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February is a short month, but it certainly has been a busy one at BGCLC! Each of our 10 Clubs hosted their Youth of the Year competitions where dozens of members shared how their time at Boys & Girls Club has grown their confidence, helped them build better friendships, and encouraged them to dream bigger. The winners have been busy preparing for our countywide Youth of the Year event on Saturday, March 7th. Youth of the Year is one of the best opportunities for us to reconnect with the why of what we do at BGCLC. I had the opportunity to attend our events at both our Sarah Milner Elementary Club and Sage Homes Wellington Club and it was likely the best hours I spent this month.
Listening to our kids share their stories is so powerful and the common thread through each and every one of them is that Boys & Girls Club is a place where they feel safe, seen, and celebrated for being their unique self. Jade, a 12-year-old from our Sage Homes Wellington Club, gave one of my favorite speeches and it was hard to hold back tears as I thought about some of my own teenage son's struggles through adolescence.
"At the Boys & Girls Club, adults know my name. They listen to my ideas. They notice when I'm having a hard day. They remind me that I matter. That kind of support might seem small, but to a kid, it means everything. The Club gave me stability, encouragement, and a sense of belonging at a time in my life when I truly needed it."
We also hosted Senator Michael Bennet and local nonprofit and government partners at our Loveland Youth Campus for a roundtable discussion on child care affordability in Colorado. The conversation was rich with compassion and expertise from our local leaders in the child care and youth development field and I was so proud to be among them. While the economy and government funding landscape continue to shift, our time together reinforced my gratitude to work in a community committed to collaboration and advancing opportunities for children and families alongside one another. There will undoubtedly be important work to do together as the year goes on.
We are just a few short months away from our 40th Anniversary Great Futures Gala and if they are anything like February, I know they will fly by! I hope you will join us for this celebration of our impact on local youth and families over the last four decades. You'll have the opportunity to hear from our 2026 Youth of the Year and learn how your support of BGCLC is quite literally changing young lives like Jade's across our community.
With Gratitude,
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Allison Hines
Chief Executive Officer
| | 40 Years, Countless Great Futures: Katelyn’s Club Story | | |
Meet Club Alumni: Katelyn! Katelyn became a Club member when she was 9 years old. Her mom was looking for an affordable place for Katelyn and her brothers to go while she was at work. Katelyn started her Club journey at a Club in Greeley, but she ended up at Loveland-Pulliam Club because it was closer to where her mom worked. In 2016, she was chosen as County-Wide Youth of the Year!
Did you have a favorite program, activity, or space at Club?
What I loved the most and found the most helpful were the educational and leadership programs. I was a big fan of Lunchtime Reading, Jeopardy, SMART Girls, and Torch Club and Keystone. I was also very into anything involving the art room. I think it was also great to have so many sports available just for fun.
Did any leadership opportunities at Club influence the kind of person you are today?
Participating in these leadership opportunities absolutely influenced who I am. Youth of the Year helped me develop public speaking, interviewing, and networking skills that I’ve carried with me through today. Torch Club and then Keystone were the foundations for leadership that I’ve built upon since. There’s been several instances where I’ve looked back on my experiences to help me, i.e. small things like leading group projects in school to leading my team as a Charge Nurse or committee leader now.
Did anything you learned at Club contribute to your path into adulthood?
After leaving Club, I finished high school, went to Howard University to get my BSN, and then moved back to Colorado, and now work as an RN at Poudre Valley Hospital. At the Club, we talked about our dreams a lot and for me, it always focused on going to college to do something in healthcare. With the help of Club, I was able to attend job fairs and got lots of help in finding out what it would take to get where I wanted to go through my mentors, Keystone meetings and conferences.
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"Club is a great place to make friends, find mentors, and have fun. I wouldn't be who I am today without it. Club gave me so many great memories and opportunities, and helped me find and achieve my goals." - Katelyn
| | | Get Your Tickets to the Great Futures Gala! | | |
Join us for an unforgettable evening as we honor 40 years of building great futures and the thousands of young people whose lives have been shaped by our Clubs. Dress to impress in your favorite cocktail attire. Enjoy an elegant evening featuring live music, dinner, complimentary drinks, and a dynamic auction.
The evening will also include recognition of our 2026 Youth of the Year and the presentation of the Champion for Children Award, recognizing extraordinary individuals whose leadership and impact embody the mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County.
Saturday, May 30, 2026
6:00 PM
Colorado State University, Lory Student Center Ballroom
1101 Center Ave Mall, Fort Collins, CO 80521
| | Sponsorship opportunities are still available! Please follow the link below or contact our Development Manager, Caitlin, at cca...@bgclarimer.org to learn more. | | |
Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County Celebrates
Club-Level Youth of the Year Competitions
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Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County has officially wrapped up our Club-level Youth of the Year competitions, marking an inspiring season of leadership, courage, and powerful storytelling. The Youth of the Year program equips young people with leadership skills and empowers them to strengthen and use their voices within their Clubs and throughout the community.
Youth of the Year winners exemplify academic success, strong moral character, goal-setting, communication skills, public speaking ability, and meaningful service to their Club, community, and family. Throughout the month, it was truly inspiring to watch Club members take the stage and share their journeys. We are incredibly proud of all the brave youth who competed and shared their stories.
“What are the 5 B’s? Be Kind, Be Respectful, Be Safe, Be Honest, and Be You. Those 5 B’s will always be in my heart.” - Aaron, Junior Youth of the Year Winner, Sarah Milner Elementary Club
Junior and Senior finalists will now advance to the countywide Youth of the Year competition on Saturday, March 7, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Colorado State University Lory Student Center Ballroom. We look forward to celebrating these outstanding young leaders as they continue their journey!
| | March is Benefit Month at Ben & Jerry's! | | |
All month long in March, Ben & Jerry’s (1 Old Town Square Suite 104, Fort Collins, CO 80524) is partnering with us to help support great futures for local kids and teens. Throughout the month, BGCLC will receive $1 from every Bright Futures Brookie sold. The Bright Futures Brookie was created by our very own Fort Collins Club members!
Be sure to try the Club kid-created Bright Futures Brookie and enjoy a treat that gives back to youth across our community!
The store will also host a Benefit Night on a Tuesday, March 10 from 5:00–7:00 PM. During that time, $1 from every Bright Futures Brookie purchase will be donated to Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County. Our team will be there, and we can't wait to see you!
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Help Fight Student Hunger: Volunteer at KidsPak’s City-Wide Food Drive!
KidsPak’s Annual City-Wide Food Drive is happening February 27–March 1, and we need your help!
Volunteers can serve as store greeters, food transporters, and warehouse helpers to make this huge community effort a success. Every shift supports KidsPak’s mission of providing weekend meals for local students (students in our Clubs!) facing hunger.
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Support BGCLC at the Hydrate IV Bar
Have self-care on your schedule? Stop into Hydrate IV Bar! Every time you order a Katie Cocktail IV, a portion of your purchase will be donated directly to Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County.
Thank you Hydrate IV Bar for choosing BGCLC as your quarterly nonprofit partner!
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Help Local Kids Succeed in School at Ross Checkout
Ross Dress for Less is teaming up with Boys & Girls Clubs of America for its 12th annual Help Local Kids Succeed in School fundraiser. From February 7 through March 1, customers at stores in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Longmont can donate at checkout to support Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County.
Every dollar raised supports Power Hour, our homework help and tutoring program that gives kids and teens the tools, confidence, and skills they need to thrive in school and beyond.
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Join us as we continue Building Great Futures.
Then. Now. Always.
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