Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula

Reshawnda grew up in a public housing community where drugs and violence were the everyday norm. Her mother was afraid to allow her and her siblings to play outside for fear of harm. When the Boys & Girls Club opened in 1999, Reshawnda was six years old, and began attending the Club daily. The Club became a place that Reshawnda, her mother, and the neighborhood, could trust – a safe haven.

She participated in programs that helped her learn to make good decisions, like “Positive Actions,” and the SMART Moves drug and alcohol prevention program. Other favorite activities included homework assistance sessions, sports and recreation. Reshawnda says these Club programs helped build her leadership skills, develop integrity and sportsmanship, and “made her a better person, inside and out.” The “Smart Smiles” program provided dental care and education, and the beautiful smile she has today. She believes the Club provided a positive environment for her and her family… a place where she felt safe and accepted and didn’t have to worry about feeling judged or being left out. Reshawnda appreciates the opportunities afforded her by the Club, including the chance to travel out of state, be part of a team, and leader of a group.

For her outstanding involvement, Reshawnda was named the organization’s 2011 Youth of the Year. Her goal is to become an accountant, and she is enrolled this fall at Virginia State University in their accounting program.

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