March 7, 2019

Celebrate Youth Blue Door Ball

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale hosted its annual Celebrate Youth Blue Door Ball at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa on March 1. The organization’s signature fundraising event, the gala raised $1 million to fund programming.

Tisha Bhatnagar, 17-year-old member of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale’s Sal Cosenza Teen Center at the Virginia G. Piper Branch, was named the 2019 Youth of the Year. Each of the eight Youth of the Year finalists presented their personal stories of growth, resiliency and achievement. Youth of the Year is a national Boys & Girls Clubs of America program promoting leadership, exceptional academic performance and community service. Bhatnagar will go on to compete at the state level on March 26, with the potential to move on to regional and national competitions.

Renee and Bob Parsons, through The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, donated more than $300,000 in the paddle raise and live auction. Their generosity helped the Clubs reach the million-dollar mark for the first time in the history of the event. Janet Caldarelli and Marianne Guenther co-chaired the evening.

PHOTOS COURTESY BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER SCOTTSDALE