From a young age, Isabell had to take responsibility for her family after her mother’s health began to decline. She credits the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming as her place of refuge. She shared “The Club has been there through most of my hardships, and whenever I need support, I turn to them. They have always been there if I need a shoulder to cry on, or a listening ear. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.”
Her inspiring story of perseverance through adversity earned her the distinction of being named the Wyoming State Youth of the Year. In the fall of 2023, the Dubois Boys & Girls Club member was named Central Wyoming’s Youth of the Year. With these honors, Isabell receives a $5,000 scholarship from the University of Wyoming and a $7,500 Ruth R. Ellbogen education award endowed through the BGCCW Foundation. Through Ruth Ellbogen’s legacy, young adults can realize their dreams of a college education. It’s one way the Foundation supports youth in Central Wyoming.
The “Leading the Way” Campaign to Show Up for Central Wyoming Youth is setting up the BGCCW Foundation to ensure kids have the resiliency to push forward with the resources and tools they need to be successful. The Foundation serves as the stable ground so that Clubs can fulfill their mission no matter the ups and downs of Wyoming’s boom and bust economy.
With support from people like you and the late Ruth R. Ellbogen, the Foundation can invest in education resources and post-secondary scholarships to specifically benefit Club youth. When we lead the way for education, kids are empowered to have a plan beyond high school and be prepared for a future workforce.
In Phase 1 of this $15.7M campaign, we have shared our vision and invited supporters to join us as we LEAD THE WAY for kids, Club, and community. We are thrilled to announce that we have secured two top six lead gifts, along with legacy gifts pledged toward the campaign. Since September, we have secured $2,750,000 with 15 donors. That brings our total raised toward this campaign to over $5M.
Together, we can lead the way for a resilient and stable future for Isabell and other Central Wyoming youth, our Clubs, and the communities we serve.