EVANSTON — The Evanston Youth Club’s most significant fundraiser of the year, the annual dinner and recognition night, was held on Friday, May 16, and was truly a night of inspiration. This year’s theme for the event was “Broken and Beautiful.”

More than 150 community members gathered to celebrate the youth that walk through the doors of the youth club every day and to hear their amazing stories of transformation.

A dinner of lasagna and all the fixings, prepared by the club members, was served on buffet tables while club members served drinks. The evening’s event featured moving speeches, uplifting performances and meaningful recognitions, which began with a welcome speech from board member Jesse Lind.

“I have been on the youth club board for five years,” Lind said. “We served over 300 youth last year alone. This is the most used building in the city. We are here to celebrate the club, our sponsors, the community and the youth.”

Following an opening prayer given by club member Anna Echeverria, club member Jazmin Rangel led the youth club Glee Club members in singing the national anthem. Club board treasurer Loretta Howieson-Kallas thanked all of the sponsors and supporters of the youth club.

Youth and staff shared highlights from this year’s programs which included the Winter Festival, Gardening Club, group therapy and life skills groups: The Man Code boys’ group and Sparkle girls’ group. Graduating participants in these groups were honored for their growth and commitment to the programs with each receiving a gift of Apple AirPods Pro.

Graduating high school seniors Kylah Hintze and Julio Echeverria, who started as youth club members and are now employees at the club, were recognized for their strength and growth throughout the years and for their service to the club. They each received scholarships from Festival for Families and from the Peter and Lee Larson Family Foundation.

West said, “These two are the picture of the youth club’s mission to empower youth to reach their full potential. Even through brokenness, beauty, resilience and light can shine through.”

Club member Sawyer Purcell read a poem titled “Broken & Beautiful,” followed by West sharing her own personal story of being a first-generation college student, her father’s death and her mom’s struggles as a single parent to support her while West continued in college.

“I broke the cycle of a lack of higher education and graduated from college,” West said. “It is important to never let anyone tell you what you can and can’t do. That is why the mission of the youth club is important — to help youth write their own stories.”

The audience heard inspiring stories from the four finalists — Liam Perry, Anna Brown, Jose Soto and Gabe Simons — for the Youth of the Year award. All four of the finalists noted how the youth club had helped and inspired each of them to pick up the broken pieces of their lives and put them back together stronger and more beautiful than before.

The audience members were visibly inspired by the stories of the Youth of the Year finalists, culminating in a standing ovation for 2025 award recipient, Anna Brown. She was awarded a $1,000 scholarship, a Stanley mug and a Nike Jacket.

In her speech, Brown shared of growing up with instability of home and parents and isolating herself. It all changed for her when she started coming to the Youth Club where she began to find direction, purpose and learned important skills.

“You could say my life has been broken, many times actually,” Brown said. “but because of the Youth Club and my friends, I am learning to put the pieces back together — stronger and more beautiful.”

All of the Youth of the Year contestants — which also included Chris Collum, Patience White, Keniei Rex, Hunter Hendrickson and Nevaeh Rogers — each received a variety of awards, a $250 scholarship, a Stanley mug and a Nike Jacket.

Evanston Youth Club Board Chair Kevin Kallas summed up the evening.

“We have to acknowledge what the youth club means in these kids’ lives,” he said. “Please consider donating to the club, and check out the offerings the kids have for sale over at the two tables.”

All of the youth club members formed a long line near the stage and around the audience and gave a final performance led by the club’s Glee group, singing a medley from the Disney “Moana” films.

“The event raised $10,000 in vital funds that will support the club’s year-round programs for local youth,” West told the Herald after the event. “With community support, the Evanston Youth Club continues to provide a safe space for learning, growth and healing, where every young person can discover that broken truly can become beautiful.”

West said the club extends heartfelt thanks to its generous sponsors and supporters.

For those who couldn’t attend but want to support the mission, donations can be made at theclubofevanston.org.