2026 Great Futures Night Awardees

Noemi Braz serves as a staff member at the Hudson Club, where she primarily supervises the Games Room and lends support to the Teen Center when needed. Ambitious, vibrant, and compassionate, Noemi brings an energy to her work that her peers describe as truly unmatched. Noemi's connection to the youth she serves runs deeper than most. Having moved to the United States from Brazil in 2019, she knows firsthand what it feels like to be the new kid — navigating a new language, a new culture, and a new community. She came to the Club as a member first, and that experience shapes everything about the way she shows up for kids today. She is especially attuned to members who are finding their footing, making sure they feel seen, supported, and at home. For Noemi, the Club is personal. It's where she made her first friends, faced her fears, and learned to grow — and now it's where she gets to give that same experience to someone else. She describes it as one of the most meaningful parts of her life. Outside the Club, Noemi is pursuing a degree in Nursing at Quinsigamond Community College — a reflection of the same care and drive she brings to her work every day. Passionate, purposeful, and deeply committed to the people around her, Noemi is exactly the kind of person the Boys & Girls Clubs of MetroWest is proud to call its own.

Emanuelly "Manu" Santos is a second-grade member at the Hudson Club — and if you've spent any time there, you already know her. Confident, friendly, and genuinely kind, Manu is the kind of kid who lights up a room without even trying. Manu is a true all-around member. She participates actively across every area of the Club, brings a positive attitude into everything she does, and is just as quick to help a peer or a staff member as she is to jump into the next activity. Her peers describe her as someone who is always encouraging others to try new things —especially in the gym, where Manu can often be found rallying the other girls to get in on the fun. For Manu, the Club is a place that belongs to her. It's where she gets to play, grow, and spend time with friends from other schools she wouldn't otherwise see. That sense of belonging is something she carries into every interaction — and it shows. Staff describe her as sweet, caring, and endlessly enthusiastic, with a laugh and a smile so contagious they're hard to forget. She puts others first without being asked, and she shows up every day ready to give her best. Manu follows in the footsteps of her older sister, who was a Club member before her —making her part of a Boys & Girls Club family in more ways than one. She is exactly the kind of member this award was made for.

For Izadora, the Boys & Girls Club has been more than a building or a program —it has been a place where she learned about responsibility, connection, and the impact one person can have on another. She started in the learning center and, for the past two years, has been a steady presence at the front desk, where she's often the first face members and parents see when they walk through the doors. That role suits her. Izadora has learned to communicate professionally, stay calm in busy moments, and make every family feel welcomed and heard. She takes special pride in being an advocate for our Portuguese-speaking families, which has made our Brazilian community feel especially at home at the Club. Her director describes her as driven, friendly, and responsible — someone who balances school, an after-school job, and community involvement with remarkable care. Peers say she goes out of her way to make others feel included, and it's clear from her own words that she has internalized what leadership really means. As she put it, leadership "is not about being in charge, but about being someone others can trust, depend on, and look up to." Now a senior in high school, Izadora knows that younger members are watching her —and she takes that seriously. The same welcoming environment that was created for her, she is now creating for the next generation of Club members.

Rafaela Fiori serves as the administrative backbone of the Marlborough Club — and that is not an overstatement. From member tracking and database administration to JotForms, Constant Contact emails, transportation lists, and school communications, Rafaela manages the behind-the-scenes infrastructure that keeps the Club running smoothly. She coordinates basketball registration, supports summer camp administration, liaises with the Board of Health, and serves as the Club's primary translator for Portuguese-speaking families. Dedicated, adaptable, and analytical, her fingerprints are on nearly every system the Marlborough Club relies on. What makes Rafaela's role so significant goes beyond the tasks themselves. She is an essential link to its Brazilian community —a bridge between families and the programs that serve their children. For many of those families, Rafaela is the first familiar, trusted voice they encounter, and that connection matters deeply. Her colleagues describe her as professional, caring, and completely reliable. Youth members light up when they see her at registration, and they think of her as part of the program itself — not just the person behind the desk. That's a rare quality in an administrative role, and it speaks to who Rafaela is as a person. She is willing to take on any task asked of her, brings professionalism to everything she touches, and has quietly streamlined processes that make life easier for the entire team. The Marlborough Club's success over the years has her work woven all through it — and the staff who work alongside her every day know exactly how lucky they are to have her.

Lissa Matos Freitas is the kind of member who makes the Marlborough Club a better place just by walking through the door. Artistic, funny, and outgoing, she brings a warmth and energy to every room she enters — and a sense of humor that makes everyone around her feel at ease. Lissa is a natural leader, and she leads in the best way: by showing up, participating fully, and making others feel like they belong. She is an active member of Torch, Keystone, and SMART Girls, and she contributes to each with the same positive attitude and genuine commitment. Her peers describe her as loyal, supportive, and expressive — someone they can count on. Staff describe her as a role model who does the right thing without being asked, and who makes every member around her feel valued. For Lissa, the Club is something distinct from school and home — a space that's entirely her own. It's where she connects with old friends, meets new ones, and gets to participate in things she wouldn't find anywhere else. That sense of possibility is something she carries into everything she does here. Outside of Club programming, Lissa loves to draw and create, bringing imaginative ideas and a one-of-a-kind perspective to everything she touches. She embraces what makes her different — and has a gift for encouraging others to do the same. Lissa exemplifies what Boys & Girls Club membership is meant to look like: engaged, generous, and fully herself. The Marlborough Club is proud to celebrate her as Member of the Year.

Jacoby's relationship with the Boys & Girls Club of Metrowest began in elementary school, when he joined the Saturday basketball program as a quiet six-year-old. The friendships he formed there — including one that has lasted all the way through junior year of high school —were just the beginning. He returned to the Discovery Club at Whitcomb during the early days of COVID, and at sixteen, when he had to choose his first job, he chose the Club: not the easiest option, but the one where he could make a difference. Today, Jacoby is a staff member at both Discovery Club and Drop-In, and a longtime fixture of our Marlboro Club community. The younger members adore him, and his peers look to him as a role model —someone who will give thoughtful counsel and be trusted to lead. On the very first day of the program at Richer School this year, he noticed his site coordinator was overwhelmed by onboarding new staff and quietly stepped in to help run the orientation. That instinct to lead without being asked is exactly what sets him apart. Outside the Club, Jacoby has spent ten years in Scouting America and is currently working toward his Eagle Scout rank, with 23 merit badges and two years as Senior Patrol Leader behind him. He credits the combination of Scouts and the Club with shaping his voice, his communication, and his sense of who he wants to be. The Marlborough and Discovery staff describe him as passionate, creative, and idealistic — personable, dependable, mature, and deeply giving. As Jacoby himself wrote, "Boys & Girls Clubs of MetroWest has come to feel like a second home for me, and the community I have developed makes me feel like I have another family."

Marissa Rodrigues served as the Youth & Activities Coordinator at the Framingham Club — a title that only tells part of her story. Dedicated, caring, patient, and nurturing, Marissa is someone her peers describe as kind, honest, loyal, respectful, and responsible. The kids? They'll tell you she's fun, silly, and pretty great to be around, too. Marissa's contributions to the Framingham Club go beyond programming. She has been an important presence in supporting the Club's Brazilian families — helping bridge the gap between parents and the Club, and contributing to a climate where that community feels welcomed and understood. What makes Marissa's story particularly special is where it started. She joined the Club as a part-time staff member while still in high school, and over the past four years, grew into a full-time coordinator role — one that was created specifically so she could continue her journey here. That investment goes both ways. Marissa describes the Club as a place of growth, opportunity, and purpose, and credits the guidance of leaders like Tammi and Chris as central to who she has become, both professionally and personally. At the heart of it all, she says, are the kids. They're why the work is so rewarding —and she's learned just as much from them as she hopes they've learned from her. Marisa moved onto a new opportunity at the beginning of May and we are missing her, her presence, and her influence. The Club is where she grew up, found her purpose, and built something lasting. That's exactly the kind of person worth celebrating.

Larissa Da Silva is a member of the Framingham Club in the truest sense —she grew up here. She found her way to the Club in 6th grade, stayed through the uncertainty of the pandemic, and is still showing up today. That kind of loyalty says everything about who she is and what this place means to her. Patient, responsible, trustworthy, and charismatic, Larissa brings a quiet strength to the Club that staff and peers alike have come to count on. She is proactive, focused, and — perhaps most notably — a leader who has earned that title through consistent action, not just personality. Her dedication and participation speak for themselves, and her character shows up in the way she treats the people around her: with honesty, respect, and genuine care. For Larissa, the Club is a place where she feels secure, supported, and accepted. It's where her support system lives — the friends and staff who have walked alongside her through some formative years. That foundation is something she doesn't take for granted, and it shows in how she engages with the community here. Her peers describe her as funny, caring, and organized. Staff describe her as respectful, kind, and trustworthy. She is also a member of Keystone, contributing to a program built around leadership and service — a natural fit for someone like her. Larissa is exactly the kind of member the Boys & Girls Club is built for — and exactly the kind of person who makes it better for everyone else.

For more than seven years, the Boys & Girls Club of Framingham has been a second home for Bruna. She first came as a young member whose hardworking parents needed a safe place for her after school — and because of a language barrier, couldn't always help with homework themselves. The Club staff filled that gap, sitting with her, encouraging her, and helping her build the confidence to keep going when school felt hard. That early support quietly shaped the leader she has become. Bruna's growth has shown up in nearly every corner of Club life. She channeled her love of sports into soccer, eventually becoming captain of her middle school team, and stretched herself through programs like SMART Girls, My Hair My Crown, Eureka!, and a research study with Boston College. Off-site, she volunteers at a local food pantry and serves as president of the Keystone Club, where she helps her peers organize service projects and grow as leaders themselves. Tammidescribes her as compassionate, trustworthy, and courageous — a positive role model with strong teamwork skills, real academic drive, and the kind of resilience that lifts the whole Club up. Peers see her as silly, fun, and kind; staff see her as dependable, adaptable, and endlessly enthusiastic. After serving as a Counselor in Training in summer 2025, Bruna will return as a P.T. staff member this summer for camp, with plans to continue on staff during the school year. As she puts it, she wants to give back to the community that gave so much to her

Phoenix Sinclair serves as a Group Leader at Discovery, where his reliability, steady presence, and genuine care for the people around him have made him one of the program's most trusted team members. Reliable, supportive, and steady — those are the words his colleagues reach for, and they show up in everything he does. Phoenix's contributions to the program are felt across the board. He supports children through positive, consistent interactions, shows up ready to learn new skills, and quietly makes himself the person both staff and kids can count on. Peers describe him as one of the best they've worked with at Discovery — someone multiple staff turn to as their go-to for support. The kids have their own take: fun, kind, gentle, and — notably — very fast. For Phoenix, Discovery is about more than a job. He describes it as a place that has given him the chance to grow as a leader and a communicator, all while making a real impact on the children he serves. He takes pride in helping create an environment that feels safe and fun — a place where kids and staff alike know someone has their back. Outside of Discovery, Phoenix is pursuing a college degree with the goal of building a career in Early Childhood Education or Out-of-School Time care — a path that reflects exactly the kind of purpose-driven person he already is. Phoenix consistently exceeds expectations. That's not a line — it's just the most accurate way to describe him.

Jonathan "JonJon" Mossey has been a Discovery Club member for many years — and the staff who have watched him grow will tell you the transformation has been something to see. Confident, influential, and decisive, JonJon has developed into exactly the kind of strong-willed, self-assured leader that this award was made for. JonJon's growth didn't happen overnight. It happened through years of showing up, engaging, and leaning into who he is. Staff describe him as a natural leader —honest and courageous, someone who carries himself with a presence that others notice and respond to. His peers keep it simpler: he's funny and athletic, which, at the end of the day, is its own kind of currency among kids. For JonJon, Discovery is fun. That might sound like a small thing, but it isn't — it means this place has been somewhere he actually wants to be, year after year. And that consistency has allowed the Club to be part of his story in a real way. The confidence he walks with today, the decisiveness, the leadership —those qualities were shaped here, alongside the staff and peers who believed in him and challenged him along the way. JonJon is proof of what's possible when a young person has a place to grow into themselves. Discovery is proud to call him Member of the Year.

Barbara Cooper is a Lead Preschool Teacher at Happy Hours Preschool —and has been for nearly three decades. She joined the program in October 1997 as an Assistant Teacher, pursued her education, earned her CDA certification, and grew into the lead role she holds today. Twenty-nine years later, she is still showing up with the same professionalism, commitment, and heart that have defined her career from the start. Barbara's contributions to the program go far beyond the classroom. She mentors and trains the next generation of preschool teachers, sharing the kind of knowledge that only comes from years of genuine dedication to the work. Her colleagues describe her as extremely knowledgeable and thoughtful —someone who always leads with her heart, and from whom they have learned enormously. She is also willing to take on new responsibilities and programming, bringing the same care to every ask. Her path is one worth honoring on its own terms. She didn't arrive as a lead teacher — she built herself into one, step by step, class by class, child by child. That kind of growth, sustained over nearly 30 years, reflects a deep love for early childhood education and for the families this program serves. Outside of the Club, Barbara is a member of the Marlboro Garden Club — a small detail that says something about who she is: someone who tends things, nurtures them, and watches them grow.