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Please visit the sites below to find out more about the Boys & Girls Club.
Boys and Girls Club of America -- http://www.bgca.org/
Boys and Girls Club of Coastal Carolina -- http://www.bgccc.net/
Kids from the Boys & Girls Club of Coastal Carolina also had fun at the tournament! The kids opened the tournament by leading the participants in the Pledge of Allegiance and club member Stephanie Reynolds gave a Whitney Houston rendition of the Star Spangle Banner! Great job Stephanie.
Jessica Ives 2010 Youth Of The Year
Jessica is 17 years old and in the 11th grade at Havelock High School. She
has overcome obstacles that very few have had endured by the time they reach
17. Jessica and her family moved from city to city for several years and in
Jessica's words "It was a lot that my family and I had to go thought just to
survive. There were times where my mom wouldn't eat and she would make my
brother and I eat. I didn't understand why we were going thought what we
were going to though", said Jessica. By the time Jessica was in the 8th
grade, her grandmother, who lived in Havelock, sent bus tickets to Jessica
and family to come back to live with her until her mom could get back on her
feet. Since then Jessica has blossomed into an amazing young lady. Many
girls would have taken the experiences she had at such a young age and would
have lashed out, become bitter or followed down the wrong path to try and
forget her past. While Jessica still finds it hard to talk about her past
she certainly enjoys talking about her future which is extremely bright.
Jessica became a member of the Boys & Girls Club in 2005 when she moved here
from Las Vegas. She noticed several of her new friends went to the club so
she asked her mom if she could join. Since then Jessica has become an
interracial part of the Havelock Club and a true leader. "When I first meet
Jessica she walked into the club and said "how can I help" that's just how
she is, she is still putting others needs before her own." said Gerard
Green, Club Director. Not only does Jessica take charge of projects the club
takes on but she is also a peer leader to many of the younger club members.
When she sees a conflict between members she steps in and ties to discuss
the situation and the best way to handle the conflict between the members.
She took the lead role in designing the Christmas Float for the Havelock
Parade. In addition to being such asset to the Boys & Girls Club Jessica is
also an amazing daughter, grand daughter and sister.
Jessica's mom said "Growing up in a single parent household Jessica carried
on a big responsibility and never questioned why verbally to me. I know
that I can count on her during our roughest times in our lives. There were
times I had to take on a second job and a third job at one time. Although,
I had the support of both of my children Jessica is the one that stood out.
She made sure that dinner was served to her bother (Jessica being the
youngest) and she made sure that she did her homework the best way she knew
how. She sacrificed a lot of her playing time for me and there is nothing in
the world that can make up for what she gave up." Jessica's brother is not
enrolled at Fayetteville State University and Jessica has her goal set at
ECU.
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