The new Yakima Club of Boys & Girls Club of the Yakama Nation will open its doors in June. The second Club in Yakima County, Yakima city has been without a Club for over a decade. This absence has been felt by families seeking an affordable and safe space their kids can attend after school.
The first Boys & Girls Club was formed by the Yakama Nation in 2021. “The impact has been almost immediate,” Boys & Girls Club of the Yakama Nation’s (BGCYN) CEO Andi Blodgett stated. “They come to our Club and the first week is usually a struggle. But once we get past that, they really enjoy the space that they are in.”
BGCYN’s Board Chair, Lisa Garcia, discussed how the club is a place where children will be safe from drugs, alcohol, and gangs. The club is a place where kids can be educated and stay active through various activities.
A Club alumnus even noted the high need for clubs in Central Washington, an area he described as a “childcare desert,” explaining that kids often are recruited into unhealthy and negative activities due to not having a safe space to spend their time away from school.
“We want that safe environment where they know they have a safe space to go where they are allowed to just be kids. Their only responsibility is to be here and grow as individuals,” Blodgett said.
Congratulations to Boys & Girls Club of the Yakama Nation CEO, Andi Blodgett, and the entire team for their leadership and dedication in bringing this to fruition!
Our 2026 Washington State Youth of the Year (YOY) Emelia P. and our 2026 Washington State Military Youth of the Year Peyton C. attended the Pacific Regional Youth of the Year the beginning of May. The event took place in Phoenix. They competed against other Pacific state youths.
Before the main event, both Peyton and Emelia were able to participate in several activities, helping them build connections with the other youth. They attended an Arizona Diamondbacks game at Chase Field, participated in a golf experience at the Wigwam, and had fun bowling and playing games at Dave & Busters.
Judging day occurred on May 7th. Finalists dressed to impress to compete for the title of Pacific Regional Youth of the Year. Earlier that morning, all finalists received their order of judging then stepped in front of the panel of judges. They each had 20 minutes to give their speech and answer the judges’ questions. The day ended with a celebration at Phoenix Raceway where two of the Pacific state finalists were awarded the title of 2026 Pacific Regional Youth of the Year and 2026 Pacific Regional Military Youth of the Year. Despite not winning, Emelia and Peyton continued to show how supportive they were of their counterparts. They celebrated with the two winners, all having fun performing karaoke and enjoying a pizza party.
We asked both YOYs about their feelings regarding their journey, as well as their advice to other youth seeking to compete in future Youth of the Year events.
How are you feeling after being named the 2026 Washington State Youth of the Year and the 2026 Washington State Military Youth of the Year?
Emelia: I’m feeling great! I’m very grateful for this opportunity, I never thought I’d make it this far in my YOY journey, but I am so happy!
Peyton: …I have felt all the good emotions; I am still on Cloud 9. I feel more empowered and inspired than ever. Getting to connect with other leaders around Washington State has been so beneficial to me and my leadership growth. I have been so excited to travel to Arizona for Regionals…(and) am so ready to meet and connect with the other candidates, have fun, take pictures and, most importantly, share my story.
What advice do you have for other youth pursuing Youth of the Year? What can they expect and what should they be sure to prepare for?
Emelia: My advice would be to just go for it! It’s such a fun experience and you get so many incredible opportunities. Be your true self and highlight your personal experiences – that’s what matters most.
Peyton: Advice I have for other youth pursuing Washington State Youth of the Year is to be present and enjoy every moment during my time in Seattle. I had so much fun doing all the activities, becoming friends with everyone and supporting the other candidates. Youth that are interested in the program should expect to be as energetic and outgoing as possible at first i was a little shy but once I became more comfortable I became friends with everyone and next thing I knew I was in-charge of making the group chat, taking pictures with all other candidates and helping pick where we were eating next. Youth should be prepared to share their story and be who they truly are.
What advice do you have for other youth not participating in YOY? How would you inspire them?
Emelia: Don’t be scared to get out of your comfort zone and try new things! You’ll never know what you can do until you say yes to the opportunity.
Peyton: Advice I have for other youth is to always lead with love. Your heart is the most beautiful thing about you and once others see that it opens so many doors for you. For example, because I lead with love, I’ve had other youth ask, “How can I do what Peyton does” and “How is she such a good leader?” And the answer has always been leading with love. I would encourage other youth to be kind, supportive and give their all to what they do. You never regret being kind.
Congratulations, Emelia and Peyton on your journeys. We know you both will go far!
2026 Washington State Military Youth of the Year, Peyton, with her mentor Adriana. Adriana was instrumental in Peyton’s experience at the Club as well as someone Peyton talks about in her speeches.
On May 14th, staff from Boys & Girls Club of Lewis County, as well as our very own Deputy Director, Lauren Day, attended the ribbon cutting ceremony of the long-anticipated United Learning Center (ULC) in Centralia.
The ULC is made up of a partnership between Discover! Children’s Museum, United Way of Lewis County, Boys & Girls Club of Lewis County and the Bezos Academy, a tuition-free Montessori-style preschool. The building is nearly 18,000 square feet and is owned by the City of Centralia. The aim of the ULC is to provide a collaborative learning hub and accessible childcare to families that identify as ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). Support services like these are essential for families to better thrive.
Discover! Children’s Museum opened its doors late last month, while Boys & Girls Club of Lewis County will do so in June for their “Summer Art Series,” a seven-week program that will run three days a week.
Congratulations to the Boys & Girls Club of Lewis County Executive Director, Sarah Althauser, and the entire team for making this happen!
Boys & Girls Club staff around Washington attended the YDP (Youth Development Professional) Conference in April. The event was an opportunity for YDP staff and their managers to gather, network, and learn from their counterparts as well as by attending workshops.
Dr. John Gains, a Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound alumni and the creator of PUSH, was the keynote speaker. Addressing the power of believing in oneself and the youth they serve was a pillar of his speech. He also discussed the impact the Boys & Girls Club had on him. Not only as a youth, but the lessons he learned while a Club kid have helped him throughout his career. Tying his personal story to the conference’s theme of “Imagine the Impact,” Dr. Gaines’s keynote speech was one of the highlights of the conference.
The “Imagine the Impact” Conference also hosted an alumni panel. It was facilitated by a Club alumni Ashley Mangum and consisted of current and former Youth of the Year winners from Thurston County and South Puget Sound. The panel shared their experiences with Clubs and how it has shaped them into the people they are today.
Other sessions, ranging from Building Community, Cooperative Learning, and Workplace Safety, were broken down into tracks for both management and YDPs. The management track covered how to be an employee centered leader and how to build resilience through burnout and communication styles. The YDP track discussed trauma-informed practices, positive peer relationships, and other elements of high-quality programming.
The conference also held a community exhibition hall, in partnership with organizations from across the state, such as the Washington Retail Association, Calculus Roundtable, HearMeWA and more!
It was a day on which our staff came away energized, inspired, and highly engaged.
Last week, team members from across Washington State gathered alongside thousands of Club professionals, advocates, and supporters at the 120th National Conference of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Throughout the conference, ballrooms and breakout rooms were alive with energy, innovation, and a shared commitment to the future of young people. Attendees participated in learning sessions, leadership development opportunities, and meaningful conversations centered on how to best serve youth and communities.
Among the most memorable moments was celebrating the induction of the 2026 class into the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Alumni Hall of Fame:
• Bubba Wallace, NASCAR Cup Series Driver, 23XI Racing • Big Sean, Recording Artist and Philanthropist • DeMarcus Ware, Pro Football Hall of Famer, Super Bowl Champion • Dion Dawkins, Professional Football Player, NFL • Charles Payne, Financial Journalist, Television Host, Author • Martin Sensmeier, Actor and Producer • Kim Keck, President and CEO, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
The Hall of Fame honors distinguished alumni whose success stories reflect the powerful and lasting impact of Club experiences.
Our Washington State delegation returns home energized, inspired, and ready to build on this momentum. Because every child deserves access to a blue door, one that opens into safety, opportunity, mentorship, and hope at their local Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
The 2026 Washington State Youth of the Year was held Thursday, March 26th at Bell Harbor International Event Center on Pier 66 in Seattle. We had an incredible group of 14 finalists and a supportive crowd during the Awards Dinner. Club staff, corporate sponsors, and family members all cheered for our fabulous group of teens that are exemplary examples of what Club, work, and determination can do.
During the event, Brodie from Naval Base Kitsap’s Admiral Boorda Teen Center was recognized for receiving the 2026 Community Service Award. The Qualstar Scholarship Award was bestowed upon Robert from Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties.
The crowd heard inspiring stories of overcoming obstacles and witnessed the amazing transformations that can come when you have mentors and a safe place to go after school. The winner of the 2026 Washington State Youth of the Year was Emelia from Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington. Peyton of JBLM’s Hillside Youth Center was the 2026 Washington State Military Youth of the Year. We congratulate them, and all our finalists, on sharing their stories and what it means to be a Club kid.
We recognize that without our wonderful sponsors we would not have been able to have the awesome event we did for our teens. Thank you to all our sponsors for showing your support for Washington Club youth!
