The Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County is pleased to announce Tisa Ford as the 2020 Youth
of the Year!
This award is the Club’s most prestigious honor bestowed upon one of its young members. The award is given out annually to an individual who exemplifies the Club’s mission and is proof of the impact that the Club makes in transforming kids’ lives. A senior at Middletown High School, Tisa has been a Club member for the past 13 years and also has been a part of the staff for two years. Tisa has spent many hours volunteering at the Club, including handing out care packages to those affected by COVID-19 and logging over 250 hours last school year.
Tisa plans to attend Rhode Island College in the Fall to major in Social Media. She attributes her desire to help others from her time at the Club. “Kids should have a role model to be able to ask for help if they need anything or someone to talk to” said Tisa. “The staff at the Club are great because no matter what you decide to do with your future, they will always be there to support you. I have been going to the Boys and Girls Club for 13 years, and being there has made me a stronger person today.”
Annually, Youth of the Year nominees undergo a rigorous application process that includes a lengthy application, and this year, a virtual interview. As the winner, Tisa Ford will be presented with a college scholarship, the Gordon “Gordy” Johnson Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $1,000 made possible by Judith Rosenthal. Tisa will move onto the state competition this week, where she will compete against five other Boys & Girls Club members throughout Rhode Island for additional scholarship support and to represent the state at the regional competition.
The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need help most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. For more than 60 years, the Club has provided quality programs and outreach services in the critical areas of academic success, healthy lifestyles, and character & leadership development to help put all kids on a path to a great future. It is part of a nationwide movement of more than 4,000 Boys & Girls Clubs, and provides services to more than 6000 youth annually.
