At the annual Boys and Girls Club Angels Dinner fundraiser, members of the Vero Beach, Sebastian and Fellsmere clubs eagerly greeted guests and led tours of the Vero facility, showcasing arts, crafts and science projects such as drone piloting, and playing a ‘piano’ made of bananas.
Later moving into the beautifully decorated gymnasium for dinner, the sold-out crowd was welcomed by CEO Elizabeth Thomason and Mark Smith, board co-chair with Bill Allard.
“I’ve had the privilege of serving this organization for 15 years. And I can tell you, it is one of the greatest honors of my life to serve an organization that serves so many,” said Thomason.
“There is something powerful about investing in young people,” said Smith. “When we support a child, when we give them mentorship, opportunity, and a safe place to grow, we don’t just change one life. We change families. We change futures. We change this entire community.”
Club alumna Selena Carnohan, an event sponsor with her employer Mike Curley at Morgan Stanley, said she, like 58 percent of other club members, had come from a single-parent home.
“Growing up with a single mom, the club wasn’t just fun; it was safety, support and peace of mind.
I built friendships, learned important lessons, and discovered the confidence to chase opportunities I never imagined,” said Carnohan in thanks.
Youth of the Year and Junior Youth of the Year finalists led the Pledge of Allegiance, Club Code and moment of gratitude, and throughout the evening there were video presentations and entertainment by members of the Sebastian and Fellsmere clubs.
Emcee and alum Jaquan Pledger said he “grew up” with Thomason as a club member from age 6, and now works with her as B&GC marketing coordinator.
“Yeah, she’s still keeping me in line,” said Pledger, before giving a shout-out to his Angel mentor Nancy Lynch.
Georgia Davala, who established the George A. Davala III Scholarship in his memory, was joined on stage by Sebastian Club alumna and 2025 Youth of the Year Jeanna Antinozzi. The scholarship’s first recipient, she is now a student at the University of Miami.
“George believed in empowering kids to reach their full potential, and this scholarship continues his legacy. He would be so proud of everyone here tonight,” said Davala, before presenting this year’s scholarship to Vero Beach Club member Peyton Cooper, 2026 Youth of the Year.
Cooper shared that after experiencing an absence of love and stability in her early life, she found both at the Boys and Girls Clubs and through the loving guidance of relatives who became her parents. She is graduating high school with her associate degree and aspires to become a cardiothoracic surgeon.
“I aim to build access, fight for equity, and serve the community that raised me. I want young people to know that adversity does not define you; it strengthens you. The Boys & Girls Club gave me a voice. My parents gave me a family and the love I always longed for. And God worked every moment together for my good,” said Cooper.
Encouraging continued support, board members Leslie Hodges and Bobby Thibideau noted that Indian River County ranks as one of the highest in the nation for wealth disparity, adding that nearly 90 percent of local B&GC families are financially insecure.
“Watching this community come together tonight, celebrating our kids, their stories, their dreams, fills me with so much gratitude and hope,” said Thomason. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you, Angels. Because of you, our kids don’t just reach for the stars … they soar.”
The evening closed with the incredible voice of Tina Jensen, B&GC chief development officer, leading the traditional singing of “God Bless America.”
For more information, please visit BGCIRC.org.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
