Kari-Ann Blondin - BGCB's Youth of the Year

Posted: 04-18-11

Kari-Ann Blondin, Boys & Girls Club of Burlington, was one of 6 Vermont State Youth of the Year award winners who spent a day in Montpelier and were honored for their efforts at a banquet.

Kari-Ann has been a very active member of the Boys & Girls Club of Burlington since she was a little girl. She started coming to the Club in 2002. We have watched her participate in most offerings of the Club and as she has quietly but consistently sought out opportunities to give back to the Club and to the younger members of the Club. Finally, we have watched her develop into a lovely human being with a spirit of caring that we know will enable her to realize her hope and dreams. Kari-Ann participated in our first educational support program, KnowHow2Go. As we more extensively developed that program to become the Boys & Girls Club’s Early Promise Program, Kari-Ann continues to be part of this very important effort. She hopes to attend Vermont Technical College and to be a Dental Hygienist someday. She is also very active in our Digital Connectors Program. She is one of our digital connector mentoring to our youngest of Club members. In this way, Kari-Ann seeks to “pay it forward” to help our little ones gain the skills they need to be able to use technology in the way that their more fortunate peers are able. Kari-Ann has participated in so many programs at the Club in order to take responsibility for her own development. For example, she was one of the first members of our Girls On Track running program and was on our first Burlington City Marathon Team. She has steadily encouraged other girls (including her younger sister) to be part of this important self esteem building program. She has also taken part in Smart Girls, Healthy Habits, Junior Iron Chef and is a peer leader of our Chill Program.  We believe that Kari-Ann exemplifies the ideal Club member and Youth of the Year candidate. She takes advantage of all the Club has to offer.