Local Boys and Girls Club employee named Maytag Leader, grant recipient

Boys and Girls Club of Greater Holland employee Justin Caserta was named one of seven Maytag Dependable Leaders in 2021. 

Boys and Girls Club of America and Maytag selected the recipients from nominees submitted by clubs across the country and the world. The award recognizes club employees and volunteers who dedicate their lives to serving young people. A $20,000 grant accompanies the award. 

Caserta, Unit Director and Education Coordinator for the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Holland, received the recognition at a recent ceremony where the club also noted the achievements of this year’s high school graduates. The ceremony also celebrated the club’s 2021 graduating seniors.

Caserta will use the grant to expand services to the teens participating in To Graduation and Beyond, which was selected for the National Honors Award as best program for teens in 2020. The mentorship program Caserta leads for seventh through 12th graders will be able to pair each student with a mentor to help with college prep or another path after graduation, greatly expanding the program’s reach. He also intends to use some of the funding for transportation and for career testing.

For more than 14 years, Caserta has “committed himself to encouraging youth and providing them tools to grow, through programs like Graduation and Beyond,” a statement from the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Holland says. He has connected with many local agencies and built a strong collaboration with the local school system, establishing his site as a leading youth program in the area. Working with local agencies and the school system, Caserta ensures that every youth reaches their potential, offering different types of support to those who need it. 

Working together for nearly 20 years, Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Maytag Brand have presented more than 120 Boys and Girls Club professionals with a Maytag Dependable Leader Award and grants. Throughout the collaboration, Maytag Brand has provided nearly $10 million to help youth reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens. 

Across the more than 4,700 Clubs nationwide, staff provide more than 4.6 million kids and teens a safe environment to learn and grow.