Keyaunte J.

Keyaunte joined the Boys & Girls Clubs of Toledo when he was just 8 years old. Though he was initially hesitant, he quickly felt curiosity and excitement take over. Growing up in a single-parent home, Keyaunte often complained about having no siblings to play with. But after that first day at the Club, he soon found himself with “a hundred brothers and sisters.”

Having found his extended family at the Club, Keyaunte wanted to continue to stay involved and pay it forward to younger kids. He is a mentor at his Club, helping younger members with homework and serving as a role model to teens as the teen lounge instructor. His message to America’s young people is to never give up.

Keyaunte is a freshman at Grambling State University, where he plays on the baseball team and is studying biology. He hopes to one day pursue a career in sports medicine.