Gregory Bolar, a member and volunteer at the Sarah Heinz House on the North Side who lost his father to a heart attack five years ago and stepped up to fill his shoes, has been named Pennsylvania Youth of the Year by Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

This is the third year in a row that a Sarah Heinz House member has received the statewide honor -- an unprecedented occurrence, according to Executive Director Stanley Pittman.

With the award comes a $1,000 scholarship from the Reader's Digest Foundation, $2,500 from Rite Aid Foundation and $1,400 from Sarah Heinz House, a club affiliate where he has been active for 11 years.

The honor recognizes character, leadership, overcoming obstacles and willingness to give back to the community.

A senior at North Catholic High School, Mr. Bolar was 13 when his father, a 911 dispatcher, died at age 37. The oldest of three children, he assumed the role of mentor and caregiver to his two younger brothers, one of whom has special needs. In addition to school, hockey, community service and church activities, he picks up his brother from physical therapy each day.

At Sarah Heinz House, he has volunteered 150 hours in the past year. He also puts in many hours on the annual festival of Holy Wisdom Parish, taking over many duties his father once performed.

Mr. Bolar has been accepted at Duquesne University, where he plans to study criminal justice with the goal of becoming an FBI agent.

"He's just a stand-up, dedicated, committed young man," said Mr. Pittman.

In July, he will go to New York City to compete against other youths from the northeast region for a $10,000 scholarship from Reader's Digest. Regional winners then advance to the national competition in Washington, D.C.