Earlier this week, Boys & Girls Clubs of King County held their annual Youth of the Year luncheon at Benaroya Hall, where Rainier Vista member Michael Davis was awarded King County Youth of the Year.
Michael, a junior at O’Dea High School, joined the Rainier Vista Boys & Girls Club when he was just five-years-old.
The Club was the constant in his life, helping him deal with an absent father, giving him strong mentors that he could rely on and helping him get back on track when his grades dropped to a .8 average in middle school.
“The Club is my home away from home, a place where I can go and be myself,” said Michael. “It isn’t just a positive place for kids, it’s a safe place. And where I come from that’s everything.”
In his emotional acceptance speech, Michael thanked Club staff and his mom for being a “superwoman”.
Michael grew up in a foster home though he is not a foster child. His single mother has been a foster parent for over 18 years. He spoke of the difficulties of sharing his mother’s time and attention with his foster siblings.
Although Michael’s father lives minutes away from his son, Michael has never had a relationship with his dad. He considers Bill Burton, Executive Director of the Rainier Vista Boys & Girls Club, to be the father that he never had.
Michael jokes that Denise Lewis, the Unit Director at the Club, is his second mom with, “eyes in the back of her head too. Nothing gets by her.”
As a teen he became interested in giving back. He volunteered, joined teen service groups within the Club, and was a roll model to the younger kids around him.
Today, Michael is a self reliant, kind-hearted young man; a pillar of strength for his mom and a role model to his foster siblings. He hopes to attend USC and pursue a career in engineering.
As part of winning the King County Youth of the Year title, Michael received a $2,500 education scholarship and will now advance to the state level of the competition.
Top right: Michael Davis. The new Rainier Vista Boys & Girls Club celebrated its grand opening with the community last November.
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