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August 2025

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Derek De Salvia and Matt Abbene Join Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida Board

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Two New Leaders Join Our Mission 

At Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, our mission is to inspire and empower all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential. This vision is powered by a commitment to excellence, innovation, and compassion — values that also define the careers and leadership of our newest Board Members, Derek De Salvia and Matt Abbene. 
 

About Derek De Salvia 

Derek De Salvia currently serves as Executive Vice President & Chief Customer Officer at Hilton Grand Vacations, where he leads customer service, resort operations, inventory management, and brand standards. With over 20 years of leadership in hospitality, including roles with Hilton Grand Vacations and Disney Vacation Club, Derek has a proven track record of driving innovation, exceeding organizational goals, and enhancing customer experiences. 

Derek’s career has been guided by a commitment to excellence, innovation, and service — values that align closely with our organizational vision. His experience leading high-performing teams and implementing forward-thinking strategies will strengthen our ability to provide transformative opportunities for Central Florida youth. 

About Matt Abbene 

Matt Abbene serves as Chief Administrative Officer for Orlando Health Medical Group, where he oversees strategic growth, quality improvement, and customer experience across service lines and hospital leadership. With more than 15 years of healthcare leadership, Matt has extensive expertise in system improvement, operational performance, and strategy implementation. 

Matt is also an adjunct instructor at the University of Central Florida, where he helps prepare the next generation of healthcare leaders. His dedication to collaboration, continuous improvement, and community impact mirrors our own vision of fostering a culture of innovation and excellence. 

Looking Ahead 

We are deeply grateful to Derek and Matt for joining our mission and lending their expertise to the future of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida.  
 
Welcome, Derek and Matt — we are thrilled to have you on our team! 

“Our Patches, Our Stories:” A Creative Journey Led by Bank of America Student Leader Fay Zhao

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This summer, our Levy-Hughes Clubhouse was home to more than just fun and friendship — it became a space for powerful storytelling, thanks to the leadership of Fay Zhao, one of our Bank of America Student Leaders interns. 

Fay spent six weeks working closely with a group of 11 Club members, ages 12–16, on a special two-part creative project: Our Patches, Our Stories. The project invited youth to explore and express their personal stories through digital design and written reflection. 

In the first phase, each Club member designed a custom patch using computer software. These patches represented something deeply meaningful to them. Once designed, the patches were printed and transferred onto real fabric — turning digital dreams into tangible keepsakes. 

During the second phase, Club members wrote personal reflections about their patch designs. These stories were unfiltered, inspiring, and full of heart. 

Fay brought it all together in a beautifully curated digital book, combining each member’s patch and writing with custom-designed pages that reflect their unique voices and personalities. 

👉 Click here to explore Our Patches, Our Stories and experience the creativity and courage of our teens firsthand. 

Thank you to Fay and Bank of America for helping our Club members feel seen, heard, and celebrated. 

OurPatchesOurStoriesDownload
BOFA Interns Blog

Investing in the Future: Bank of America Student Leaders® Shine Bright at Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida

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This summer, behind our iconic blue doors, our Clubs werebuzzing with even more energy — thanks to four remarkable young changemakers. 

As part of our ongoing partnership with Bank of America and their Student Leaders® initiative, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida welcomed a cohort of high school students who are not just dreaming of a GREAT future — they’re actively building it. 

Meet our 2025 Student Leaders: 
⭐ Aadi Gala – Bradley-Otis Family Branch 
⭐ Sydni Patrick – West Orange Branch 
⭐ Andrew Philip – St. Cloud Branch 
⭐ Fay Zhao – Levy-Hughes Clubhouse 

Hand-selected for their passion for service and demonstrated leadership through a highly selective interview process, these students were placed at four different Club locations across Central Florida. Over the course of their eight-week paid internship, they’ve been immersed in the mission of Boys & Girls Clubs: to inspire and enable all young people — especially those who need us most — to reach their full potential. 

But this internship has gone far beyond observing our summer programming. It’s been a hands-on opportunity to lead, contribute meaningfully, and grow alongside our dedicated Club teams. 

From mentoring younger Club members to assisting with summer programming, these Student Leaders have become true role models. Whether sparking an interest in computer science or helping youth share their stories through passion projects, they’ve shown up each day with heart, purpose, and a drive to serve. 

In the process, they’ve sharpened their communication, time management, and leadership skills — all while leaving a lasting impact on our Clubs and the youth and teens we serve. 

Thanks to Bank of America’s vision for a stronger, more inclusive future, our interns also joined more than 300 Student Leaders from across the country in Washington, D.C. for a week-long leadership summit. There, they dovedeeper into civic engagement, public policy, and social impact — all while connecting with peers who share their passion for making a difference.  

This experience isn’t just preparing them for college or their first job — it’s preparing them to be the next generation of leaders Central Florida — and our future—  needs. 

We are deeply grateful to Bank of America for championing youth leadership through this transformative initiative. Your commitment to empowering tomorrow’s leaders is felt not only within our Clubs, but throughout our entire community. 

Because of you, Aadi, Sydni, Andrew, and Fay are gaining the tools, mentorship, and platform they need to lead boldly — and to inspire other Club members to do the same.