Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties Earns Three National Awards

August 28, 2024 | Sarasota

Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties (BGCSDC) is proud to announce that the national affiliate – Boys & Girls Clubs of America – has awarded the organization’s Keystone Club at the Roy McBean Boys & Girls Club 1st place for their National Project, “Reaching Equity in Our Diversity,” as well as Keystone Club of the Year at this year’s National Keystone Conference. Additionally, Geoffry Gilot, Teen Program Director at the Roy McBean Boys & Girls Club, was honored as Keystone Club Advisor of the Year for his outstanding leadership, dedication, and remarkable positive impact on Club members, encouraging personal growth and skill development.

Designed to embody unity and showcase the strength in diversity, the Keystone Club’s National project culminated in Culture Fest, an event open to all Club members. The festival celebrated the rich cultural tapestry of the Club and the wider community through food, traditions, people, and history. It also featured collaborations with local cultural organizations including the Indian Association of Manasota, Sarasota Chinese Academy, and Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition.

During Culture Fest, Keystone members and Club alumni proudly shared their heritage, representing nations such as Haiti, Italy, Vietnam, Cuba, Ecuador, Nigeria, Venezuela, and Zambia while participants explored diverse cultures through engaging activities, enlightening guest speakers, ethnic cuisines, traditional customs, cultural games, and giveaways. Initially conceived as a one-time event as part of the national project, Culture Fest is now under consideration for an annual event for Club members based on feedback from partners and attendees.

Recognized for their steadfast dedication, the Roy McBean Club was also awarded the coveted Keystone Club of the Year title, a testament to their exceptional service and leadership throughout the year. Adding to this extraordinary achievement, the Roy McBean Club’s Teen Program Director Geoffry Gilot was honored with the Keystone Club Advisor of the Year award. Geoffry’s passion for advancing the Club’s initiatives and mentoring its members sets him apart, making him a driving force behind the Club’s success.

“Receiving the 2024 National Keystone Advisor award was a tremendous honor,” said Gilot. “ I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve and support our teenage community, helping them to navigate their challenges and achieve their full potential. This recognition inspires me to continue making a positive impact in the lives of our youth.”

President/CEO Bill Sadlo shared, “We are incredibly proud of the Keystone Club at the Roy McBean Boys & Girls Club for earning such prestigious national recognition. Their commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion through projects like ‘Reaching Equity in Our Diversity’ speaks volumes about the power of our youth to lead positive change in their communities. Congratulations also to Geoffry Gilot on his much-deserved honor as Keystone Club Advisor of the Year—his unwavering leadership has been key in empowering our teens to reach new heights.”

Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Keystone Program provides teens with unique development experiences aimed at empowering them to make meaningful contributions to their community including active engagement in volunteer service projects, career, and workforce preparation, and accessing education and academic enrichment resources. The National Keystone Conference is an annual event that gathers thousands of youth from Boys & Girls Clubs worldwide. This year’s conference took place July 25-27 in Atlanta, Georgia, and offered young leaders the chance to participate in skill-building workshops, team-building activities, community service projects, and much more.

For more information about how to support BGCSDC, please visit bgcsdc.org or call 941-366-3911.

For more information about Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s national partnership with the Papa John’s Foundation, visit The Papa John’s Foundation – Boys & Girls Clubs of America (bgca.org).