Boys & Girls Clubs Make Big Impact In Children's Lives
LAKEWOOD, Colo (CBS4) - The Boys & Girls Clubs are working hard to make a big impact in children's lives, none more so than the Youth of the Year.
Maria Balderrama is a senior in high school and is the winner of the Boys & Girls Clubs citywide Youth of the Year contest. She was honored at the organization's gala and gave a speech about what club life has meant to her.
"I really don't see myself without the club. I've been coming for so long. It's become a big part of me," Balderrama told CBS4.
She's been coming to the Jefferson County Club at Stein Elementary School since it opened six years ago, and has worked her way up to being hired as a Junior Staff member.
"Working here, I got to say it's a lot different from being a member because then you start looking at how things are run," she said.
As a paid employee, Balderrama spends a lot of her time in the education room, working with the younger members on reading. A member can earn club bucks for the number of books they read and comprehension tests they take. Balderrama said that she feels a real connection with the younger children.
"You start talking to some of the kids and sometimes they're not as privileged or maybe they don't have as much as you think that they do. It makes you feel good that they can come here and be happy and just kind of forget about all that," she explained.
LINK: Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver
Maria monitors meal time and does whatever other odds and ends the staff members needs done. She said she particularly likes participating in Keystone Club, which is a character and leadership program. She said she likes organizing community service projects, and being a role model to other members.
"Once you start doing good things, and they start doing good things, you feel good about that," she said.
Balderrama will graduate high school this spring, she's headed off to college this fall, and hopes to one day be a forensic psychologist for the FBI. These are all goals she set while at the Boys & Girls Club.
"I think the strength is making everyone feel welcome, and helping us build our futures," she said.
You can support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver by buying a ticket in the Denver Dream Home Raffle. The grand prize is a $2.75 million Denver home. The last day to buy tickets is Friday, April 22 and the grand prize drawing is Friday, May 6.
LINK: Denver Dream Home Raffle
Libby Smith is a Special Projects Producer at CBS4. If you have a story you'd like to tell CBS4 about, call 303-863-TIPS (8477) or visit the News Tips section.
