Michael Phelps has won the the Boys & Girls Club of America (BGCA) “2012 Champion of Youth Award”, the group announced Wednesday at a Congressional Breakfast. They cited his dedicated work with Boys and Girls Clubs across America as deserving of this honor.
Phelps started working with the organization in 2003 on a campaign that encouraged youth to join their local club. Im, his water safety program developed by his eponymous foundation, has been launched at Boys and Girls Clubs across the country. The program not only teaches and improves water safety, but promotes a healthy, active lifestyle in and out of the water. He’s also an honorary board member at his local club.
Denzel Washington, a former recipient and current BGCA National Spokesperson, presented Phelps with the award. Both men attended an event hosted by the organization Wednesday night to draw attention to the need to address the challenges America’s youth faces today. At the event, Phelps reiterated the need to establish a safe environment in which youth can grow up in, and talked about how his im swim program helps do so.
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