Leadership programs empower youth to support and influence their club and community, sustain meaningful relationships and develop a positive self-image. Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis members have the opportunity to learn planning, decision-making and ways to contribute to the Club and the greater Memphis community.
Keystone Club
Keystone Clubs are chartered leadership and service clubs for boys and girls ages 14 to 18. Keystone Club members elect officers and implement activities in six areas:
- Service to Club and community
- Character and leadership development
- Education and career exploration
- Unity
- Free enterprise
- Social recreation
Keystone Club members and their advisors can be nominated to steering committees that organize regional and national Keystone Conferences attended by thousands of Keystone members each year. Keystone Club Awards are bestowed annually on Keystone Clubs that implement programs and activities that best promote the Keystone Club principles. Each year, hundreds of local Keystone Clubs work together on a service project known as the National Keystone Project.
Torch Club
This small-group leadership development program, sponsored by Staples, is targeted for youngsters ages 11-13. Within some 700 Torch Clubs across the country that each receives an official charter from Boys & Girls Clubs of America, members elect officers and plan and implement their own activities and community service projects.
Street SMART serves as the National Project for Torch Clubs annually and is available for all Boys & Girls Clubs to support.
Youth of the Year
Sponsored by The Reader's Digest Foundation, the National Youth of the Year Program is designed to promote and recognize service to Club and community, academic performance and contributions to family and spiritual life. The local Memphis organization selects a Youth of the Year who receives a certificate and medallion and then enters state competition. State winners receive a plaque and enter the regional competition. Regional winners receive a $5,000 scholarship and enter a national competition held in Washington, D.C. The National Youth of the Year receives an additional $10,000 scholarship and is installed by the President of the United States.