Boys & Girls Clubs of the Gulf Coast

ATLANTA, June 22, 2009 – Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) announced Friday that Aneka Billings, a five-year member of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Gulf Coast – East Biloxi Unit, has been named the 2009 Southeast Region Youth of the Year. She receives a $10,000 college scholarship from the Youth of the Year program’s founding sponsor, Reader’s Digest Foundation. Selected from nine other regional finalists, Billings will now advance to BGCA’s National Youth of the Year competition in Washington, D.C., in September.

Being named Youth of the Year is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can receive. The title recognizes outstanding contributions to a member’s family, school, community and Boys & Girls Club, as well as personal challenges and obstacles overcome. I'm very excited to be the South East Regional Youth of the Year. Miss Billings knows that “I have many people looking up to me, and I'm glad I can be a positive role model to the youth at my Boys and Girls Clubs, as well as the youth in all the Boys and Girls Clubs in this region.”

Susan Fraysse Russ, executive director of the Reader’s Digest Foundation adds, “For over 60 years, we have had the great honor of saluting amazing teens, such as Aneka Billings, for their dedication to their families, Clubs and communities. It is our hope that this award will give youth a head start on a promising and rewarding future and help them achieve their academic and career goals.”

Billings seems to live a charmed life, but underneath it all lies a childhood plagued with domestic violence, paternal abandonment, poverty, and alcoholism. Realizing that education is the only way to break the generational cycle, Billings strives to excel in school and learn from everyday trials. Despite emotional scars, she willingly tells her story in hopes of encouraging and motivating other youth.A dedicated member of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Gulf Coast - East Biloxi Unit, Billings is a member of Keystone Club, a leadership and service club for teens dedicated to community service. Whenever she is needed to run errands around the Club, she is always willing and available. She serves as an excellent role model to the other members. “We are so very proud of Aneka.” Said Samuel Burke, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Gulf Coast. “She represents all that is good about our organization and the young people that attend our clubs each and every day.” Billings is also dedicated to serving her community. She has planned, organized, and implemented several projects, including, a health and fitness day for the 9-11 year olds at the East Biloxi Unit and an Angle Tree Prison Ministry at her church, Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church. She is a member of the Tavis Smiley National Youth Advisory Council, where she plans and facilitates a leadership institute that focuses on leadership through service for youth ages 13-18.A graduate of Ocean Springs High School, Billings was a member of the National Honor Society and the band, where she was drum major during her junior and senior years. She was a member of the state champion “We the People” government competition class. In the fall, Billings will attend Alabama A&M University to major in marketing and minor in graphic communications.

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Gulf Coast Director of Operations, Greg Gipson, has known Aneka since she was 12. They have not only shared club experiences but are both active members of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church. He knows first hand what an amazing young lady Aneka is. “I am very proud of Aneka and all of her accomplishments. She is a good role model for all youth, everywhere.”

“Aneka and all the Youth of the Year finalists offer living proof that Boys & Girls Clubs across the country are fulfilling their mission of inspiring and enabling young people,” said Roxanne Spillett, president, BGCA. “We are thankful to the Reader’s Digest Foundation for their long-time support of our Youth of the Year program and for helping Club members reach their goals.”

In addition to the $10,000 scholarship, each state Youth of the Year winner received a $1,000 scholarship from the Foundation. The National Youth of the Year will be awarded an additional $15,000 scholarship and be installed by President Barack H. Obama during a ceremony in the Oval Office.