2008 Be a Hero to a Hero Breakfast
BGCC Families Benefit from Chicago Bear Charles Tillman's Cornerstone Foundation
BGCC and the Sierra Club Celebrate Youth Working to Preserve the Gift of Nature
SOAAP Midwest Training Seminar
School Administrative Luncheon
8th Grade Graduation Celebration
12th Grade Graduation Celebration
Jordan Club: Dance Performance
McCutcheon Club: Smart Girls Awards Ceremony
1st Annual McCormick Boys & Girls Club Domino Tournament
Park Manor Club: End of Year Model Expo and Dance Recital
Reed Club: Volunteer Revitalization Project
Valentine Club: Totem Poles Rededication
Victor Herbert Club: Youth for Unity Event
2008 Be a Hero to a Hero Breakfast
Caption Left to Right: Robert Howard, BGCC President & CEO; Daniel M. Tani, NASA Astronaut; Krystal Lewis, BGCC 2008 Youth of the Year and BGCA 2008 IL State Youth of the Year.
On Tuesday, May 13, 2008 Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago (BGCC) held its Be a Hero to a Hero Breakfast at the University Club of Chicago. The Be a Hero to a Hero Breakfast is an event designed to celebrate the courageous choice of our city’s youth to participate in Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago. Supported and underwritten by the corporate and auxiliary boards of BGCC, the Breakfast benefits the members of Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago through increased awareness and volunteer support.
Caption Left to Right: Mario Ramos, 2008 Jr. Youth of the
Year, Mario Ramos from the Holy Angels Boys & Girls Club of
Chicago; Daniel M. Tani, NASA Astronaut; Krystal Lewis, BGCC 2008
Youth of the Year and BGCA 2008 IL State Youth of the Year.
Performing one of her duties as BGCC 2008 Youth of the Year, Daniel A. Cotter Club member and BGCA 2008 IL State Youth of the Year Krystal Lewis emceed the event. A “Member perspective” was delivered by the 2008 Jr. Youth of the Year, Mario Ramos from the Holy Angels Boys & Girls Club of Chicago. The keynote speaker Daniel M. Tani, NASA Astronaut shared the positive impact heroes have had on both his personal and professional life. Tani was selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in April 1996, and reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1996. Tani is a veteran of two spaceflights and has logged over 131 days in space, and 32 hours and 38 minutes of EVA in five spacewalks.
After taking questions from the audience, Astronaut Tani presented
Robert Howard, BGCC President & CEO with United States flag
that was flown aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery during an assembly
mission to the International Space Station, STS-120, October 23,
2007 – November 7, 2007.
BGCC Families Benefit from Chicago Bear Charles Tillman's Cornerstone Foundation
On Friday May 2, 2008 the Charles Tillman Cornerstone Foundation's Pick It Up program provided necessary household items and appliances for 19 BGCC members families who needed financial support.
Families and members from Park Manor, Beethoven, Chicago Heights, Wilson, Tilton, Armour, Vernon Johns, Kanoon, Herbert, Dett, Reed, Logandale, and Stowe Clubs met at the Boughton Road Meijer Store in Bolingbrook, IL for the shopping spree. The families were given the opportunity to purchase household items like appliances, food, clothing, toiletries, towels, bedding, shoes, and dishes.
Several of the participating families had survived house fires, or were homeless. Each family that participated in the event was in the process of trying to overcome financial and/or personal hardships and appreciated the generous opportunity provided by the Charles Tillman foundation.
Pick It Up, one of the signature programs supported by the Cornerstone Foundation, provides school supplies and necessities like winter coats to at-risk elementary school children throughout the greater Chicago area.
In 2005 Chicago Bear Cornerback Charles Tillman created the Charles Tillman’s Cornerstone Foundation to make a difference in the lives of children in the Greater Chicago area. The Mission of the Cornerstone Foundation is to provide children and youth with educational opportunities and resources needed to excel in the classroom and life. For more information on the Charles Tillman Cornerstone Foundation please call 888-330-7529 ext. 14 or visit www.charlestillman.org.
BGCC and the Sierra Club Celebrate Youth Working to Preserve the Gift of Nature
Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago (BGCC) and the Sierra Club
celebrated a three year partnership of providing young people
with outdoor educational experiences with “Pathway to the
Outdoors, an evening of celebration” including a dinner
reception, presentations and a photo slideshow on
Tuesday, May 27, 2008.
Since 2005, over three hundred students from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago’s Keystone Club program enjoyed their first meaningful outdoor experience by spending a weekend at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore through the Sierra Club’s Building Bridges to the Outdoors Project. This year more than forty Keystone participants are making a commitment to care for their local environment by adopting and tending to a Forest Preserve.
Approximately 70 Club members from the BGCC Keystone Program
attended the Pathway to the Outdoors event at the Park Hyatt Chicago
Hotel along with leadership from Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago
(BGCC), Sierra Club’s Illinois Chapter and Sierra Club’s
Building Bridges to the Outdoors national program including: Jack
Darin, Director of the Illinois Chapter of the Sierra Club; April
Janney, BGCC Senior VP of Operations; Martin LeBlanc, National
Youth Education Director for the Sierra Club; Ezohn Smith, BGCC
Director of Teen Services.
SOAAP Midwest Training Seminar
Boys & Girls Clubs Society of African American Professionals hosted a one-and-a-half day professional development and leadership seminar in the Midwest Region in early April 2008. The training seminar covered topics such as:
• Developing professional network and support systems within
and outside the Movement
• Creating a professional development plan and professional
image
• Core competencies of Chief Professional Officers in a
Boys & Girls Club
• History of African-Americans in the Boys & Girls Club
Movement
Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago had five staff members attend
the seminar: Dana Anthony (Englewood), Fred Harris (Dr. King),
Tauzzari Robinson (Dett), Mike Anderson (McCutcheon) and Jeff
Daniel (Green). The training proved to be a benefit to all of
the participants including King Club staff member Fred Harris
who stated “I really enjoyed myself. I learned so much stuff
I’m still trying to process it all.”
School Administrative Luncheon
On May 14, 2008, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago hosted the School Administrator Luncheon at the Polo Café to acknowledge school administrators and staff for their continued support.
The afternoon’s program started with Wanda Noyes a former parent volunteer who is now the Victor Herbert Club Site Director. Wanda spoke about the transition and ways to improve parent involvement within the school sites. Khari Humphries, Club Manager, Holy Angels Club has been with BGCC for about seven years and has worked in various capacities. Khari illustrated in his testimony, that regardless of the capacity in which you work within the organization, each person is working on behalf of the children we serve.
Polo Café’s owner, Dave Samber graced the audience with an impromptu inspirational speech in which he spoke highly of the work that BGCC does and how the staff and partners must continue to do so. Dave also offered BGCC Jr. Youth of the Year, Mario Ramos his first job at the Polo Café. Dave demonstrated the kind of partnerships and resources BGCC is consistently striving to create for all of our members.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago operates programs in 24 schools
across the City of Chicago and Southern Suburbs. The School Administrator
luncheon is great event for BGCC school-based managers to participate
and show their gratitude to the School staff, teachers and administrators
they interact with on a daily basis. BGCC is fortunate to have
some amazing people on its staff and this luncheon was a great
way for them to share their stories and best practices.
Club members and staff from 12 Clubs attended the WNBA Chicago Sky home opening night game against the Sacramento Monarchs on Thursday, May 22 at 7:00 pm. The Chicago Sky plays at the UIC Pavilion, located on the campus of the University of Illinois at Chicago at Harrison and Racine.
Over 450 tickets were donated to Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago
by the Community relations Department of the Chicago Sky. The
Chicago Sky distributed team paraphernalia, like handkerchiefs
pens, and tee shirts to the crowd along with McDonald’s
coupons. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat Shooting Guard and Chicago native
also attended the game. The Chicago Sky beat the Sacramento Monarchs
87 to 77. For more information on the Chicago Sky please visit
http://www.wnba.com/sky/index_main.html.
8th Grade Graduation Celebration
Over 250 8th grade BGC members attended an event to celebrate their graduation at the Valentine Club on Tuesday, May 20th. Club members ate pizza and danced to music DJed by Dr. King Club staff Fred & Laraj. Members were given the opportunity to connect with others who may become classmates in high school. Each Club honored one member as their MVP for showing outstanding leadership in clubs activities. Ezohn Smith, BGCC's Director of Teen Services, spoke about the many programs the organization offers teenagers. The Kanoon Club's Junior Youth of the Year, MariCarmen DeLaRosa, spoke about inspiration and wished the members well. Members received gift bags donated by Huron Consulting. The graduation party committee would like to thank Best Buy and Whole Foods for donating items that were raffled off to the 8th Grade Graduates.
12th Grade Graduation Celebration
High school graduates celebrated their accomplishments at the 3rd Annual BGCC 12th Grade Graduation Celebration held at the Chicago Marriott at Medical District/UIC on Thursday, May 22, 2008. Carla Henderson, Customer Quality Engineer at Motorola, delivered a motivational speech to the graduates and encouraged them to maintain high standards and feel proud for their accomplishments. Director of Teen Services, Ezohn Smith, acknowledged their efforts growing up in the Club and encouraged them to consider setting a new list of goals for college. Staff member, Robert Coffee, used this opportunity to thank WGCI Radio Personality Bionce Foxx for her time spent volunteering at the Jordan Club. Club members had a great time and we wish them the best in their post-secondary education plans.
On behalf of all the staff at BGCC, Congratulations Class of 2008!
Members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago mentor program celebrated a year of successful programs at the annual Regenstein Mentor Appreciation Luncheon on Saturday, May 17th, 2008 at the James Jordan Club. Club members and mentors kicked back and enjoyed the afternoon's festivities which included in carnival-style games and other activities. The event was a great opportunity for volunteers and Club members to celebrate all of their hard work over the past school year. Thanks to Big Brother Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago for supporting this event and working with five of the participating mentor program sites. We also would like to thank former BGCC Mentor Coordinator, Jeff Sommerfeld for his efforts in leading successful and meaningful programs for the youth and to thank the many dedicated mentors who have generously worked with BGCC members this year.
Jordan Club: Dance Performance
This past month the James Jordan Boys and Girls Club welcomed 50 members from the Asian-American Student Association from Whitney Young High School for a dance presentation. Club members were treated to a 45 minute performance which included different dance styles from hip hop dance to way to interpretative dance.
McCutcheon Club: Smart Girls Awards Ceremony
The McCutcheon Club SMART Girls members were recognized for their program participation in an awards ceremony at the McCormick Club on Friday, June 6, 2008. The young ladies were involved in every program offered at the McCutcheon Club and assisted the staff with programs for younger members.
1st Annual McCormick Boys & Girls Club Domino Tournament
The 1st Annual McCormick Boys & Girls Club Domino Tournament was held on Friday, June 6th from 3:30pm-6pm. The Domino program is run by volunteer Tracy Dixon, a World Champion Domino Player who comes to the Club to teach and coach the game to Club members from six years old to Club staff members.
In addition to the program, Club members have been preparing
to participate in the World Championship of Dominos being held
in Alabama later this year. Tracy is looking to start domino programs
at other Boys & Girls Clubs so they will be able hold an agency
wide competition. Please contact Mike Anderson, McCutcheon Club
Site Director at (773)271-8400 ext. 4304 if anyone is up for a
game of Bones!
The McCutcheon end of the year Science Club event was held on Thursday, June 5th from 3:30pm-5:30pm at the McCormick Club. The culminating event included experiments, a scientific play and an awards presentation.
The Science Club is a 10 week program that is facilitated by the Director of Educational and Research Programs for the Northwestern University Genetic School of Medicine and his staff. The 20 Club members involved in the program are ages 7-14 years old and have participated in experiments and used scientific methodologies that most people don’t see until college. Some of their experiments have been on: The Science of Genes, Elements Involved in Chemistry, Making a Molecule, Testing to See What’s in Our Food, Got DNA?, and also had to solve DNA Mysteries.
Club members along with their parents had opportunities to take
field trips to the Museum of Science and Industry, the Nature
Museum and the Northwestern University Laboratories where they
performed another experiment on protein.
Park Manor Club: End of Year Model Expo and Dance Recital
On Wednesday, May 28, Park Manor Boys & Girls Club held their first Model Expo and Dance recital to culminate their program for the 2008 academic year. The Thirty-four members that participated in the recital were instructed by No Limit N’ Motion, a dance company designed to allow youth to express themselves through the art of dance.
The formal attire modeled during the expo was donated by college
students who attend Salem Baptist Church. College students from
Salem also donated their time and services to prepare members
for the show and designed the gymnasium to give the event a true
fashion show feel. This event helped transform members who lacked
self-esteem into confident young people.
Reed Club: Volunteer Revitalization Project
During the week of March 17 to March 21, 2008 20 student volunteers
from the College of Art and Design from Columbus, Ohio participated
in a school pride revitalization art project with Reed Club members
and staff.
The volunteers collaborated with 12 Club members and painted murals
in key areas around the Reed School which included a panther mural
of the school mascot in the school lobby and a mural on the auditorium
stage wall of Club member silhouettes.
Volunteers also cleaned, varnished and installed halogen lights
in two trophy cases, sanded, designed and painted a long bench
and refinished the front door desk and auditorium podium.
Valentine Club: Totem Poles Rededication
On Saturday, May 10, 2008 the Louis L. Valentine Boys & Girls Club of Chicago presented a Totem Pole Rededication Ceremony for the newly refurbished Totem Poles outside the entrance of the Club located on 3400 S. Emerald.
The program included a Blessing and History of Totem Poles, and Tribal Dancers. Georgina Roy, Assistant Director of the Anawim Center of Chicago and Myles Goddard, Vice President of Midwest SOARRING Foundation, an organization that provides education about American Indian Cultures and environmental concerns performed the Four Directions Native American Prayer and Blessing and delivered the history of the totem poles.
Helping to secure the $100,000 funding from the Illinois Department
of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for the monumental sculptures
were Board members, friends and partners of the Valentine Club
including: 11th District Cook County Commissioner John P. Daley,
11th Ward Alderman James A. Balcer, 1st District State Senator
Antonio Muñoz, and 2nd District Representative Edward J.
Acevedo.
Victor Herbert Club: Youth for Unity Event
The Victor Herbert Club end of year event for the Youth for Unity Program was a field trip tour of Chinatown with dinner at The Three Happiness Restaurant on Saturday, May 31, 2008. The prep girls and boys enjoyed using their chop sticks as they enjoyed their sweet and sour chicken, chicken with broccoli, vegetable fried rice, shrimp egg rolls and won ton soup.
