CATCH US IN THE GREATER MEDIA

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast and Tampa Bay, in collaboration with Coca-Cola Beverages Florida (Coke Florida), are providing young women with hands-on career exploration in the sports industry.

On the anniversary of COVID, several business leaders from a wide swath of fields discuss the decisions they made, their worries and their early response to the pandemic in 2020.

“Through proceeds like the race, we are able to provide scholarships for young people so they can have access to these life-changing programs,” said Freddy Williams...

Freddy Williams was named CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lake and Sumter County in 2012, when he was 28-years-old. Four years later he was CEO of the youth-focused nonprofit in Pinellas County.

Youth programming can commonly be limited to youth sports and summer camp, both of which teach camaraderie, promote belonging and provide foundational experiences. However, the value of other activities in the arts, professional development, academics and more cannot be understated.

The City of St. Petersburg has forged two new partnerships to enhance opportunities for youth in the community. A $250,000 investment will support the Prosperity Pathways program with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast (BGCS), while a $1 million, four-year agreement with the Shirley Proctor Puller Foundation (SPPF) will expand the M.A.S.T.R. Kids® Program.

Freddy Williams emphasizes the importance of early learning and workforce development, highlighting successful programs with big employers.