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Boys & Girls Club ‘Youth of the Year’ dedicated to volunteering

(Photo Courtesy/Jennifer Dingman) Anthony McMath stands next to Jennifer Dingman at the Boys & Girls Club regional celebration in Ohio.

Alpena, Mich. — This past weekend, Boys & Girls Club Volunteer Anthony McMath was recognized with hundreds of other ‘Youth of the Year’ for their service to community.

The ceremony hosted by the Boys & Girls Club of Michigan and Ohio provided an opportunity for volunteers like Anthony to give a speech, talk about commitment to service, and celebrate their achievements.

Fast-forward to Wednesday where Anthony was back at the Boys & Girls Club of Alpena, shooting hoops with kids after school. The Alpena High School senior has been coming to the Boys & Girls Club since he was young. He has been volunteering for the past 5 years, hoping to make kid’s lives a little brighter.

“Growing up with not much, I can help people who also don’t have much at the moment, so it just gives me that relatability and just tells me that, “hey, you’re doing a great thing because you’re helping others that were like you at one point,” said McMath.

His dedication to the Alpena community youth is unmatched, and his presence is always felt.

“Anthony means a lot more than a club member,” said Jennifer Dingman. “He’s become part of the Boys & Girls Club family, and we really have looked at him as one of our ‘go-to people’ when it comes to needing volunteers.”

McMath will graduate from Alpena High School this year. He has quite a few plans to look forward to as graduation inches closer.

“[I’ll be] looking for a job while attending ACC [Alpena Community College] for two years, and I want to become a 2D animator,” said McMath. “If that doesn’t work, I plan on falling back, and becoming a math teacher for Alpena High School.”