At a Lucas County Board of Commissioners meeting, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Toledo presented Tyrese Blue II as Ohio Youth of the Year and asked county commissioners to partner on sustained investment in after‑school programming.

The request came after Tyrese, a recent high‑school graduate who also received an associate degree and is entering the University of Toledo, spoke about his experience at the club and how staff and mentors changed his life. Tyrese told the commissioners, "you are seen, you are valued, and you belong here." He spoke about first walking into the club on Valentine's Day 2022 and being given a card that made him feel accepted.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Toledo staff who presented to the commissioners said the organization serves roughly 5,500 children across the region and about 500–600 youth daily in its local clubs. The presenter described the 3–7 p.m. hours after school as the period when juvenile crime, risky behavior and academic disengagement peak, and presented outcomes from recent research: that 75% of the club's members advanced to the next grade on time last year and that more than 90% of teens reported feeling safe at club sites. The presenter also cited an external analysis that, they said, estimated a $35.16 lifetime benefit to Ohio communities for every $1 invested and a $12.25 annual benefit for every $1 invested locally in Toledo.

The club representative asked the commissioners to view funding as an "investment in outcomes" rather than a charitable expense and said the clubs leverage public dollars with private philanthropy and volunteer time. The presentation named local partners including Toledo Public Schools and the University of Toledo's early college programs as contributors to students' pathways to higher education and workforce readiness.

No formal appropriation or vote on new funding for the Boys & Girls Clubs occurred during the meeting; the presentation was received by the commissioners and a proclamation was presented to Tyrese. Commissioners offered congratulations to Tyrese and to the Boys & Girls Clubs for their local work.

The club's presentation included an appeal to consider sustained support into 2026 and beyond, citing an uncertain nonprofit funding environment in 2025 and the club's stated goal of building local career pipelines so young people remain in Toledo.

The items in the meeting record show recognition of Tyrese and a request for partnership; no directive to county staff or formal commitment of county funds was recorded.