Future Shop Future Leaders Scholarships Allow 25 Deserving Boys and Girls
Club Youth to Pursue Their Dreams

10th Anniversary of Helping Canadian Youth Make Post-Secondary Education a Reality

MARKHAM, ON, June 3 /CNW/ - Twenty-five Boys and Girls Clubs youth from across Canada will get the opportunity to pursue their careers and life goals through higher education as recipients of a $4,000 Future Shop Future Leaders Scholarship.

"I am extremely honoured to be selected as a recipient of the 2010 Future Leaders Scholarship," said Scott McKinnon, a longtime member of Boys and Girls Club of Saint John. "Without this award, I may not have been financially able to attend university next year and continue towards the completion of my degree. This scholarship will allow me to better focus on the requirements of my courses without worrying about the stress incurred by having to find a way to cover the costs associated with a year at university. I am very thankful that Future Shop has partnered with Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada to provide this opportunity."

Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada, through the generous support of Future Shop, has been supporting the education dreams of youth for ten years through the Future Shop Future Leaders Scholarships program. The program provides vital financial support at a time when tuition costs continue to rise. Since the program was created, more than 550 young people have received scholarships totaling more than $1.5 million. Each student receives a $3,500 or $3,000 cash award along with a $500 or $1,000 Future Shop gift card to provide needed technology and school equipment.

"I am the first person in my family to go to university. My parents couldn't afford to go and I feel really blessed to have come to Canada and been given all these opportunities," said Majda Miljkovic, a past Future Shop Future Leader Scholarship recipient who is currently studying Education at the University of Manitoba. "The Future Leaders Scholarship has helped me keep up with paying for school on my own, stay out of debt in doing so, and also look around me and realize just how lucky I am to be here today."

Building on the ten year success of the Future Shop Future Leaders Scholarships, Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada and Future Shop have developed a new program, Future Generation, which will launch later in 2010. An evolution of the Future Shop Future Leaders Scholarships, Future Generation will aim to provide young people in Grade 10 with the financial resources to achieve their long term education goals and the skills and technology needed to be truly successful.

"Future Shop is committed to investing in creating positive opportunities for young people and together with Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada we have helped hundreds of young people over the past ten years realize their dream of post-secondary education," said Cheryl Grant, Community Relations Manager, Future Shop. "Through the Future Shop Future Leaders Scholarships we have improved the lives of youth and families across the country, and we will continue to make a difference through the upcoming Future Generation program."

Recipients of the Future Shop Future Leaders Scholarships are selected based on their outstanding contribution to their Boys and Girls Club and local community, good academic standing and financial need.

2010 Future Shop Future Leaders Scholarship Recipients

Alberta

Amaira Hanson, Boys and Girls Clubs of Calgary

Erin Hutchinson, Boys and Girls Clubs of Calgary

Tammy Morgan, Stettler and District Boys and Girls Club

Courtney Johnson, Boys and Girls Club of Brooks and District

British Columbia

Reid Neilson, Boys and Girls Club Community Services of Delta/Richmond

Janette Wheeler, Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs

Eileen Zheng, Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Vancouver

Manitoba

Sabreen Shahin, Boys and Girls Clubs of Winnipeg

Hope Akello, Boys and Girls Clubs of Winnipeg

New Brunswick

Sarah Stewart, Miramichi Boys and Girls Club

Scott McKinnon, Boys and Girls Club of Saint John

Newfoundland and Labrador

Alexandria Hemeon, Botwood Boys and Girls Club Inc.

Nova Scotia

Carlos Beals, Boys and Girls Club of Dartmouth

Ontario

Kaitland Thompson, Toronto Kiwanis Boys and Girls Clubs

Mike Ali, Boys and Girls Clubs of Peel

Osman Omar, Boys and Girls Club of London

Mahdi Hussein, Eastview (Toronto) Boys and Girls Club

Meagan La Plante, Boys and Girls Clubs of Kawartha Lakes

Prince Sunama, Boys and Girls Club of Kingston and Area Inc.

David Francis, Boys and Girls Club of East Scarborough

Ismail Abdulle, Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa

Richard Lorde, Braeburn Boys and Girls Club

Prince Edward Island

Donald Gallant, Wellington and Area Boys and Girls Club

Quebec

Lois Boateng, Boys and Girls Club of LaSalle / Club Garcons et Filles de

LaSalle

Saskatchewan

Kayla Krawetz, Battlefords Boys and Girls Club

About Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada

Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada is a leading charitable organization providing after school programs that support the healthy physical, educational and social development of 200,000 children, youth and their families each year. In 700 community locations across Canada, Clubs offer access to opportunities, after-school and at other times when children are not in school, to develop healthy behaviours, academic success and technology learning, positive relationships and life and leadership skills. Many Clubs also provide nutritious snacks and meals, emergency shelter, family support programs and other support to children, youth and families at risk. Boys and Girls Clubs have been helping young Canadians to discover, develop and achieve their potential, for over 100 years. To learn more, visit www.bgccan.com.

About Future Shop

With 142 stores across the country and the nation's premier web store (www.futureshop.ca), Burnaby, BC-based Future Shop is Canada's largest retailer and e-tailer of consumer electronics. The company employs more than 10,000 technology enthusiasts, has enabled its website to deliver unparalleled content about the products it sells and host an online community forum for technology beginners and tech-savvy experts to exchange ideas, reviews, tips and other consumer electronics information (www.futureshopforums.ca). As a proud corporate citizen, Future Shop has developed solutions to recycle used electronics (see www.futureshop.ca/green) and is committed to employee volunteerism and supporting non-profits organizations dedicated to transforming local youth into Future Leaders.

For further information: Media Contact: Matthew Ross, Media Relations Specialist, Writer, Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada, [phone], Ext. 270, [email protected]