Local Raymond James branches empower Miami Boys & Girls Club teens with professional clothing closet

Not long after Raymond James and Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s partnership began, SVP and Branch Manager of Raymond James Coral Gables Branch, Nicholas Terlonge, reached out to Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade for ways to get involved. With many local Raymond James team members, like Raymond James Financial Advisor Gary Curry, already deeply involved with Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade, Nicholas knew getting connected would be meaningful. When Diana Perez, the Club’s SVP of operations, shared that volunteer judges were needed for the Club’s Youth of the Year teen leadership event, Nicholas leapt at the opportunity.

Youth of the Year is Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s premier leadership development program, celebrating the nation’s most inspiring teens for achievements in academics, character and community service. Participants share their stories and receive scholarships at local, state and regional levels, ending in the selection of a National Youth of the Year to represent over four million Boys & Girls Club kids. For every aspiring teen, that journey begins at their local Club.

Judging the Miami-Dade Club’s Youth of the Year event and hearing teens’ powerful stories motivated Nicholas to do more. “Growing up, there were so many people who helped me along the way,” he said. “I want to pay that forward.”

Nicholas and his colleagues were moved when Diana shared how the Miami-Dade Club supports youth in big and small ways. For instance, when a teen arrived at the Club’s Youth of the Year event without professional clothes to wear, Diana called on her mother who lives nearby. Armed with clothes from her mother’s closet, Diana styled an outfit for the young woman just two hours before the big event.

When they learned about more Youth of the Year candidates needing professional shoes or luggage to travel to events, the team shared the story with the advisors and associates in the Coral Gables as well as Eric Termini, managing director of the Brickell Miami Raymond James branch. The Coral Gables and Brickell Raymond James branches were inspired to support the Club youth. Within weeks, the branches came together to organize a clothing and supply drive for the office – donating dress shirts, slacks, suits, luggage and more. By early April, they had amassed enough items to establish a closet of professional clothing and travel pieces for teens at the Miami-Dade Club, ensuring all members can dress to impress for important occasions, from Youth of the Year events to graduation and job interviews.

Now, the Miami-Dade Club Youth of the Year teens are headed to Tampa for the Florida state event. To celebrate their success thus far, the Raymond James team is organizing an upscale dining experience for the teens to remember.

“When I talk about the Club, I always say it's like a home,” says Diana. “Our Club has that family feeling and the local Raymond James team has quickly become a part of it.”

Learn more and get involved with your local Boys & Girls Club.