Englewood Club: Nike celebrates boys’ basketball team
Englewood Club: Nike celebrates boys’ basketball team
The 2007-2008 Englewood Boys’ basketball team was honored
with a pep rally on Friday, March 14, 2008 for making it to the
Final Four of the Chicago Public League. The members of the Englewood
Basketball Team are all members of the Englewood Boys & Girls
Club. Each member is headed to college in the fall.
The pep rally honored all 12 members for delivering the school's best record (25-4) since 1927 by retiring the boy’s jerseys. Nike made a donation of $5,000 to the Englewood BGC so that future kids will have an opportunity to continue their athletic pursuits. This is the last season for the Englewood Eagles due to the fact that the school is closing this year. There are only 153 students left at Englewood Tech. All of them are seniors and they share the building with two other high schools.
Community Service Project:
Throughout the months of February and March, Marshe Collins, 2007 Youth of the Year for Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, conducted a clothing drive to help a local shelter in the Englewood community. Marshe reached out to every location of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago asking them to aid her in this project. She also involved her school, Englewood Technical Preparatory Academy in her community service project by placing boxes in her high school and having announcements made over the intercom. Staff from the Englewood Boys & Girls Club, General Service Center, the Valentine Boys & Girls Club and teachers from her school truly embraced this project. As a result of everyone’s efforts, Marshe was able to deliver several bags of clothing to Pastor Grace Thomas of Bible Way Church & Shelter.
State Youth of the Year Competition:
On April 25th & 26th, Marshe Collins, a junior at Englewood Technical Preparatory Academy and member of the Englewood Boys & Girls Club represented the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago in the Annual State Youth of the Year Competition. Marshe competed against 21 other “Youth of the Year” contestants from clubs throughout the State of Illinois. Marshe did such an outstanding job in the public speaking category that she was selected to advance to the next round of the competition. Marshe and four other youth were then asked to complete interviews. Although we are certain that she did extremely well in her interview, she was not selected as the State Youth of the Year. Congratulations Marshe for representing Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago!
Mississippi State University Site Visit:
In the month of April, 15 students from Mississippi State University visited the nglewood Boys & Girls Club. During their visit, the college students participated in the club’s daily activities arranged for club members. The college students, Englewood staff and club members song karaoke, played cards, ping-pong and participated in other recreational activities.
Rent-A-Center Grand Opening:
On Monday, April 16th, the Englewood Boys & Girls Club held its Grand Re-Opening in honor of Rent-A-Center’s donation to the club. The Club received a $5000 grant to create a RAC room for the youth in the community. The refurnishing project was spearheaded by Rent a Center District Manager heresa Hayes-Turner. Through Rent-A-Center’s contribution, the Club was able to receive (2) 57” flat, plasma screens televisions, (3) X-Box systems, (2) computer desks, (2) couches and love seats and (2) card tables. In attendance at the event were Mr. Bob Howard, CEO and President of Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, Mrs. Tina Sanders, Assistant Vice President of Programs, Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, Mrs. Theresa Turner-Haynes, District Manager of Rent-A-Center, Mr. Kenneth Wilson, Store Manager, Rent-A-Center, Mr. Bennie Hamilton, Assistant Principal, Englewood Technical Preparatory Academy and Dolores Freeman, Principal of Achievement Academy.
Mural Dedication: 
Christopher Marchman (Sketch), a senior at Englewood Technology
Preparatory Academy and member of the Englewood Boys & Girls
Club dedicated his entire year to creating a mural for the club.
The mural reflects Christopher’s pride in his school and
the impact the Englewood club has on the youth in the community.
According to Christopher, the Boys & Girls Club is Home, it
is a place where youth can express themselves freely and be in
a safe environment without the fear of the negativity occurring
in the Englewood community.
