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Dom Jones Succeeds Father in Trenton
As Youth of the Year – 25 Years Later!
If love, opportunity, and discipline describe the Boys & Girls Club of Trenton, then Dom Jones was the ideal choice to represent the Trenton Club as its 2006 Youth of the Year. Following in the footsteps of his father, Dom Jones, Sr. – the 1981 Trenton Youth of the Year – Dom epitomizes the Club’s highest goals: he is a compassionate and disciplined young man who sees opportunity around every corner.
Dom’s qualities stem from the strong family values he learned at home – both of them. Although Dom’s mother, Patricia Jones, and father are divorced and live apart, Dom successfully engaged in strong relationships with both of them and his two younger sisters. Long work days for both parents motivated Dom to step up and help his family whenever possible – and this is something that Dom is very proud to have done.
“When I see that my family is in need of help, big or small, I help out in whatever way I can. I love showing them that I can be a leader and it shows them that I am reliable, responsible, and trustworthy,” he says.
Dom’s actions at home have carried over to the Club, his “second home,” where he has undertaken several leadership and support roles. “When I walk into the Club, I feel like I’m with family,” Dom remarks. More than just a place to hang out, Dom has come to the Club after high school classes to participate in programs and more recently to offer support to younger members, helping with homework, offering guidance, and sometimes just playing games in the gym.
Dom and five other teen Club members this spring formed the Entrepreneurs Club and are on the brink of offering for sale a unique “Doors of Trenton” poster. Proceeds of the sales will benefit their college education funds and the Boys & Girls Club.
Dom’s enthusiasm and willingness to offer his services to the Club pay homage to the impact the Club has had on him. “Once I am on steady ground, I want to be able to give back to my community and to the Club. I want to leave an impact on the Club in the same way it did on my life.”
Dom realizes that the surest path to getting on “steady ground” is through education, something that his Mom has taught him. “My mother always told me that without a good education my options in this world are limited. She told me that I should strive for excellence and not be influenced by what is going on in the streets.”
The Boys & Girls Club of Trenton & Mercer County is proud to have Dom Jones as its 2006 Youth of the Year and wishes Dom great success as he begins his college studies in the fall.
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