Boys & Girls Club leaders (from left to right) Kristin Goncalves, Director of Operations, Mike Flynn, Executive Director and Jess Murphy, Program Director receive the prestigious 2016 National Merit Award for Program Excellence in Character & Leadership Development Programming from Dr. Damon Williams (BGCA Senior Vice President, Chief Educational and Youth Development Officer). The award was received on Friday May 13, 2016 during Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s 110th National Conference in New Orleans.
Merit Awards for Program Excellence, are sponsored by MetLife Foundation and presented annually for outstanding programs developed and implemented to lead youth to great futures at Boys & Girls Clubs across the country. Each honoree also receives a $2,500 award. Each year, hundreds of entries are submitted in the five core program areas: character & Leadership Development, Education & Career Development, Health & Life Skills, the Arts and Sports, Fitness & Recreation. The Ridgefield Club received the award for their locally developed programs for 5th to 12th graders.