The Florida Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs has been named the 2026 State Alliance of the Year by Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), a national recognition celebrating excellence in leadership, advocacy, collaboration, and impact across the Boys & Girls Clubs movement.
Presented annually, the State Alliance of the Year award recognizes a State Alliance that demonstrates exceptional performance in advancing opportunities for youth while strengthening support for local Clubs throughout its state. To be considered, an Alliance must include participation from at least 90% of the non-military Boys & Girls Club organizations in its state and demonstrate excellence in areas such as legislative advocacy, funding stewardship, partnership development, and support for high-quality youth development programs.
For Florida, the recognition reflects years of collaboration and collective commitment from Club leaders, board members, staff, and partners across the state.
“This award belongs to every Club leader, board member, staff member, and advocate who believes in the power of working together,” said Joe Davis, Executive Director of the Florida Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs. “Florida’s strength comes from our shared commitment to ensuring young people across the state have access to the opportunities and support they need to succeed.”
BGCA recognized the Florida Alliance as a collaborative, inclusive, and highly effective leader within the BGCA movement, noting the strong engagement and commitment of Club leaders throughout the state. The award specifically highlighted Florida’s culture of partnership and collective advocacy — demonstrating that “a rising tide lifts all boats.”
The Florida Alliance Board of Directors was also recognized for its active leadership and strategic focus on advocacy, funding, and direct support for Clubs. Rather than simply providing updates, Board meetings center on meaningful conversations that help strengthen Clubs and expand opportunities for youth statewide.
Throughout the year, the Alliance has continued to provide critical resources that support local Clubs, including:
- High-quality marketing and communications materials
- Advocacy tools and legislative support
- Grant management and operational assistance
- Statewide collaboration opportunities
Even during a challenging state budget year, the Alliance secured significant legislative funding and competitive grant support to help Clubs continue serving youth and families across Florida.
BGCA also recognized Florida’s leadership in innovation and resource development. The Alliance’s advocacy document supporting 21st Century Community Learning Centers was adopted for nationwide use, and its social media strategy was highlighted for effectively leveraging trends, creative content, and strong visuals to maximize engagement and awareness.
In 2025, the Florida Alliance also helped host Youth of the Year in conjunction with Legislative Days at the Capitol — creating a powerful opportunity to elevate youth voices directly with policymakers and stakeholders.
The recognition further acknowledged Florida’s role as a trusted steward of multiple BGCA pass-through grants and its contributions to the State Alliance Modernization Taskforce, helping shape the future of Alliance work nationwide.
While the award celebrates statewide leadership, the Florida Alliance emphasized that its success is rooted in the work happening every day inside Clubs across the state.
“This recognition reflects the dedication of Clubs throughout Florida that continue to put young people first,” Davis said. “We are proud of what we’ve accomplished together, and we remain committed to strengthening our movement so every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.”
The Florida Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs represents Clubs and youth development professionals across the state, advocating for resources, partnerships, and policies that support high-quality experiences for Florida’s youth.
