Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) will hold the annual Pacific Youth of the Year Gala on May 9, 2019 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.
Club alumnus Mario Lopez will be presented with the Champion of Youth Award, and one teen will be named the 2019 Pacific Youth of the Year. The evening fundraiser features special youth performances from Boys & Girls Clubs of Venice, Boys & Girls Clubs of Burbank, and Boys & Girls clubs of Conejo Valley. General Manager of the San Francisco 49ers John Lynch, Principal and Co-Founder of LBA Realty Steve Layton, and Chairman and CEO of ROTH Capital Partners Byron Roth will co-chair this year’s celebration. Honduran-American television and radio personality and model Rosci Diaz will emcee.
“Mario Lopez has been tireless in his support of BGCA for more than two decades. He has volunteered in Clubs, hosted signature events, and raised awareness and funds for BGCA. As our National Fitness Ambassador, he is extremely generous with his time, responding to any request from our national leadership. We are delighted to present our Champion of Youth Award to such a deserving individual”, said BGCA President and CEO Jim Clark.
Before making a name for himself in entertainment, as an actor, television host and radio personality, Mario Lopez was a member at the Chula Vista Boys & Girls Club. His first acting role was in the television series AKA Pablo, but it was as high school jock A.C. Slater on the NBC sitcom Saved by the Bell that he would become best known. Subsequent film credits – as actor and producer – include the thrillers Outta Time and The Courier. Lopez has hosted several television shows, including Pet Star, The Other Half, Extra and America’s Best Dance Crew. Mario Lopez is the two-time Emmy-winning host of “Extra”. He is also concurrently the host of the nationwide iHeartMedia radio shows “On with Mario Lopez” and “iHeartRadio’s Countdown with Mario Lopez.” He also launched a YouTube channel called “The Lopez Family”, featuring his wife Courtney, their two children and their two dogs. Lopez has remained a dedicated supporter of BGCA, fundraising, sponsoring summer camps, leading awareness campaigns, and serving as BGCA Alumni Ambassador of Fitness. He has expressed his support through social media here and here.
The gala will also feature 2018 Pacific Youth of the Year Jeniya M. from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake, Utah, and the nine Pacific Youth of the Year candidates, who will share their life experiences, and how participation with their Club, has contributed to their academic success, good character, citizenship and healthy lifestyles.
One teen will be named the 2019 Pacific Youth of the Year from several finalists from across the region. The Pacific Youth of the Year will receive a $10,000 college scholarship renewable for up to four years, leading to a total of $40,000. With a 72-year history, Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s premier youth leadership program Youth of the Year recognizes outstanding contributions to a member’s family, school, community and Boys & Girls Club. The leadership program encourages Club members to reach their full potential by achieving academic success, leading healthy lifestyles and contributing to their communities.
The Youth of the Year recognition program is presented by The Walt Disney Company, who has supported Boys & Girls Clubs of America for more than 50 years, empowering young people to reach their full potential and providing youth with access to the tools they need to build the great futures they imagine. Toyota, Signature Sponsor of Youth of the Year, is dedicated to inspiring the next generations of engineers, thinkers and leaders who will help drive the American economy. The gala is also made possible through the support of Diamond Sponsors Jeff & Judy Henley, as well as the many other committed partners of Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Individual tickets, $1,000; sponsorship packages available. For more information, visit pacyoy.BGCA.org or contact Allison Krumholz at 818.605.6877 or akrumholz@bgca.org.
