Clubs recognize outstanding community supporters

TOLEDO — Boys & Girls Clubs of Toledo recognized several individuals and businesses for their dedication to and support for the organization during the organization's 2024 annual meeting at the newly renovated Homer Hanham Club.


  • The Friend of Youth Award is an honor bestowed upon an individual or company for demonstrating extraordinary support of young people in Toledo. The  University of Toledo Rocket football team; Linda Ruiz Bringman; Designetics’ Care for Kids and Sydney Williams-Birch; Oscar Ellis; and Jaci Bugaj Faith Perales, Stephanie Shackleford and Stanley Files of the Leadership Toledo Signature Program are the 2024 recipients.
  • The Diane Worley Volunteer Spirit Award is named in memory of a longtime Barefoot at the Beach volunteer. It recognizes a volunteer who is kind compassionate and generous in service to an annual Club event. Chad Turner, president of Turner Electric, received this year's award after years of providing electrical support at Maumee Bay State Park for the Clubs' signature fund-raising event Barefoot at the Beach.
  • The Echo Award is Boys & Girls Clubs of Toledo’s highest award and represents the way the actions of certain people reverberate through other individuals and the community as a whole. David Munger of Munger + Munger + Associates Architects is the 2024 recipient.
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Toledo Alumni Hall of Fame recognizes former Toledo Newsboys Association, Boys Club and Boys & Girls Club members and staff who have distinguished themselves personally and professionally. Daquze Stephen, a former Youth of the Year and a technology instructor at the Homer Hanham Club, is the latest inductee.


The annual meeting marked the first official gathering of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Toledo Trustees at the Homer Hanham Club since the reopening. The event also celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Hanham Club and the return of the Lily Leaper Reigning Frogs statue to the organization. The statue is now on display on the deck of the C.O. Miniger Swimming Pool.