tickets are $350; group tables are also available. For further information regarding tickets and/or donations, contact Jean Skanes at 914-666-8069.

About the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Westchester

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Westchester was established in 1939 as a place for "boys to get off the streets." It is a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring and enabling young people, especially those who need it most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens. The main unit in Mt. Kisco, NY is a 36,000-square-foot facility featuring an eight-lane pool, Child Care Center, gymnasium, games room, two computer labs and an additional 1,600-foot Teen Center facility. The Club has two satellite programs: a youth and teen center in the Yorktown Community Center; and a full service program at The Community Opportunity Center in Tarrytown, NY. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Westchester serves 5,000 youths, boys and girls ages 6 months to 18 years, from more than 60 Northern Westchester communities. The Club has been ranked among the outstanding Clubs in the national network of Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

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Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Westchester
351 Main Street, Mt. Kisco, New York 10549 (914) 666-8069