Paris Richardson, recently named second runner-up in the Miss America 2026 pageant, is continuing to make headlines, this time for her impact off the stage. The Jacksonville native and current Miss Florida 2025 was named the first-ever recipient of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida Alumni Award earlier this summer.
The new award honors former Club members who have achieved personal and professional success while giving back to their communities. Richardson was recognized during a July visit from the Jacksonville City Council, which helped present the award in front of current Club members.
After being crowned Miss Florida on June 28, 2025, Richardson spent her time promoting community initiatives statewide. But her story resonates most deeply in her hometown, where she once walked the halls of The Bridge, a local Boys & Girls Club, and participated in the Club’s Tipping the Scales mentorship program — an experience she credits with sparking her interest in healthcare.
Now with a master’s degree in health administration and a platform that reaches across Florida, Richardson serves as both a role model and a reminder of what’s possible for the youth currently attending Boys & Girls Clubs.
Her recent showing at Miss America adds to a growing list of accomplishments — but it’s her commitment to service, mentorship, and community that made her the clear choice for this new local honor.
Who is Paris Richardson?
Paris Richardson is a Jacksonville native and a 2020 Jean Ribault High School graduate. After Ribault, Richardson went on to earn a bachelor’s in public health and a master’s degree in health administration from the University of Florida, where she was also a cheerleader.
On June 28, Richardson made history by bringing the Miss Florida crown back to Gainesville for the first time in more than 70 years. She’s only the second Miss Gainesville to win the title, and the first since Marcia Crane earned the title in 1952.
Was Paris Richardson part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida?
Yes, Richardson is an alumna of The Bridge, her former Boys & Girls Club, and The Tipping the Scales mentorship program. She credits her time at the Club with sparking her interest in healthcare, which then led her to earn a bachelor’s in public health and a master’s degree in health administration from the University of Florida.
Who is the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida Alumni Award given to?
The new alumni award is modeled after the national Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Alumni Hall of Fame, which has recognized entertainers, athletes, and public figures over the years.
Now, the local version aims to highlight community-rooted success stories, people whose paths to achievement started inside a Boys & Girls Club.
Why was Paris Richardson awarded the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida Alumni Award?
“Paris Richardson’s story is a shining example of how the Boys & Girls Clubs experience creates a foundation for success,” said Paul Martinez, President/CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida. “Her dedication to her community, her accomplishments on the state stage, and her career path in health administration makes her the perfect recipient of our first-ever Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida Alumni Award to inspire our current Club members to pursue their dreams with confidence.”
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Miss Florida 2025, Paris Richardson is first recipient of Boys & Girls Clubs Alumni Award
Reporting by Doris Alvarez Cea, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
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