BGC Clifton Takes on the World Cup!
What a weekend to remember!
A group of Club Kids and parents had the incredible opportunity to attend the Brazil vs. Morocco World Cup match at MetLife Stadium, thanks to the generosity of Think Big for Kids and Life Science Cares.
We’re grateful to Think Big for Kids and Life Science Cares for providing our Club Kids and families with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend a World Cup match at MetLife Stadium and experience the excitement of the tournament firsthand. Opportunities like these create lasting memories and remind our young people that anything is possible.
It was a remarkable day of soccer, community, and shared experiences, one that our Club Kids and families will remember long after the final whistle.
Club Teens Attend FIFA Trophy Tour at American Dream
On June 3, teens from the Boys & Girls Club of Clifton attended the FIFA Trophy Tour at American Dream Mall, thanks to the Coca-Cola FC Academy.
The event gave our members the chance to see the FIFA World Cup Trophy up close. They participated in activities throughout the venue, including real-life foosball, soccer simulators, photo opportunities, free merchandise giveaways, and other interactive experiences. They even met soccer legend Bastian Schweinsteiger!
We thank the Coca-Cola FC Academy for providing this opportunity. While the FIFA Trophy Tour was a celebration of the world’s most popular sport, the Academy helps young people explore the business side of sports and the many careers that support the industry.
The Coca-Cola Future Careers Academy is an online sports marketing career development program that gives youth a front-row seat to careers in and around sports. Led by industry professionals, the program introduces students to career paths in areas such as marketing, event management, communications, sponsorships, and fan engagement.
Experiences like this connect what students learn through the Academy with real-world sports events, helping them see how many people and professions work behind the scenes to bring these experiences to life.
The Boys & Girls Club of Clifton is grateful to the Coca-Cola FC Academy for investing in our youth and providing opportunities that combine career exploration with memorable experiences.
Awards Night 2026
Celebrating Excellence at Our 2026 Awards Night
On June 1, 2026, our community came together for an inspiring evening of celebration, recognition, and achievement at our Annual Awards Night. The event brought together students, families, coaches, and supporters to honor the outstanding accomplishments of our youth and recognize the dedication that helps our programs thrive.
Recognizing Academic Excellence
The first awards of the evening highlighted the exceptional achievements of our scholarship recipients. These students have demonstrated outstanding commitment to their education and future goals.
Scholarship Award Recipients
- Seahawks Scholarship – Zachary Canion
- President’s Scholarship – Shikha Gandhi
- Sparkle Scholarship – Amayiah Pena
- Chair Scholarship – Alexander Wilson-King
- NorthStar Services Scholarship – Adrian Wilson-King
- Carol & Angelo Crudele STEM Scholarship – Daniel Villalobos
- Mariso Family Scholarship – Nicolle Paulino Angeles
Youth of the Year
One of the evening’s most prestigious honors, the Youth of the Year Award, recognizes a young person who exemplifies leadership, character, service, and commitment to their community.
Youth of the Year: Avi Shah
We proudly congratulate Avi Shah on this well-deserved recognition and thank him for being a positive role model for his peers.
Team Recognition
The evening also celebrated the accomplishments of our undefeated champions, our 8th Grade Girls Travel Basketball Team. We recognized all 10 players and their 3 coaches for their dedication, teamwork, and sportsmanship throughout the season.
Most Valuable Player Awards
Our MVP Awards recognized athletes who demonstrated exceptional performance, leadership, and commitment throughout their seasons.
Soccer MVPs
- 6+7 Rowdies – Leonel Gashi
- 8+9 Lasers – Reign Willis
- 10+11 Cosmos – Joshua Lopez & Deni Nazibegovic
- 12+13 Fever – Evan Sanchez & Thoth Correa
Basketball MVPs
- 4th Grade Boys – Lorenzo McGregor
- 6th Grade Boys – Cylus Marmolejos
- 8th Grade Boys – Toby Sunga
- Middle School Girls – Arianna Delacruz
A Night to Remember
Awards Night is a reflection of the talent, character, and potential within our community. We are incredibly proud of every student-athlete, scholarship recipient, coach, and family member who contributes to the success of our programs.
Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make this year’s event special. We look forward to another year of achievement.
Congratulations once again to all of our award winners and honorees!
Career Day Inspires Teens at The Club
On Monday, May 18, teens from the Boys & Girls Club of Clifton participated in an exciting Career Day experience designed to expose members to a variety of professions and future career opportunities.
As part of the program, teens selected and visited one career location based on their interests, allowing them to gain firsthand experience and insight into different industries. Students had the opportunity to explore careers through visits to organizations including Early Childhood Education at The Club, Integrated Power Services, the Assistant City Manager’s Office in Clifton, Lamart Corporation, Berkeley College, Valley Bank, and Kennedy Law.
Throughout the day, students learned directly from professionals about the skills needed to succeed in each field. The hands-on experience allowed teens to ask questions and begin thinking about future goals and career aspirations.
In addition to the site visits, Gina Bucci from Taco Bell spoke with students about leadership and opportunities for growth within the workforce. Her encouraging message reminded teens that success comes through hard work and staying open to new opportunities.
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of the businesses, professionals, and community partners who welcomed our teens and helped make Career Day a success. Their time, guidance, and willingness to share their experiences provided students with valuable insight and inspiration for their futures.
Celebrating Avi Shah at the 2026 New Jersey Youth of the Year Awards Ceremony
On Tuesday, May 12th, the Boys & Girls Club of Clifton proudly attended the 2026 New Jersey Youth of the Year Awards Ceremony at Montclair State University. The evening was a celebration filled with powerful stories of leadership from exceptional young people across New Jersey. The event reflected the mission of the Boys & Girls Club — to inspire and enable all young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens.
We are proud to announce that Avi Shah, representing the Boys & Girls Club of Clifton as our 2026 Youth of the Year, was recognized as one of four finalists for the 2026 New Jersey Youth of the Year title.
Congratulations to Avi on this incredible achievement! Your hard work and dedication truly stand out, and this honor is so well deserved!
Avi has been a dedicated member of our Club for 11 years and a standout participant in our Aquatics Program. After completing all levels of swim instruction, he joined the Clifton Seahawks in 2016 and has shown incredible commitment ever since through daily training and competition.
In addition to competing at the Eastern Zone Age Group Championships and the National Boys & Girls Clubs Championships, Avi gives back to our community by volunteering at swim meets, supporting fundraisers, teaching younger swimmers, and serving as both a swim instructor and lifeguard.
Avi has also maintained a 4.5 GPA while balancing athletics, leadership, and work. His dedication has earned him acceptance into top universities including Princeton University, Harvard University, Yale University, and University of Michigan, and Rutgers University for engineering.
Avi truly represents the values of leadership, service, and excellence, and we are incredibly proud to celebrate him as our Youth of the Year!
Seahawks Swim Team Celebrates a Record-Breaking 2025–2026 Season at Awards Dinner
On Friday, May 1st, the Boys & Girls Club of Clifton Seahawks Swim Team gathered with athletes, coaches, families, and supporters to celebrate an unforgettable 2025–2026 season at the annual Awards Dinner.
This season was nothing short of extraordinary, as the Seahawks broke 58 team records and continued to make their mark at the national level.
Team Record Breakers
The following swimmers were recognized for breaking team records during the season:
9–10 Age Group
- Nazar Antonyshyn
11–12 Age Group
- Madilyne Hackett
- Julianne Roldan
13–14 Age Group
- Olivia Chen
- Daniel Antonyshyn
- Marcelina Korszen
National Record Breakers
A special recognition was given to:
- Madilyne Hackett
- Daniel Antonyshyn
for breaking 2 Boys & Girls Club National Records this season.
Championship Highlights
The Seahawks continued to excel in top-level competition throughout the year:
- 1 swimmer qualified for Speedo Sectionals
- 9 swimmers competed at Eastern Zone Championships, where the team placed 16th out of 220 teams
- 40 swimmers competed at the Boys & Girls Club National Championship, earning an impressive 4th place team finish while breaking 2 National Records
Swim Marathon Winners
8 & Under
- 1st Place: Rylan Gorski
- 2nd Place: Quinn Cabassa
9–10
- 1st Place: Alistair Jiang
- 2nd Place: Philip Chen
11–12
- 1st Place: Madilyne Hackett
- 2nd Place: Alexandra & Jordan Lin
- 3rd Place: Aaron Morell
13 & Over
- 1st Place: Zachary Canion
- 2nd Place: Jaslene Lugo
- 3rd Place: Anastasia Danelia
Recognizing Our Coaches
- Head Coach Anna Abakumova
- Rattana Kidchob
- D’nard Robinson
- Julia Berkenbosch
- Samantha Berkenbosch
- Angelina Parra
- Frank Coste
- Anna Diaz
- Natalia Furman
Thank You to Our Officials & Volunteers
Officials
- Roman & Pavlo Chyshkevych
- Scott Canion
- Quasheema Lugo
- Nino Danelia
- Kevin Li
- Valerie Hackett
Parents Committee
- Valerie Hackett
Meet Managers
- Kate and Chris Hyde
- Pawel Drzymala
- Roman Chyshkevych
Farewell to Our Graduating Seniors
- Zachary Canion
- Ashaly Dominguez
- Danna Tapia
Special Thanks
A heartfelt thank you was extended to Aquatic Director Nadia Stavko for her ongoing support and encouragement throughout the season.
The evening also featured a delicious dinner generously hosted by Michele’s Restaurant, including Italian specialties, salads, desserts, and refreshments enjoyed by all attendees.
Congratulations to every swimmer, coach, parent, volunteer, and supporter who helped make this one of the most successful seasons in Seahawks history. The future of the program continues to shine bright.
Great Futures Gala 2026: A Night of Celebration and Impact
On April 16, 2026, we welcomed our community to The Valley Regency for our annual Great Futures Gala. The evening brought together supporters, students, educators, and partners to celebrate our Club youth and the relationships that make our work possible.
This year, we proudly honored the Clifton Board of Education and Corradino & Partners LLC for their lasting impact on the young people and families we serve.
Honoring Corradino & Partners LLC
We also recognized Corradino & Partners LLC for decades of dedication to the Boys & Girls Club of Clifton and the broader community.
Their support has touched every part of our organization, from sponsoring events to providing essential resources like transportation, equipment, and holiday donations for our families. Their commitment extends throughout Clifton, supporting local organizations, schools, and families in meaningful ways.
Corradino & Partners continues to lead by example through consistent community involvement and generosity. We thank them for their enduring support of our mission and our Club kids.
View the C&P tribute video presented during the event here:
Honoring the Clifton Board of Education
For decades, the Boys & Girls Club of Clifton has partnered with Clifton Public Schools in a collaboration that supports students and working families across the city.
Together, we provide a safe, supportive environment for more than 600 young people in school-based programs each day, while also welcoming over 300 children to our main Clubhouse. For many, the Club is a natural extension of the school day where they build relationships, gain confidence, and feel a strong sense of belonging.
Through this partnership, we deliver programs focused on Academic Success, Good Character and Citizenship, and Healthy Lifestyles. We are proud to continue this work alongside the Clifton Board of Education and value the strength of this long-standing partnership.
View the Board of Ed tribute video presented during the event here:
A Night Led by Our Youth
The evening featured a performance by the Clifton High School Madrigals Choir, with vocalist Keyla Sanchez and Choral Director Leo Weismantel on keyboard.
Jaralyn Peralta led the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the National Anthem.
Avi Shah, our 2026 Youth of the Year, shared his story and introduced Corradino & Partners LLC alongside Club member Vihaan G. Jenna Alnatur, Clifton Board of Education Student Liaison, joined Club members Jade S. and Alani H. to recognize the Clifton Department of Education.
Community Support
We thank our sponsors who made the night possible including:
Presenting Sponsor – Corradino & Partners
Star Sponsor – Fette Auto & Valley Bank
Club Sponsor- Kearny Bank
Looking Ahead
The Great Futures Gala reflects the power of partnership and community. Together, we continue to create opportunities for young people to learn, grow, and succeed.
Celebrating Our 2026 Youth of the Year: Avi Shah
We are proud to recognize Avi Shah as our 2026 Youth of the Year!
Avi has been a dedicated member of the Boys & Girls Club for 11 years and a standout participant in our Aquatics Program. After completing all levels of swim lessons, he joined the Clifton Seahawks in 2016 and has shown unwavering commitment ever since—training daily and even on weekends.
His hard work has led to impressive achievements, including competing at the Eastern Zone Age Group Championships and the National Boys & Girls Clubs Championships. Beyond his personal success, Avi is a key contributor to our club community, volunteering at swim meets, supporting fundraisers, and teaching younger swimmers. As one of our top swim instructors and a lifeguard, he is known for his leadership, reliability, and genuine care for others.
Avi has also excelled academically, maintaining a 4.5 GPA while balancing athletics and work. His dedication has earned him acceptance into Princeton, Harvard, Yale, the University of Michigan, and Rutgers University for engineering.
Avi truly embodies leadership, service, and excellence. We are incredibly proud to celebrate him as our Youth of the Year!
Boys & Girls Club of Clifton Middle School Girls Basketball Team Caps Perfect Season with Championship Victory
Tenafly, NJ — March 14, 2026 — The Middle School Girls Basketball Team from the Boys & Girls Club of Clifton delivered a historic performance on Saturday morning, claiming the championship title and completing an undefeated 15–0 season. The finals and championship games, held at 11:00 a.m. at Tenafly Middle School, marked a milestone achievement for The Club’s athletics program.
Coached by Club alumni, the team demonstrated exceptional skill, determination, and sportsmanship throughout the season. Their victory represents the first championship trophy added in a decade and only the second girls basketball banner to be hung in The Club’s gym.
“This team’s accomplishment goes far beyond wins and losses,” said Steven Lantigua, Athletics Coordinator. “From day one, I knew this team would be good, but I couldn’t have imagined a perfect 15–0 season. Going undefeated and finishing with a championship is incredibly difficult in any sport. I am extremely proud of everyone involved — the players, coaches, and parents. Watching these girls grow together, from teammates into a true family, is what being part of the Boys & Girls Club is all about.”
Gabe Blau, CEO, emphasized the broader impact of the team’s success: “Our girls brought home the trophy, cheered on by their club community. This team showed skill, talent, and integrity all season long, supporting each other through every high and low. This championship is not just about winning — it reflects the values we bring to the court and the bright futures we are building for our kids.”
Building on this momentum, The Club plans to expand its basketball programming, including launching a spring team and developing a year-round initiative focused on both athletic growth and character development.
Saturday’s victory was celebrated across The Club community, marking a proud and historic moment for the organization and the families it serves.