Club Highlights – March 2026
Club Highlights Role Models Who Inspire featuring Dr. Ben Carson When dynamic leaders lead by example, young minds are shaped! Through our “Role Models Who Inspire” program, we are honored to welcome and thank Dr. Ben Carson, retired neurosurgeon, academic, author, and government official, for enlightening our Teens at JM Family Teen Center in Deerfield Beach, FL. It’s meaningful moments like these that mold the path for our youth—showcasing the importance of success through hard work, dedication, integrity and leadership. Big thanks to our dedicated Board Member, Thomas Godart for all the support! Get More Info Welcoming Rear Admiral Ryan M. Perry into The BGCBC Hall of Fame We are proud to announce Admiral Ryan M. Perry as one of our highly esteemed 2026 BGCBC Alumni Hall of Fame Inductees. Rear Admiral Ryan M. Perry (retired) is a native of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is a 1997 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. Perry holds a master’s degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College and is accredited in public relations and military communication. Perry was a proud member of William E. Slaughter Club/ S. Robert Levine Club, formerly the North Lauderdale Club, where he learned life skills, and was presented with life-changing opportunities that guided him to where he is today. We are so honored to recognize him! Join us to congratulate him. Watch Video Read More Congrats, Chris Gentile! The 2025 W. Errol Sewell Leadership Award, also known as the Southeast CEO of the Year Award, is one of the highest honors a CEO can receive within the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Movement. Named after W. Errol Sewell — a transformational leader who helped establish more than 1,000 new Clubs nationwide and expanded the Boys & Girls Clubs Movement into public housing, schools, Native lands, and U.S. military installations — the award recognizes CEOs whose leadership strengthens the Movement through vision, integrity, and an unwavering focus on youth. We are proud to share that our very own Chris Gentile, Co-CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County, has been recognized by Boys & Girls Clubs of America with the W. Errol Sewell Leadership Award. Chris exemplifies Sewell’s legacy through his strategic leadership, deep community partnerships, and steadfast commitment to ensuring every young person has access to high-quality Club experiences. This recognition reflects not only his personal excellence, but also the strength, passion, and dedication of our entire organization to the mission of enabling all young people — especially those who need us most — to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens. Congratulations, Chris. Your leadership continues to inspire us all. Topgolf Tournament: Fore the Kids Event We’re proud to celebrate the success of our 2nd Annual Topgolf Tournament Fore The Kids—an incredible event dedicated to supporting the Club members and teens we serve. Thanks to the generosity of our community, this event directly benefits our Thomas D. Stephanis Club and Hierholzer Teen Center, where teens gain access to academic support, mentorship, and leadership development opportunities that help them succeed both in school and in life. Programs like these play a critical role in improving academic outcomes, building confidence, and preparing our teens for brighter futures. We are especially grateful to Christy and Larry Hierholzer for their continued dedication and passion for empowering young people. Their support, along with the incredible partners that include Publix, J.R. Dunn Jewelers, AEF schools, The Bridge Group, All Atlantic Benefits and the Murphy Family all helped to make this event possible and impactful. Your support empowers our teens to succeed both academically and beyond. Thank you for investing in their future. We can’t wait to see the continued impact. Shape Futures, Together Generals Construction Career Day Success! The 2026 Generals Construction Career Day, hosted by Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County, welcomed more than 200 teen Club members, ages 14–18, for a high-energy, hands-on career exploration experience as we proudly celebrated 20 years of impact at the Leo Goodwin Foundation Teen Center/William E. Slaughter Club/S. Robert Levine Campus in North Lauderdale, FL with support from City of North Lauderdale Commissioner Darrell (Dee) Lewis-Ricketts. The event featured top construction and trade industry partners who led interactive learning stations with live demonstrations, hands-on activities, and direct engagement in fields such as roofing, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, general contracting, engineering, and project management. Teens rotated through multiple stations, gaining insight into career pathways, certifications, earning potential, and apprenticeship opportunities while also building workplace readiness skills like communication, teamwork, and professionalism. We also highlighted alumni success stories, including Rick Case Vocational Scholarship recipients Jimmy Arneus, now enrolled in the HVAC program at Sheridan Technical College, and Zaden Jeantinord, pursuing Automotive & EV Technology at Universal Technical Institute. The day inspired and connected youth to real opportunities in the skilled trades, while providing companies with an organized, engaging platform to directly impact the future workforce of Broward County. Thank you to our staff and industry professionals who continue investing in the future of our workforce. Get Involved International Automotive Excellence Gala Recap The 19th Annual International Automotive Excellence Gala was an unforgettable evening celebrating leadership, innovation, and impact within the automotive industry. We were honored to recognize two remarkable leaders:– Rusty Wallace – 2026 Racing Automotive Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient– Teddy Morse – 2026 Dealer Automotive Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient The Gala raised critical funds for our youth development organization helping ensure our youth have access to mentorship, opportunity, and safe spaces to grow. A special thank you to our staff, supporters, community partners, board members and all who share the commitment to making this event a success year after year. Read More A Day in The Glades! Recently, some of our Club members went on an Everglades extravaganza! From an airboat ride to watching native animals interact in their natural habitats was educational and so much fun! The alligators and birds were seen while on the airboat ride, while the snakes, turtles, American crocodiles, and lizards were seen in enclosures
