Chris Holley, II, of the Florida League of Cities, made the drive from Tallahassee to Niceville last week to bestow another statewide honor on Boggy’s Youth Advisory Council. 

The League of Cities named the Youth Advisory Council’s community service contest submission the best of the state’s 411 cities. The Council worked with the Emerald Coast Autism Center to organize a 5K fundraiser for the center earlier in 2022. The council members involved in the project created a carnival-like atmosphere for the event, which included game booths, face painting, and free-play areas. The council also recruited food trucks and volunteers for the event – and created signage for the event. In total, the group raised more than $10,000 for the Emerald Coast Autism Center. 

“Your service and hard work in organizing this event was phenomenal. The Florida League of Cities appreciates your involvement in the league programs and the fantastic work of your council,” Holley told the group. 

To be eligible for the prize, the Council had to help organize, participate in and support the project. Then they had to submit an awards packet to the Florida League of Cities for consideration. 

“These guys did a fabulous job reaching out to the Emerald Coast Autism Center,” said Councilman and sponsor of the Youth Advisory Council Sal Nodjomian, “As a former wing commander at Eglin, I can tell you, we have people that will literally PCS (permanent change of station) in here specifically for this care that they can get out of [The Emerald Coast Autism Center], so that center is literally an economic engine for our region.”