BGCE names Youth of the Year ahead of banquet keynoted by Sam Pittman

The Boys and Girls Club of El Dorado will hold their annual Youth of the Year banquet on May 9, and VIP tickets, which come with the opportunity to meet Arkansas Razorbacks Coach Sam Pittman, have sold fast.

"We only have about five VIP tickets left," said BGCE Board member Alex Bennett. "There's a lot of people interested in coming to this event."

The annual banquet serves as a fundraiser for the BGCE, as well as being a chance for the Club to recognize one of their standout members. This year, that member – the 2023 Youth of the Year – is Summer Smith, a senior at El Dorado High School.

"It feels really good to be the Youth of the Year," Smith, 18, said on Wednesday. "I honestly never thought I would have the title of Youth of the Year, but my bosses giving me this opportunity, it's amazing."

Smith has been a member of the Club since she was six years old, and only able to attend the BGCE's summer camp since she was at that time a student in Parkers Chapel. She became a junior staff member after a few years, and now works at the BGCE as a full staff member.

"When she was younger, she always thought she was in charge. She's always been a little leader," said David Lee, executive director of the BGCE. "I have four daughters, so you know, we've always clicked from Day 1."

Lee said it's important for the children and teenage members of the BGCE to be recognized by the Club.

"We want the kids, when they're with us, we want them to have a plan after graduation and we want them to be that responsible, caring citizen, so it's important we recognize our children, from early days to their last days of the Club," he said.

When Smith was younger, dance and dodgeball took up most of her time at the Club, she said. Nowadays, she leaves EHS at 1 p.m. every day to head to work, where she leads library time and tutors children.

"Working with these younger kids, it's honestly fun. It kind of goes back to when I was young and in those program areas. The stuff I teach them, I was taught at that age," she said. "Being able to do that, interact and engage with these kids, it's something I love doing, something I probably won't stop doing."

Smith will graduate next month, and she's planning to study nursing at the University of Central Arkansas, she said. She and Lee traveled to Little Rock earlier this month for the Arkansas State Youth of the Year gathering, where Smith met the director of Conway's Boys and Girls Club, who she said promised her a job once she moves.

"I think the skills I have now, working with these kids, whether it's teamwork, leadership, skills such as that, I feel like will help me further down, whether that's college or career," she said.

In addition to highlighting Smith's contributions to the Club, the annual Youth of the Year banquet will feature speakers including Speaker of the House Matthew Shepherd, R-El Dorado, and Pittman.

"We always try to bring in leaders in the sports arena that our students and kids can look up to and set goals for themselves," Bennett said. "Sam Pittman came to mind, because growing up in south Arkansas with a bunch of Razorback fans, who better could you ask to come speak to our community and youth than the head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks."

The event will also include a silent auction and dinner, and Smith will give an acceptance speech for the Youth of the Year recognition.

While the Club hasn't set a goal for the event, which is one of the BGCE's largest annual fundraisers, Bennett said $10,000 would go a long way in the Club's general operating fund.

"It'll help us continue the program with the kids we have and do all the things we need to do," Lee said. "Our fees are very low, and one of the reasons we're able to do that is because of the support of the community."

Smith said that's one of the things about the BGCE that she especially appreciates, that it accepts anyone, regardless of their circumstances.

"We make sure that we help those parents that can't really pay for their kids – we try to work with parents. We don't want them to feel like they're alone," she said.

She also said she's proud of the Club's meal program, where children are provided a meal every day that the Club is open.

"Kids that are 3-18 can come get a free meal, and they don't even have to be a member of the Club. Any kid that walks into the Club, if they haven't eaten, we give them a meal," she said.

Bennett pointed to Smith's giving nature as another reason she was the perfect choice for Youth of the Year.

"We're proud of the journey she's had at the Boys and Girls Club of El Dorado and how it's going to continue to lead to a bright future for her when she goes onto college, and how she's developed these skills that have made her an amazing young woman," Bennett said. "We're so excited to recognize her."

The Boys and Girls Club of El Dorado's annual Youth of the Year banquet is scheduled for 6 p.m. on May 9 at the First Financial Music Hall, 101 E. Locust. Tickets are available for $50, and a limited number of VIP tickets are available for $100. A meet-and-greet with Coach Pittman will be held from 5-6 p.m. that evening with VIP ticket holders.

Tickets can be purchased by visiting the Boys and Girls Club of El Dorado Facebook page or the Club's website, eldoradokids.org. Those interested in buying tickets may also visit the BGCE's Northwest Unit, 1201 N. West Ave.

Medical Center of South Arkansas is the title sponsor for this year's event, and the Youth of the Year sponsor is Martin Operating Partnership/Cross Oil. Sponsorship opportunities are still available, and those interested in sponsoring a table at the banquet should call the BGCE at 870-863-8753 for more information.

"Community support is extremely important to what we do, and you know, this is what we feel like is a wonderful program to recognize one of our outstanding members," Lee said. "We will have some outstanding speakers, great food – it's going to be a wonderful event."

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