Titan Keystone Club members, ages 14-18 years, awarded prestigious National Programming Award for service to community for second consecutive year

March 29, 2007, Frisco, Texas - Next time someone exclaims "teenagers today are up to no good," send them over to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Collin County (BGCCC) Frisco branch. There they will find 17 Frisco teenagers who are members of a unique, character and leadership organization called the Titan Keystone club. The vibrant club addresses important issues and needs of local teenagers and adult members of the community. Their commitment has earned them the Boys and Girls Clubs of America National Programming Award for the second consecutive year.

Club officers are: (standing from left to right) Historian Jessica Henderson, Treasurer Chavontreal Allen, BGCCC Frisco Branch Unit Director Debra Sweezer; (middle) Chair Kimberly Roy, (kneeling) Secretary Christina Roy, Vice-President Tayo "TJ" Ogunsola, and President Shelisa Brock.

The Titan club is the local chapter of the national Keystone Club, an organization within the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. The Keystone Club is a premier program for teenagers, ages 14-18, and is designed to create and maintain high standards of character and leadership, citizenship, health, and education in order for teenagers to grow to become responsible, productive adults.

This special group of kids have a wonderful understanding of what it takes to be moral and ethical leaders in their community," Debra Sweezer, BGCCC Frisco branch director, said. "Considering what kids are going through today, this is an elite group of teens who choose to be positive and influential in their club, community and in their own lives, rather than the numerous other activities available to them today.

The Titans earned the National Programming Award through creative initiation and execution of local and national community outreach programs. The group received the award at the Keystone Club national conference on March 15, 2007 in Minneapolis , MN.

Local programs offered by the club include "Taking Care of our Fathers" prostate awareness forum, "Ultimate Blast" abstinence, drug and gang awareness rally, "Operation SWAPP" speaking with power and persuasion seminar, annual Community Health Fair, Adopt-A-Nursing Facility, annual coat drives, Thanksgiving Food Drive for Frisco Family Services, annual Teen Leadership Camping Trip, "Get Fit & Get Busy" fitness camp and healthy eating seminar, and "Operation Clean Sweep" caring for lawns and brush of the elderly, just to name a few.

National programs address key social issues facing teenagers today, such as election awareness, voter registration, homelessness, bridging the gap between the elderly and today's teenagers, the environment, moral ethics, and general safety awareness through topics concerning date rape, gang violence, and drug use/abuse.

We are very proud of the Titan's commitment to educating their peers and the community on such important and vital issues society faces on in their everyday lives," Christina Alford, BGCCC chief executive officer, said. "Their amazing attitudes, skills, values and behaviors will enable them to not only succeed as adults in the community, but to also be active contributors to the community as well."

Any teen with the desire to stand out, speak up, and make a difference can be a member of the Keystone Club at their local Boys and Girls Clubs branch. For more information on the local Titan club or the national Keystone Club, please contact Debra Sweezer at the Frisco BGCCC branch by calling 214-387-8405.