Pasadena Boys & Girls Club “Youth of the Year” to Embark on Cultural Educational Expedition to China

The Pasadena Boys & Girls Clubs “Youth of the Year” Ivonne Gonzalez is joining 22 other nominees to an all-expense paid trip to China for an international, cultural and educational expedition. This journey is a part of the Los Angeles County Alliance for Boys & Girls Clubs taking the program to the next level!

The China Expedition is a creation by the fantastic partners of the Alliance who had a shared vision of helping the 23 Youth of the Year nominees to see beyond their communities and looking into a world they might never know. With the mission of promoting collaboration among Chinese and U.S. businesses, communities and stakeholders, the China Enterprise Council helped with the platform to make this extraordinary experience possible.

Club members who earn the Youth of the Year title embody the values of leadership service; community service, academic excellence; and healthy lifestyles. They exemplify the critical impact that Boys Girls Clubs have on the lives of young people.

“This trip is paramount in changing the lives of the well-deserved nominees who I believe will build on this experience and in turn help their communities see beyond for cultural integration and appreciation”, states Mary Hewitt, Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Alliance for Boys & Girls Clubs. She went on, “schools don’t have the resources to maintain their art and gym classes, let alone send students on trips outside their community. These nominees are the best of the best, we are doing this to help students become global citizens, bring life to the subjects they learn in school, and expose them to new ideas and cultures.”

Brian Davis, Executive Director & CEO of the Pasadena Boys & Girls Clubs states, “Travel is a powerful agent for change. It broadens our horizons and helps us find our purpose. Think how travel has been a positive influence on your life and how it’s connected you to people and communities. We are thrilled with this opportunity for Ivonne.”

This trip is the first of its kind for the Boys & Girls Clubs to have all Youths of the Year travel together overseas. It would not be possible without the support of these incredible sponsors: China Enterprise Council, Coolpad, XIAMEN Airlines, BYD, International Vitamin Corporation, and COMAC America.

“Headquartered in Southeast coast of China, Xiamen Airlines currently operates 168 all-Boeing aircrafts, with route network covering Asia, Europe, Australia and North America. Every year, more than 26 million passengers choose to fly with Xiamen Airlines, ranking top 30 in the global aviation industry. Xiamen Airlines always honors its social responsibility by actively conserving energy, cutting emission and supporting philanthropic and volunteer activities. Combining Discover China Trip with Xiamen Airlines inaugural flight from Los Angeles to Xiamen and showing the kids how pilot and flight attendants are trained for duty, embodies our best wishes for them to carry their dream forward flying on B787-9 Dreamliner,” stated Susie Zhu, General Manager of LA Office, Xiamen Airlines.

About the Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena

The Boys & Girls Clubarby communities of South Pasadena, Alhambra, San Marino, Arcadia, Sierra Madre, La Canada, La Crescenta, Montrose, and Glendale. Since 1937, the mission of the Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena has been to enable all young people, especially those who need it most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. The Club promotes the health, education, social, vocational, and character development of boys and girls, ages 6 to 18, and helps improve the lives of these children by helping them build self-assurance and develop leadership skills while reinforcing positive values.

About The Los Angeles County Alliance for Boys & Girls Clubs

The Los Angeles County Alliance for Boys & Girls Clubs is made up of 23 Boys & Girls Club organizations serving over 140,000 youth ages 6-18 throughout Los Angeles County. Los Angeles County Alliance for Boys & Girls Clubs is a unified and collaborative force representing all 23 Clubs with the purpose of securing resources, marketing, and financial support to further the efforts of individual Clubs and increase the impact and reach in their communities.

The Los Angeles County Alliance for Boys & Girls Clubs exists to support the individual Boys & Girls Clubs located in Los Angeles County in their efforts to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring responsible citizens.

All funds donated to the Los Angeles County Alliance for Boys & Girls Clubs is always divided evenly among all 23 member Boys & Girls Clubs for use in filling funding gaps in existing programs that comprise our five core program areas: Character and Leadership Development, Education and Career Development, Health and Life Skills, the Arts, and Sports, Fitness and Recreation. For more information on the Los Angeles County Alliance for Boys & Girls Clubs visit www.GreatFuturesLA.org.