Family is one of the most important aspects of Danielle Snead’s life. She is the fourth of six children and since an early age has been an “older sister” to her younger siblings. Her sisters and mother feel she is always creative and helpful in her assistance and is a good role model. By bringing the family together at least once a week to play cards or board games, Danielle helps them remember they are family.

Danielle’s family has been torn apart by divorce, illness and resentments. After Danielle’s parents divorced, her mother was diagnosed with cancer. Danielle is biracial and as she describes it, she was too black for her white mother and to white for her black friends. She became a very confused adolescent as she was not sure how ‘a color’ was supposed to act. Due to the absence of her father and her mother’s illness she eventually moved in with her aunt and uncle who have given her the guidance and structure she needed.

Family and friends of Danielle have witnessed the transformation of a shy, introverted girl to an involved, respectful, dependable and ambitious young woman. Since winning the Glamour Girls competition held by the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Antonio, Danielle’s self-esteem and confidence has improved. Danielle has also shown leadership and cooperative effort through her extracurricular activities in school. She was an active member of the prom committee, debate team, the NAACP Juvenile Justice Program and she was her class Vice President before graduating from Judson High School in May, 2005. Her grades put her in the top 10% of her class and she is a member of the National Honor Society.

Danielle is also active in programs outside of school. Danielle is involved in her church by holding the youth secretary position and participating in the choir. Her ambition and hard work also reaches to the community where she has organized clean up campaigns, helped the needy and participated in a program at local nursing homes.

Danielle has been a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Antonio (BGCSA) for more than five years. As a member she was the Eastside Branch Keystone Club President and eventually worked as an Eastside staff member in the Learning Center. Danielle believes the Clubs have given her confidence and the chance to do things she has only dreamt of.

Her actions never cease to amaze her family and peers. She demonstrates a focus on education, future and encouragement to kids. Danielle aspires to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies and become an attorney, and there is no doubt that she will be successful in any endeavor.

Not only did Danielle become the San Antonio Youth of the Year in 2004, she went on to compete and win at the state and regional levels. She was the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) Southwest Region Youth of the Year and competed against four other region winners at the national level. Her experience allowed her to travel across the country as a youth delegate representing BGCA and her home Club, the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Antonio. Her adventures culminated with her meeting President George W. Bush at the White House in the summer of 2005.
Danielle is now a freshman at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia.