An Invitation from Shelby

Dear Friend, I hope this letter finds you well! I am writing to invite you to the Youth of the Year & Community Awards Celebration on Thursday, March 27th at 6:00pm, at our Boys & Girls Club. The event is free to all, and everyone is welcome! While the night will last for about two hours, we’ll be packing a year’s worth of stories, challenges overcome, and highlights of our community with you. This night means a lot to me, and a few years ago, it changed my life. I grew up in Milford. The Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley, the people who work there, and our Youth of the Year program allowed me to afford college, find a career I could succeed in, and gave me lifelong friends (some of which are my roommates today!). Our Club bolstered my integrity. Our Club gave me permission to be creative and confident. Our Club gave me a home when I didn’t have one. I’m proud to host this night and serve on our Board, because I believe in it unequivocally. What our Club provides the Souhegan Valley makes a difference in young people’s lives. When I attended the Boys & Girls Club, this was still true; we wrote our own newspaper, learned to play instruments, discussed civics and community issues, and played outside every day. Today, our kindergarteners, elementary schoolers, and teenagers come to us to support them in a challenging and ever-developing world. This night will celebrate 6 Youth of the Year candidates (who we are immensely proud of) and give gratitude to community partners who strengthen us. Please let us know you’ll join us by clicking here to RSVP. If you’re unable to join us, you can find other community events on our website where you can also subscribe to our email list. Please also consider connecting with us on LinkedIn. I invite you to reach out to Holly Bly (Director of Development) at hbly@svbgc.org for more information. Sincerely,

Shelby Houghton Communications Coordinator for the City of Boston Counselor at the Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley (2016-2022) 2017 & 2018 NH Youth of the Year Board Member for the BGC of Souhegan Valley