Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago

Over 80 Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago teens attended a “Vitality Extravaganza” hosted by Unilever on Friday, August 8, 2008 at Robert Morris College located at 401 S State St.

The Vitality Extravaganza is a Health & Nutrition leadership conference for teens that focused on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The conference will include a number of Unilever volunteers and health advocates that will tentatively include the Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Land Children (CLOCC) and members of the Mayor’s Fitness Council.

Teens participated in four workshop sessions filled with lots of physical activity, healthy snacks, nutritional tips and fun! During the closing ceremony, summer youth employees from After School Matters performed songs and skits that focused on the importance of a healthy lifestyle and embracing nutrition.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago Holds Successful Back to School Block Party

Mario Ramos, 2008 Jr. Youth of the Year addresses the crowd at the
BGCC Back to School Block Party.

On Saturday, August 23, 2008 Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago (BGCC) and Volunteers of America held its Back to School Block Party outside of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Club located at 2950 W. Washington Street. The goal of the Back to School Block Party was to provide all the attending members with backpacks full of school supplies to prepare them for the first day of school on September 2nd 2008.

With support from CDW, Communities that Care, Huron Consulting Group, and Starcom BGCC were able to collect over 800 backpacks for children that attend Chicago Public Schools. The event saw over 800 children and family members from BGCC, Volunteers of America families, and communities throughout Chicago. Powerade was a proud sponsor of the event by providing over 800 beverages event attendees. Doctors and dentist from Loyola Medicine and Harmony Health were also in attendance to provide medical check-ups and dental cleanings.

The event was kicked off by Chicago’s 2nd Ward Alderman Robert Fioretti. Alderman Fioretti gave a speech on the importance of being at school on the first day of school and everyday there after. BGCC 2008 Jr. Youth of the Year Mario Ramos from the Holy Angels Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago wished fellow Club members good luck for upcoming school year. Local recording artist Phenomenal 1 was also in attendance and performed for the crowd. The day of fun also included activities provided by All of Fun which included a dunk tank, sumo wrestling, and an obstacle course.

Siemens Caring Hands Association Chooses BGCC for Donation

April Janney, BGCC Senior VP of Operations accepts a check for $10,000
from Daryl Dulaney, President & CEO, of Siemens Building Technologies.

On August 18, 2008 Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago received a donation of $10,000 from Siemens Champions for Charity golf outing. The event took place at the Olympia Fields Country Club in Olympia Fields, IL. Siemens planned on donating $1 per every stroke recorded during the tournament but they decided to round the number up to $10,000 at the end of the event! BGCC is proud to be recognized by the Siemens Caring Hands Association and thanks everyone involved with the event for their generous donation!

Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago staff and Club members attend the 2nd Boys & Girls Clubs Midwest Region African American Teen Male Summit

From June 19, 2008 through June 22, 2008 30 Club members from Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago between the ages of 12 to 18 and BGCC staff attended the 2nd annual African American Male Teen Summit at St. Louis University in St. Louis, MO. The Summit included 125 African American male staff and Club members from five Boys & Girls Club organizations in the Midwest region: Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City, Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana, Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club of St. Louis and Boys & Girls Clubs of Champaign, IL.

The mission of the African American Male Teen Mentoring Summit is to provide exposure and guidance for productive lifestyles, career paths and necessary tools to deal with everyday life.

Over the course of four days, Club members participated in several team building workshops, and activities designed to build individual character, promote self-discipline, self-awareness, and self-sufficiency for BGC members.

2008 Jermaine Dye University of Phoenix Scholarship Program Winners

On Tuesday, July 1, 2008, The Chicago White Sox hosted a pre game celebration event for the ten recipients of the second annual Jermaine Dye, Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago (BGCC) University of Phoenix Scholarship Program before the White Sox versus Cleveland Indians Game at U.S. Cellular Field.

The scholarship program was named after Jermaine Dye in honor and appreciation of his volunteerism and involvement with BGCC. University of Phoenix in partnership with BGCC created the program to enable qualified BGCC club members, staff and club alumni who may not otherwise be able to attend college the opportunity to attend University of Phoenix.

At the pre-game event the scholarship recipients, went out on the field to meet Chicago White Sox Outfielder Jermaine Dye who congratulated and shook hands with each winner. One lucky scholarship winner Ezohn Smith, BGCC Director of Teen Services received the honor to throw out the First Pitch at the game and received a signed baseball.

Congratulations University of Phoenix Scholarship Recipients:

Ezohn Smith - General Service Center Staff
Latonia Neeley - McCormick Club Staff
Juan Banderas - Marshall Square Club Alumni
Roosevelt Allen - Cotter Club Alumni
Adrian Jordan - James Jordan Club Member
Douglas Howard - King Club Member
Shannon Spicer - King Club Member
Lisa Fields - Englewood Club Member
Sharrell Stanley - Englewood Club Member
Minesha Mitchell - Holy Angels Club Member

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.

Chicago Sky: Opening Game

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!

Mentor Appreciation Luncheon

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.

Awards for BGCC

Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago received a Silver award in the Advertising category for 21st Annual Marketing & Communications Awards Program for Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago received a Bronze Level award for the 2007-2008 Youth for Unity Leadership Award for the BGCC Youth for Unity Program Kickoff event held at the Dr. King Club in January 2008.

BGCC Leads Teen Town Hall on Violence with keynote speaker Ronald Holt, President of Purpose Over Pain

April Janney, BGCC Senior Vice President of Operations with Ronald Holt, President of the non for profit group PURPOSE OVER PAIN at the BGCC Teen Town Hall on violence prevention.

Due to the escalating gun violence in Chicago and its schools, Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago (BGCC) program and operations staff designed a town hall event, specifically for teen Club members to have the opportunity to voice their concerns as well as come up with some solutions to implement at their respective Clubs.

Over 180 teen Club members from Boys & Girls Clubs across the city gathered at the James R. Jordan Boys & Girls Club to participate in the V.O.I.C.E.S. (Vocalizing Opinions In Our Community to Ensure Success) Town Hall on violence on Wednesday April 30, 2008. The event gave Club members an opportunity to interact and share personal stories with peers from communities from across the city on how the recent teen deaths from gun violence issues have affected their lives.

The Town Hall kicked off with a speech from Ronald Holt, a 17-year veteran Chicago police officer and parent who lost his 16-year-old son, Blair Holt to an act of gun violence on May 10, 2007. Holt is currently working with other parents of slain children due to senseless acts of gun violence as President of the non for profit group PURPOSE OVER PAIN. Purpose Over Pain is a Community Organization whose mission is to build a civil rights movement to end gun violence.

Following the speech Club members were divided into breakout groups led by Club staff and volunteers to discuss three major threats for their age group. The Town Hall ended with a solutions session where the teens discussed how adults and Club staff can better serve them during after school hours.

BGCC Club Members Face Off at Fourth Annual Spell-A-Bration Event

The 4th Annual Spell-A-bration "Not your Ordinary Spelling Bee" event took place on Saturday, April 12th, 2008 at the James Jordan Boys & Girls Club. Over 160 Club members from 18 Boys & Girls Clubs across Chicago participated in Spellcathalon activities which included word scramble, pronunciation/annunciation exercises, word spelling activities, Spelling Relay, and Wheel of Fortune.

The Spell-A-Bration competition was designed to enhance Club members Literacy, Spelling, English and Spanish vocabulary skills in a fun way. Boys & Girls Club program staff members created the agency wide event the Spell-a-bration which includes the Spell Rally(Spelling Pep Rally), the Spellcathon(Olympic style spelling competition between teams of 3-5 youth), and ends with the A-words Ceremony (Award Presentation).

Each participant team received an award in one or more categories to give members a sense of pride, belonging and inclusion in the event. BGCC had 60 volunteers and 25 staff members coordinating the day's festivities.

Keystone Members Explore an Ocean of Opportunities

The National Keystone Conference took place in Orange County California from March 27th to March 29th, 2008. Eight Keystone Members from Cotter, Englewood and Little Village Clubs attended a number of seminars that were enlightening and fun. The national conference theme this year was "Exploring an Ocean of Opportunities". Participants were presented with on and off site workshops, motivational speakers, a teen dance and networking opportunities. Club members were also surprised by a number of teen guests, free Nike shoes and a free trip to Disneyland.

College Bound College Tour

The College Bound College Tour took place from Sunday, March 16th through Friday, March 21st. Twenty four Members embarked on an exciting educational journey that included campus tours, seminars, free meals and overnight stays in hotels. The colleges that were visited included: Eastern Illinois University, Southern Illinois University, Fiske University, Meharry Medical College, Clark-Atlanta University, Spelman College and Morehouse College.

Jr. Youth of the Year Competition: Reaching For Greatness

Krystal Lewis BGCC 2008 Youth of the Year with Mario Ramos,
BGCC 2008 Jr. Youth of the Year

The decision to choose one candidate was difficult but the winner of the 2008 Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago Jr. Youth of the Year competition was Mario Ramos from the Holy Angels Club. The competition took place on Thursday, April 3, 2008 at the Polo Café. The emcee for the event was 2008 Youth of the Year winner Krystal Lewis, from the Cotter Club. Rounding out the program were guest speakers Bob Howard, BGCC President and CEO and 2007 Jr. Youth of the Year Ezekiel Clerk.

This year’s panel of judges included Christine O’Reilly, Chicago White Sox, Chris Bultinck, Northern Builder and BGCC Associate Board member, and Tina Sanders, Phalanx Family Services. Prior to the afternoon’s main even, the judges read and rated the nine finalist’s applications on a scale of 1-5 in the categories of their involvement in their school and service to Club; and a personal essay, then rated the contestants on the delivery of their speeches.

As Jr. Youth of the Year, Mario will serve as a younger Club ambassador for Boys & Girls Club activities for 2008. We congratulate Mario and all of this year’s Jr. Youth of the Year Candidates. Each Club member did an outstanding job!

2008 Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago Jr. Youth of the Year Contestants

Drakyla Worthy, Cather Club
Liliam Castillo, Cotter Club
Rachaneria Griffin, Ford Heights Club
Mario Ramos, Holy Angles Club
MariCarmen DeLaRosa, Kanoon Club
Jearlene Steele, Dr. King Club
Myles Moore, McCormick Club
Ranika Foster, Stowe Club
Shawndtrana Campbell, Tilton Club

BGCC Mentoring Groups Attend Chicago Rush Home Opener

Participants in the Mentoring Program at the Holy Angels and Kanoon Boys & Girls Clubs attended the victorious home opener for the Chicago Rush arena football team on Monday March 2, 2008. The tickets were donated to Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago by Chicago Rush linebacker, DeJuan Alfonzo and Laura Visin, Community Relations department of the Chicago Rush.

The goal of the Mentoring Program is to develop healthy and life-changing relationships between youth and adults through a wide variety of activities and opportunities within the Club setting. The trip to the Chicago Rush game was a very special event for the group, and the fan-friendly atmosphere of All State Arena provided an ideal opportunity for the youth members and their adult mentors to connect through a fun and meaningful experience.

The highlight of the evening for BGCC took place when John Gardner, a member of the Holy Angels Club, presented the official game ball to the referee before the game.

DeJuan Alfonzo and Chicago Rush have made it possible for several other groups from Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago to attend games at All State Arena throughout the 2008 season. Many thanks from BGCC and go Rush!!

For more information about how to become involved with the BGCC Mentoring Program, please contact Jeffrey Sommerfeld, Mentor Program Coordinator at 312-235-8009 or jsommerfeld@bgcc.org.

BGCC State of the Union 2008

Rufus Williams, President Board of Education, City of Chicago with Roxanne Spillett, President and CEO of Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

The 2008 Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago State of the Union was held at the Franklin Center on Thursday, January 31, 2008. President and CEO of Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Roxanne Spillett delivered the keynote address to an audience of BGCC donors, board members, and partners including Rufus Williams, President Board of Education, City of Chicago; Mary Ellen Caron, Commissioner, Chicago Department of Children and Youth Services; David Wells, First Deputy Commissioner, Chicago Department of Children and Youth Services; Christine O'Reilly, Senior Director of Community Relations, Chicago White Sox, and Leslie Lesner, Director of Scheduling, U.S. Senator Richard J. Durbin’s Illinois,.

University of Phoenix Jermaine Dye BGCC Scholarship announcement

The University of Phoenix has donated ten (10) new scholarships to Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago; the scholarship program will enable qualified BGCC Club members, staff and alumni who may not otherwise be able to attend college the opportunity to attend University of Phoenix. The University of Phoenix established Jermaine Dye Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago Scholarship Program in recognition of the Chicago White Sox right fielder and former Boys and Girls club member’s volunteerism with Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago (BGCC) in 2007. The application process is going on now and the scholarship winners will be announced the week of June 2, 2008. The scholarship presentation will be held at US Cellular Field on July 1, 2008 before the Chicago White Sox game vs. the Cleveland Indians. The scholarship recipients will have the opportunity to meet Jermaine Dye, be acknowledged during a special pre-game ceremony, and one lucky winner will have the honor of throwing the first pitch of the game! For questions on the scholarship program or application process please contact Katie Huckaby at khuckaby@bgcc.orgor Alison Armstead at aarmstead@bgcc.org.

BGCC 2008 Youth of the Year Members are Destined for Greatness

After an afternoon of speeches delivered by the top nine Club members from across Chicago, Daniel A. Cotter Club member Krystal Lewis emerges as the 2008 Boys & Girls Clubs Youth of the Year. The 16th annual Youth of the Year Competition and Awards Luncheon was held on Friday, January 25, 2008, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at the Park Hyatt Hotel. This year’s Mistress of Ceremonies was Chicago’s own Micah Materre, WGN News at Noon Anchor. The guest panel of judges who volunteered their time for the event were BGCC Corporate Board member Ben Buettell from Houlihan, Lokey, Howard & Zukin, Sherri Logan Hicks from the Chicago Fire Department and Michael Pankau from Wells Fargo Financial.

Board members, family and staff gathered together to recognize the achievement of nine BGCC Club members competing for the agency title. The event was by opened by BGCC Corporate Board member Tracey Patterson who delivered the welcome remarks and introduced Micah Materre. BGCC corporate board member Joe Ferraro had the honor of announcing the winner of the competition.

After the nine finalists’ speeches Krystal Lewis was awarded the title of 2008 BGCC Youth of the Year. Krystal received a cash prize of $500, and a HP Compaq Business Notebook laptop and printer. All contestants received prizes for representing their respective clubs.

Krystal is a senior at Prosser Career Academy and has been a active member of the Cotter Club for nine years. During her years as a Club member, Krystal has participated in several programs like the Torch Club, girl’s volleyball team, College Bound, Keystone Club and Power Hour both as a student and as a volunteer tutor. Currently she is a volunteer chef in our Cooking Club program for 10 and 11 year old club members.

As the Boys & Girls Club of Chicago Youth of the Year, Krystal will serve as the agency’s ambassador during special events and meetings. She will also represent Chicago in the state competition held in Springfield, IL in April 2008. If Krystal is successful in the state competition, she has the opportunity to move forward to the regional and the national competitions. At the state level, the youth could win a $1,000 scholarship. The five regional winners selected among the state winners will compete for the national honor in Washington, D.C., where the President will install the National Youth of the Year officially in a White House ceremony in September. The youth receives a $10,000 scholarship at the regional level, and a $15,000 scholarship award at the national level.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago 2008 Youth of the Year Candidates

Krystal Lewis
Daniel A. Cotter Boys & Girls Club

Marshe Collins
Englewood Club

Maria Hernandez
General Robert E. Wood Club

Aundriana Burtley
James R. Jordan Club

David Rojas
Little Village Club

Yvonne Williams
Dr. Martin L. King Jr. Club

Megan Roman
Logan Square Club

Marie Huels
Louis L. Valentine Club

Marcus Daniels
Robert R. McCormick Club

Chicago Bears legend Gale Sayers joins Bank of America in announcing $100,000 donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs in Greater Chicagoland

Chicago Bears legend Gale Sayers helped announce Bank of America’s $100,000 donation to Boys & Girls Clubs in Greater Chicagoland at the Jordan Club on Tuesday, January 22, 2008. Sayers spoke to Club members about his experiences on and off the field and how he grew up as a member of his local Kansas area Boys & Girls Club. BGCC President & CEO Bob Howard accepted the check and thanked BAC on behalf of Boys & Girls Clubs in Greater Chicagoland for supporting the community.

Gale Sayers played for the Chicago Bears from 1965 until 1971 and was named 1965 NFL Rookie of the Year. In 1977, Sayers was inducted in to NFL Hall of Fame as the youngest player ever. Upon retirement from the Bears, Sayers made his off-the-field life as exciting and productive as his football career. He has made many contributions to academics, athletics, business, community and charity and is a current board member of the Chicago Boys and Girls Club. The, heart warming and award-winning television movie “Brian’s Song” was scripted directly from Sayers autobiography, I am Third.

The Bank of America Charitable Foundation is one of the largest corporate foundations in the country. Bank of America supports the communities in which it’s associates live and work through philanthropic giving, associate volunteerism and community development efforts. Building on the outstanding track records of Bank of America and LaSalle Bank, Bank of America will continue to deliver capital and credit to low- and moderate-income and minority communities, setting a goal to invest and lend $70 billion over ten years in IL. Additionally, Bank of America will sustain legacy LaSalle and Bank of America’s philanthropic giving in Illinois at over $14 million.

MLK Birthday Kicks off BGCC Youth for Unity Program

On Tuesday, January 15, 2008, over 300 Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago members gathered at the Dr. Martin L. King Jr. Club to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday and cultural diversity with the kick off of the one of Boys & Girls Clubs premiere programs “Youth for Unity” sponsored by The Allstate Foundation.

Club members had the opportunity to mix and mingle with members from different neighborhoods from across the city and enjoy performances by fellow Club members. The emcee for the event was 2007 BGCC Jr. Youth of the Year, Ezekiel Clerk, from the Ford Heights Boys & Girls Club. The afternoon’s program consisted of a variety of performances by Club members, including The Holy Angels Club Gospel Choir, The Little Village ballet folkloric dance group, with special guest speaker, Poet J. Ivy. Club members also viewed displays that showcase how Civil Rights has played a part in the lives of African Americans, Latino Americans and women throughout history.

5th annual WGN Morning News Drive-Thru Holiday Toy Drive

Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago (BGCC) the recipient of the WGN Morning News Drive-Thru Holiday Toy Drive for the second year in a row. The toy drive aired on Friday, December 14 for from 5-9am and was located at WGN-TV. WGN-TV invited viewers to “drive-by” and drop off a new unwrapped toy or a contribution on 2501 W. Bradley Place The four-hour event featured carolers, Chicago White Sox mascot Southpaw, and a visit from Santa and lots of holiday fun. Hot coffee and Dunkin’ Donuts were distributed as well as $2 rechargeable Dunkin gift cards. Also donated were 2,000 Beanie Babies, Beanie Buddies, and Pluffies from Ty Inc., and a $2,500 donation from Fitness Formula Clubs

BGCC 2007 Youth of the Year, Marshe Collins was excited for the opportunity to be interviewed by anchor/reporter Marcella Raymond and Cotter Club members enjoyed volunteering and having on-air time with Entertainment Reporter & Critic Dean Richards. BGCC President and CEO, Bob Howard and BGCC Guild Board President John McGovern were also given the opportunity to discuss live on camera the mission of BGCC and how it as an organization that serves children across the Chicagoland area.

With the support and generosity of WGN-TV Morning News viewers, BGCC received over 3,000 gifts that were distributed to Club members this holiday season. Several BGCC employees volunteered their time to help load and unload the Dunkin Donuts truck, check for toy recalls, and take part in the sorting and distribution of the gifts along with volunteers from GM Planworks.
Along with the on-air interviews during the Toy Drive, WGN-TV aired a pre-Holiday Toy Drive segment filmed at our Little Village Club that highlighted our dedicated staff, Club members and nationally recognized programs offered at all BGCC sites. On December 19, 2007, a post Toy Drive segment was aired on WGN-TV Channel 9 at the Holy Angels Club holiday party to show the gifts being distributed to Club members. To check out the coverage please click the following link: here.

Pepsi Freedom Heroes Event

Left to Right: Eric Ward, Robert Howard, BGCC President & CEO, Joy Robinson-Van Gilder, Casondra Cooper, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Chief Development Officer, Beauty Turner, Brian Lepacek, BGCC Vice President of Development, Mia Henry and Stephanie Gentry-Fernandez of Chicago Freedom School.

On Tuesday, October 24, 2007 Boys & Girls Club of Chicago, The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and Pepsi recognized the five Chicago Finalists for the Pepsi Freedom Hero’s awards. The awards presentation was hosted by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boys & Girls Club, located at 2950 W. Washington Street. Club members joined by the winner’s friends, colleagues, family and the Chicago Pepsi Freedom Hero’s judges witnessed the award ceremony and learned why each inductee was honored for their actions to protect or extend freedom.

Chicago’s 2007 Pepsi Everyday Freedom Heroes have come from all walks of life and affect any form of freedom including race, gender, religion, speech, press, educational, social and economic issues. The individuals were honored for their innovation, involvement and intervention that re-direct fate. Chicago’s five finalists are:

Beauty Turner’s three hour Ghetto Bus Tour isn’t your typical tourist attraction, but a glimpse into Chicago’s blighted public housing. For almost 10 years, Beauty, a former Robert Taylor Homes resident, has helped open people’s eyes to the troubles these communities now face with urban redevelopment and rising real estate prices. Through her efforts with the tour, its growing publicity and her articles in the Resident’s Journal she serves as the “voice for the voiceless” of Chicago’s public housing residents.

Eric Ward has openly challenged organized hate groups throughout the county including attending white supremacist meetings in spite being an African American. He’s advised a variety of interest groups and faith-based organizations on how to effectively combat the spread of hate in the United States. Eric has also successfully turned violent neo-Nazi youth into spokespeople against bigotry and youth violence.

For more than 20 years another hero, Peggy Valdés, Executive Director of the Mexico Solidarity Network in Chicago, has served as a community organizer on a variety of issues from disaster relief to healthcare. Most recently she has joined the movement to ensure economic justice and civil rights along the United States-Mexico Border.

Mia Henry and Stephanie Gentry-Fernandez of Chicago Freedom School have built on the legacy of the Mississippi Freedom Schools started more than forty years ago as a way to educate African American youth about their culture and opportunities. The Chicago Freedom School seeks to enhance Chicago youth’s connection to their histories and serving as a catalyst for youth-led social change today.

Finally, Joy Robinson-Van Gilder is the Earlville, Ill. mother who has been waging a campaign to curb the use of biometric (fingerprint) identification in public schools not just in Earlville, but around the country.

The Chicago judges had the difficult task of selecting the five winners from an amazing pool of candidates. Participating judges were: Melissa Copley, President of Copley Advisors and a BGCC Corporate Board Member; Ralph Hughes, the Regional Vice President for Macy’s North; Claudia Lule, a board member from the Logan Square Club; and LaTrice Smith, BGCC 21st Century Project Director.

The Pepsi Everyday Freedom Heroes program was split into two parts, a local level in ten cities and a national “at large” level. Nominations for five local finalists were held at the local level in Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Miami, New York and San Antonio. Ten national “at large” finalists were also selected by committee for the national recognition level. BGCC congratulates the five Chicago finalists and wishes each finalist Good Luck in the second round!

Lights On Rally 2007

On Thursday, October 18, 2007, Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago held a city-wide Lights On rally to celebrate and highlight after school programming. About 300 young people and staff participated in a walk to and from the new Wendell Green Boys & Girls Club to Alderman Howard Brookins office to gain support for after school programs. The event not only celebrated Lights On, but also served as the grand opening of the Wendell Green Club in partnership with Trinity All Nations Church. Lights On is a national initiative of the After-school Alliance created to bring awareness to the importance of programs offered to young people during non-school hours.

BGCC Staff Recognition

At the 2007 Midwest Leadership Conference in St. Louis, MO, LaTrice A. Smith, BGCC 21st Century Project Director was accepted into The Academy of Boys & Girls Club, Management Category. The recognition was presented for demonstrating a commitment to professional growth, development and high levels of competency and performance as a Boys & Girls Club professional. Congratulations LaTrice!

Mentor Program Luncheon

On May 19th, 250 mentors, mentees and staff enjoyed the Mentoring Program end of year appreciation luncheon. Each club's mentoring program showcased an aspect of Chicago that they researched and created entertaining presentations for. Some examples included the Dating Game to highlight famous Chicagoans by the Dr. King Club, A 'Bus' tour of Famous Chicago buildings by the Holy Angels Club and skits about the 4 theories about how the Chicago Fire started by the McCormick Club. It was a great chance for the volunteers and youth to celebrate all of their hard work over the past school year.

Jermaine Dye University of Phoenix Scholarship Program Winners Celebrate!

On Tuesday, May 22, 2007 The Chicago White Sox hosted a pre game celebration event for the nine recipients of the first annual Jermaine Dye, Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago (BGCC) University of Phoenix Scholarship Program before the White Sox versus Oakland Athletics game at U.S. Cellular Field.

At the pre-game event the scholarship recipients received Sox paraphernalia, went out on the field to meet Chicago White Sox Outfielder Jermaine Dye who congratulated and shook hands with each winner. One lucky scholarship winner Lawrence Harris an Englewood Club Alum, received the honor to throw out the First Pitch at the game to White Sox Pitcher Mark Alan Buehrle and receive a signed baseball.

Congratulations University of Phoenix Scholarship Recipients

Johnethia Hardin – James Jordan Club Member

Laurence Harris– Englewood Club Member

Erica Hodges – Cotter Club Alum

Joshua Lillard – Valentine Club Staff

Charlene Mebane - General Service Center Staff

Angel Rivera – General Wood Club Staff

Tanya Townsend - Ford Heights Club StaffShalandra Withers – James Jordan Club Staff

Jacqueline Doty – Englewood Club Staff

Left to Right: Roland Hemond, Executive Advisor to the General Manager Chicago White Sox; Lindsey Fosse, Public Affairs Project Manager University of Phoenix, Jermaine Dye, Right Fielder Chicago White Sox; Robert Howard, President and CEO Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago; Shalandra Withers, Scholarship Recipient James Jordan Club; Lawrence Harris, Scholarship Recipient Englewood Club; Erica Hodges, Scholarship Recipient Cotter Club.

Building the Future Together

On May 22, 2007, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago hosted its’ first School Administrator Luncheon at the Polo Café. The luncheon was our way of saying “thank you” to Principals, Assistant Principals, teachers and others who show their support daily. Erica Harris, Officer, CPS Office of Extended Learning Opportunities served as the keynote speaker. Erica discussed the importance of after school programming, the importance of partnerships with school districts and community based organizations and best practices for relationship building with the partners within the schools. The program helped our school partners to see the “big picture” of Boys & Girls Clubs.

Recognizing Success

Celebrating our members as they complete a chapter in their life stories is both bitter and sweet. One of our very own staff members, Khari Humphries made reference to this as he gave his remarks during the 12th grade celebration event held on Thursday, May 24, 2007. We have watched many of our members grow up in the “club” and now it is time to send them off to the next phase of their lives. Bionce Foxx, WGCI radio personality sent our teens off with words that guided, encouraged, motivated and prepared them for what life would be like after high school.

We also held a celebration for our 8th grade members on May 30, 2007. In an effort to prepare the 8th grade members for the next steps in the club, Marshe Collins, Englewood club member and BGCC Youth of the Year spoke about the Keystone club and the Youth of the Year program. We also had McCormick Club alumni, Aresalm Betew discuss College Bound and the importance of applying for Scholarships. It is never too early to get our members thinking about college.

On behalf of all the staff at BGCC, Congratulations Class of 2007!

UMOJA: A Celebration of Unity and Culture

On Saturday, June 2, 2007, Club members who participated in the Youth for Unity program came together to participate in a day celebrating diversity. The UMOJA (Unity) celebration took place at the Gary Comer Youth Center located at 7200 S. Ingleside Chicago, IL. Club members enjoyed a lively opening musical performance by Kaotic Drumline, and were welcomed by Allstate agent, Lamont Robinson who spoke about the importance for members to recognize and appreciate our similarities and differences.

In an effort to expose Club members to new things, for lunch cuisine was served from different parts of the world: Africa, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and Thailand. Keynote speaker, Jason Reynolds, equated our role in society to that of making music. “We each have a part to contribute and we must all do our part to create a more inclusive environment.” Club members also participated in sessions that were both interactive and educational providing them with a well-rounded program funded by the Allstate Foundation.

Entertainment and workshops for the event were provided by poet Maria Monzon, the Tropical Star Dancers, Angela Zirles, BGCC Director of Mentor Programs, Barry Weisberg, Executive Director of the Violence Prevention Peace Promotion Strategy, and the International Capoeira Angola Foundation of Chicago.

Be a Hero to a Hero Breakfast

On Wednesday, May 9, 2007 Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago (BGCC) held it’s Be a Hero to a Hero Breakfast at the University Club of Chicago. The Be a Hero to a Hero Breakfast is a fundraising and awareness event designed to celebrate the courageous choice of our city’s youth to participate in Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago. Contributions to the Breakfast benefit the members of Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago.

Performing one of her duties as 2007 Youth of the Year, Englewood Club member Marshe Collins emceed the event. Keynote speaker Gary Fencik, former Chicago Bears (’76-’87) free safety and two-time Pro Bowler, shared the positive impact heroes have had on both his personal and professional life. Mr. Fencik currently serves as Partner and Head of Business Development for Adams Street Partners LLC. A “member perspective” speech by one of our club members, and closing remarks were delivered by Chicago’s own Micah Materre Anchor/Reporter for WGN News at Noon.

Left to Right: Micah Materre, Anchor & Reporter WGN News at Noon; Giovanni Soluri, Valentine Club member; Marshe Collins, BGCC Youth of the Year; Robert Howard, BGCC President & CEO.

Micah Materre Anchor & Reporter WGN News at Noon and Gary Fencik, Partner and Head of Business Development for Adams Street Partners LLC.

Left to Right: Merri Dee, WGN Director of Community Relations; Micah Materre Anchor & Reporter WGN News at Noon

Youth of the Year Members Meet the Mayor

On Wednesday, April 11, 2007, six Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago (BGCC) Youth of the Year member’s received the opportunity to meet Mayor of Chicago Richard M. Daley at City Hall. As a reward for being the 2007 Youth of the Year representatives of their respective Clubs, teen members took a tour of the Mayor’s Office, sat in on a city council session, and had a group picture taken with the Mayor.

Assistant to the Mayor, Sean Harden who was one of the three judges of the 2007 BGCC Youth of the Year competition, coordinated the event. Mr. Harding also provided the nine Youth of the Year members with the opportunity to shadow positions of interest in City Hall. The first Club member to take advantage of this opportunity was Giovanni Soluri Louis L. Valentine Boy’s & Girls Club Youth of the Year. Giovanni, a senior at Mount Carmel High School shadowed Chicago Fire Department Commissioner Raymond Orozco Jr.

The 2007 Teen Reach Conference

The 2007 Teen Reach Conference was held on April 20 & 21 at the Sheraton Chicago Northwest in Arlington Heights, IL. A talented group of presenters volunteered their time to facilitate the conference workshops. Club members participated in workshops on leadership, relationships, and media. When the workshops were over, staff and Club members had a chance to have fun at the Coco Key Water Resort. The Little Village Club 2007 Jr. Youth of the Year emceed “Talent Night” where Englewood Club teens performed spoken word poetry and Jordan Club members danced. Awards were presented to the members with most participation and general knowledge of their Club.

2007 BGCA National Fine Arts Exhibit, Regional Midwest

Congratulations to the following finalists in the 2007 BGCA National Fine Arts Exhibit, Regional Midwest showing!!!

Cristina Sanchez, age 16, from Little Village Club for Pastel drawing, "Flower"
Christopher Marchman, age17, from Englewood Club for Multicolored drawing, "Intertwine With Love"

Their winning pieces will go on to the National Exhibit in Atlanta. In addition, all the winning artwork from the regional competition will be on display at www.bgcindy.org after April 30.

2006-2007 Boys & Girls Clubs of America Digital Arts Festival Winners

Congratulations to our Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago Club members who are winners in the 2006-2007 Boys & Girls Clubs of America Digital Arts Festival!

National Winner in Music Making Age group 13-15
Gonzalo G. from the General R.E. Wood Club

Midwest Regional Award in Photo Illustration Age Group 13-15
Jesse V from the Valentine Club

Midwest Regional Award in Music Making Age Group 13-15
Gonzalo G. from the General Wood Club

Midwest Regional Award in Music Making Age Group 16-18
Willie D from the Ford Heights Club

Midwest Regional Award in Movie Making and Screen Play Age Group 16-18
Sharrell F., Christopher M., Dennis M., and Krystal W. from the Englewood Club

Midwest Regional Award in Movie Making and Screen Play Age Group 10-13
Adrian M from the Valentine Club

Midwest Regional Award in Web Design Age group 10-12
Drakyla W. from the Dr.King Club

Midwest Regional Award in Web Design Age Group 13-15
Danielle W from the Valentine Club

BGCC Staff Congratulations

Congratulations to Khari Humphries from the Jordan Club for completing all of the necessary requirements for the Distinguished Level of the Academy of Boys & Girls Clubs Professionals. Khari joins a select group of professionals who have reached the Distinguished Level of the Academy.

Congratulations to Deborah Jaye Rodgers from the Valentine School Age Program for completing all of the necessary requirements to become a Credential Level III Illinois Director. Deborah becomes part of a select group of State of Illinois Child Care Directors to have advanced to Level III.

2007 Jr. Youth of the Year Competition

On Tuesday, March 27 Boys & Girls Clubs hosted the 2nd Jr. Youth of the Year Competition at Café Polo in Bridgeport. The event was emceed by Marshe’ Collins, Englewood Boys & Girls Club and Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago 2007 Youth of the Year. Eleven contestants representing Clubs throughout the city competed for the title of Jr. Youth of the Year. The contestants were judged on their academic achievement, Club involvement and public speaking skills.

The competition was judged by Joseph C. Banks, Illinois State Board of Education, Y. Rocky Ephraim, St. Anthony Hospital and Adeline Ray, Chicago Public Schools. The event included video presentations highlighting the 2007 Youth of the Year competition and the 2006 Jr. Youth of the Year competition. All of the eleven contestants received a $25 McDonald’s Arch Card, $50 gift card to Old Navy and $150 in cash.

The winner of the Jr. Youth of the Year competition was Ezekiel Clerk from the Ford Heights Boys & Girls Club. As the winner of the competition Ezekiel received a laptop computer. He will serve as the youth ambassador along with the 2007 Youth of the Year.

2007 Jr. Youth of the Year winner Ezekiel Clerk

2007 Jr. Youth of the Year winner Ezekiel Clerk with
BGCC President & CEO Bob Howard and Ford Heights Club Manager Tanya Townsend.

Jr. Youth of the Year Contestants
Brijon Burtley – Victor Herbert Club
Ezekiel Clerk – Ford Heights Club
Patricia Cortina – Armour Club
Nyanna Dixon – Holy Angels Club
Jerrod Harris – Dr. Martin L. King Club
Alwajudat Lawal – Robert R. McCormick Club
Antavia Neal – Fiske Club
Esmeralda Popoca – Valentine Club
Jacqueline Salgado– Little Village Club
Chariel Smith – Walter Reed Club
Marina Whitehead – Tilton Club

College Bound Conference

On Thursday, March 29th college bound participants attended a mini-college bound conference at Robert Morris College sponsored by HSBC. Members heard a presentation from a Robert Morris admission advisor and participated in 3 workshops: School Dazed, members learned about selecting the right college/university for their personality; On My Own, members learned how to maintain study habits while balancing free-time and extra-curricular activities through a fun exercise; and Don’t Believe the Hype, members participated in a exercise that taught them how to avoid falling for credit card scams. Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago college bound facilitators implemented the workshops and volunteers from HSBC assisted. Paraphernalia from Robert Morris College was given out as prizes to youth, who answered prize questions correctly, raffle prizes and dinner was provided to all the attendees.

2007 Youth of the Year Competition

The 2007 Youth of the Year competition took place at the Hard Rock Hotel on Friday, January 26, 2007 from 12:00-3:00 p.m. This year’s Mistress of Ceremonies was Valerie Warner, WGN Morning News Traffic Reporter and Anchor. The guest panels of judges were representatives from Goldman, Sachs & Co., The Mayor’s Office of the City of Chicago and Wells Fargo.

Board members, family and staff gathered together to recognize the achievement of nine BGCC Club members competing for the agency title. The winner Englewood Club member Marshe Collins, of Englewood High School received a cash prize of $500, a $2,000 college scholarship, and a HP Compaq Business Notebook laptop and printer. All contestants’ received prizes for representing their respective clubs. For over 104 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago has been the premiere youth services provider to metropolitan Chicago – now, more than ever, we are proud to showcase the successes of our youth.

2007 First Look Auto show event

The 2007 Chicago Auto Show’s First Look for Charity event was another fundraising success for Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago. Our current grand total from this year’s event is at $360,000 and continues to climb. The event was held on February 8, 2007 at McCormick Place.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Club Director, Don Reed presented Toyota Motor Sales, Chicago Region General Manager, Paul Holdridge with a plaque of appreciation for Toyota Motor Sales continuous support of Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago. In turn Mr. Holdridge presented Don Reed with a $20,000 donation for the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Club.

First Look for Charity is a great way for BGCC to raise both awareness and the necessary funds that help us continue to support programs for an even greater amount of Chicagoland’s youth. The black-tie affair allowed participants to preview the public portion of the 2007 Chicago Auto Show while at the same time making a substantial charitable contribution. BGCC is one of nineteen charities to benefit from this event and we look forward to even greater success in 2008!

Left to Right: Chris Schultz, Toyota Motor Sales Assistant General Manager; Bob Howard, BGCC President & CEO; Paul Holdridge, Toyota Motor Sales General Manager; Bruce Brown, King Club Board President; Toya Bulter, King Club Board Member; Don Reed, King Club Director.

Ebony Career Day

Five female members from various clubs participated in Ebony Magazine Career Day on Tuesday, February 27, 2007. Thanks to Shirley Henderson, the ladies received a floor by floor tour of the Johnson Publishing Company (JPC) building that houses a division of Fashion Fair Cosmetics, Jet Magazine and Ebony Magazine. The ladies also ate lunch in the JPC cafeteria where meals can be eaten daily for only $1. As the meal was concluding, the owner Linda Johnson-Rice greeted the ladies with a warm “hello”. This would not have been possible without Curtis Benjamin of It’s Cool to Be Smart, Inc for having the vision and making the contact. The BGCC members walked away with a wealth of knowledge about JPC thanks to Shirley Henderson, Adrienne Samuels and a host of JPC employees.

Knowledge Bowl 2007

The Black History Month Knowledge Bowl took place on Monday, Feb. 12, 2007 at the Dr. King Club. There were 12 teams participating for bragging rights and the traveling trophy. The 1st and 2nd place teams earned lamp of knowledge medals. Members were asked tough questions about those African-Americans that have made a significant contribution to society. The staff, volunteers, parents and members were fantastic. We also had the principal from Victor Herbert attend. She was very pleased with the outcome of the bowl as the Herbert teams came in 1st and 2nd place. Congrats! See you next year!

Lights On!

On Thursday, October 12, 2006 Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago held a city-wide Lights On rally to celebrate and highlight after school programming. Over 300 young people participated in an outdoor festival at Englewood High School where they enjoyed carnival games, inflatable activities, dancing, hot dogs, cotton candy and hot chocolate donated by Starbuck’s. Lights On is a national initiative of the After-school Alliance created to bring awareness to the importance of programs offered to young people during the non-school hours.

Keystone and Torch Club

45 Keystone and Torch Club members spent a September weekend outdoors camping and learning about nature. Through a partnership with the Sierra Club and their Building Bridges to the Outdoors initiative, our youth were able to:

• Receive a wonderful nature experience
• Learn about local environmental issues in the city of Chicago
• Make connections with youth in a variety of different communities
• Initiate/plan service-learning projects, events and activities in their local communities

Parent Surveys

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago Operations Department conducted a parent survey in August in regards to the 2006 summer programs. A few of the findings are highlighted below:

97% of parents felt that their child liked going to the summer programs.

95% of parents stated that their child's experience with the summer program was either good or very good.

95% of parents would recommend BGCC summer programs to other parents.

Southwest Airlines Honors Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago

On Saturday, August 12, 2006 the members and staff from the Fiske Boys & Girls Club participated in the 77th annual Bud Billiken Parade with Southwest Airlines. This is the second year that Southwest has invited BGCC members to be a part of their parade team. The Parade route is from 39th and King Dr. to Washington Park at 55th and King Dr. Our members are always super stars to us, but they were also seen as such by the rest of Chicago as parade participants.

Six Boys & Girls Club sites participated in the
"The Story in History: Engaging Youth in African American Lives"

On Friday, July 21, 2006 six Boys & Girls Club sites participated in the “The Story in History: Engaging Youth in African American Lives” project sponsored by Public Television, BGCA and ancestry.com. The purpose of the project was three-fold: 1) to engage young people in active historical research, 2) build stronger relationships between public television stations and the Boys & Girls Clubs, and 3) encourage youth to create multimedia projects focusing on historical issues relevant to their lives.

Youth presented their projects via power point, video and display boards. Projects ranged from the history of a particular club or school to the story of an individual staff or community member. Shaunese Teamer of WTTW11 was a great host for the event; which took place in one of the studios. It was a great opportunity for our young people to participate in such a unique project.

Special Congratulations to the Fiske Boys & Girls Club: Treasure Hilliard, Charisma Bankston and Michael Chester for putting together a documentary of John Fiske Elementary School. The Fiske site presentation was chosen to represent the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago on the National public television website in the near future. Great job Fiske!

Hard Rock Hotel Chicago Supports Boys & Girls Clubs Back 2 School Program

On Monday, August 14, members from Boys & Girls Clubs Chicago (BGCC) attended a Back 2 School event hosted and sponsored by Hard Rock Hotel Chicago, www.hardrockhotelchicago.com and China Grill. The members participated in round table discussions facilitated by Hard Rock Hotel Chicago staff. The discussions covered topics that impact youth and their communities. After the discussion, members were treated to lunch by China Grill and a fashion show featuring Back 2 School Fashions including uniforms from the Biggie Slim clothing line, www.biggieslim.com. Members also received goodie bags filled with school supplies from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago school supply drive. This is the second event hosted by Hard Rock for BGCC members. The first event took place in March. Club members were treated to musical workshops staffed by Hard Rock employees and dinner. BGCC is truly appreciative of the partnership between the agency and the hotel and are honored to have been selected as the non-profit partner for Hard Rock Hotel Chicago.

Youth Employment Solutions: New Resource Room

The Youth Employment Solutions program opened the doors to a new resource room. All of the computers and print equipment was supplied by a generous donation from ComEd. Members will be able to utilize the room for job searches, job readiness training and individual employment counseling.

Senator Durbin Honored by
Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago
for Helping Serve 1 Million Meals to Kids

The Allstate Foundation Recognized for
Helping Teach Diversity to Club Kids

U.S. Senator from Illinois Richard Durbin was presented with The Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago President's Award for his longstanding commitment to Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, as most recently demonstrated by his support of a child care food program which served over one million meals over the past 2 � years. In addition, The Allstate Foundation was recognized for its support of club programs that educate thousands of kids each year on the importance of tolerance, inclusion and diversity.

Allstate Senior Vice President Ronald D. McNeil, representing the Allstate Foundation, was on hand to receive special artwork from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago created by its members as a "thank you" for the program and provide some remarks on the program.

This event was held at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago's Louis L. Valentine Unit, Wednesday, April 12, 2006 from 3-4 p.m.

Allstate and The Allstate Foundation sponsor community initiatives to promote "safe and vital communities;" "tolerance, inclusion, and diversity;" and "economic empowerment." The Allstate Foundation believes in the financial potential of every individual and in helping America's families achieve their American dream. They are the sponsor of BGCC's Community Commitment Club.

Also showing support for Allstate's Diversity curriculum was (from left to right) 9th District Police Commander, Gene Roy; Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago CEO, Bob Howard; Cook County Commissioner, John Daley; U.S. Senator, Dick Durbin; Allstate Sr. Vice President, Ron McNeill; Dr. King Club Board President, Bruce Brown; 11th Ward Alderman, Jim Balcer.

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA INDUCTS AN OUTSTANDING BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF CHICAGO ALUMNI INTO HALL OF FAME

Chicago Boys� Club and former CNN Anchor
Bernard Shaw Recently Honored

Former CNN anchor and alumnus of Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, Bernard Shaw (right), was recently inducted into the prestigious Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) Alumni Hall of Fame. 2005 inductee, Courtney A. Vance of Law & Order, emceed the event and presented awards during a special ceremony at BGCA�s Centennial National Conference in Boston.

CHICAGO, May 15, 2006 � Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) recently announced that former CNN Anchor and Chicago Boys� Club alumnus Bernard Shaw has been inducted into its prestigious Alumni Hall of Fame, which recognizes former Club members who have gone on to make major contributions to their respective fields, from sports to entertainment to business. Shaw, along with 10 other outstanding individuals, was honored at a special ceremony and Red Carpet Reunion held during BGCA�s Centennial National Conference.

Shaw is one of the most celebrated broadcast journalists in America. His many awards include two Emmys, four Cable ACEs and a Peabody. His live reporting from Tiananmen Square and the 1991 Gulf War electrified the world. Shaw also won acclaim for his political coverage, anchoring countless hours of elections, conventions and debates. And it all started for this veteran journalist at a Chicago Boys� Club, which he joined in order to play baseball. Shaw is perhaps best known as principal anchor at CNN from its launch in 1980 until his retirement in 2001. Reflecting on the value of the Club experience, Shaw says, �Boys & Girls Clubs are the true prep schools for the citizenship of life.�

Fellow 2006 Alumni Hall of Fame inductees include: former acclaimed author and former CEO Larry Bossidy; NFL stars Tony Gonzalez and Willie McGinest; Blockbuster Chairman/CEO John Antioco; Florida Marlins starting pitcher and MLB standout, Dontrelle Willis; and members of Kool & The Gang.

�We are extremely proud of our alumni who have gone on to achieve great things,� said Roxanne Spillett, president of BGCA. �Their stories are very different, but all start out the same � with life-changing programs, caring and attentive staff, and the fun and safety of a local Boys & Girls Club.�

�We are especially thrilled about Shaw�s entrance into the Boys and Girls Club Hall of Fame because, not only was he a member himself; but we went to the same club here in Chicago, Woodlawn� said Bob Howard, a Boys and Girls Club CEO.

Other distinguished members of BGCA�s Alumni Hall of Fame include actor Denzel Washington, entertainer Jennifer Lopez, former NBA superstar Michael Jordan, WNBA standout Swin Cash, Courtney A. Vance of Law & Order, Olympic swimming champion Brooke Bennett, and General Wesley Clark, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander.

Chicago Bears Cornerback, Charles Tillman Speaks at Boys and Girls Clubs High School Graduation Celebration

Education and Career Development programs
helping members to graduate

Chicago Bears Cornerback, Charles Tillman (left)
with Bob Howard, CEO of Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago

On Friday, May 26th the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago hosted our first annual graduation celebration for over 100 of our seniors graduating from various high schools this spring. The event took place at the Marriott Hotel, UIC/Medical District.

Our honored guest, Charles Tillman spoke about success strategies for college and beyond, and kicked off his involvement with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago through his own personal foundation: The Charles Tillman Cornerstone Foundation. The Cornerstone Foundation�s mission is to provide Greater Chicago-area children and youth with educational opportunities and resources needed to excel in the classroom and life. The Foundation�s interactive programs and events are designed to help build a strong foundation through education.

�Mr. Tillman�s involvement with the 12th grade graduation celebration was the perfect way to award the members,� said Dennis Chudoba, Sr. VP of Operations for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago. �It allowed members to see someone that they relate to speak about the value of education and striving to achieve goals in order to be the best they can be.�

There were also performance from various Greek groups such as Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. Each group spoke of the history of their sorority or fraternity, as well as the life long friends and benefits that the members would be able to endure from being a part of a Greek organization in their future schooling. Members also received give-a-ways from Beyond Bookmarks and other supporters of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago.

In a city filled with violence and despair, Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago know that young people can, and will, succeed with encouragement and guidance. �There is a critical need to provide learning and development opportunities for Chicagoland youth outside of the classroom, particularly for disadvantaged youth,� said Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago president and CEO, Bob Howard. BGCC education and career development programs allow members to realize their potential and aspirations.

A special thanks to Christine Gayle, Lisa Washington and Rebecca Wilson, two outstanding BGCC alums. Also a special thanks to The Chicago Marriott at the Medical District/UIC for hosting the event and to the Alpha Kappa Alpha, Alpha Phi Alpha and Omega Psi Phi Step teams for performing. Further thanks to Beyond Bookmarks , Ikea, and Linens �N� Things for their generous support. We wish the best of luck to all of our graduating seniors and look forward to learning about their many accomplishments to come.

Mentoring Luncheon

On Saturday, May 20th, nearly 250 mentors and mentees participated in the annual Appreciation Luncheon event held at Malcolm X College. It was a day filled with presentations of various dance from around the world that each group worked diligently to prepare. Each participant received a certificate and outstanding mentors were awarded a plaque based on essays submitted by their mentees.

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago
School-Based Programs
Interview with LaTrice Smith, MSW
21st Century Community Learning Centers Project Director Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago

The partnership between the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago (BGCC) is flourishing. There are 28 Clubs across the city, of which 20 are school-based. This partnership started eight years ago at the Englewood High School. However, the relationship really expanded when two freestanding Clubs were closing.

�We still wanted to serve the area so we approached the schools about partnering and a couple accepted our offer,� says LaTrice Smith, director of BGCC�s 21st Century Community Learning Centers program. This was in 2002. �At the time other Clubs were approaching schools to expand their membership; so when 21st Century Community Learning Center funds became available, we were awarded funding for six schools; and the year after we got it for six more. Now we have a mix of elementary and middle schools, plus one high school and one partnership with a faith-based group. These programs are located all across the city.�

It has been very helpful that Arne Duncan, CEO of the CPS, fully backs the initiative. �It is a partnership that makes perfect sense. With limited funds available for staffing, we (CPS) need to find creative ways to expand our after-school programs. They (BGCC) have the staff and a great program and just need the bricks and mortar to serve more communities,� Duncan said during his State-of-the-Schools address a couple years ago.
�His words helped both our self-esteem and our stands with the schools.�

�Working with schools has provided a great opportunity to serve more kids, and the plusses by far outweigh the challenges.� Smith adds. Some other benefits are fewer worries than traditional Clubs about outreach and attendance; sharing information with teachers and administrators to be able to work as one for particular students; and parents not having to worry about transportation to the Club.

On the flip side, space is a huge challenge. �Lack of space can potentially cripple a program, therefore that�s something you should always negotiate ahead of time. And keep in mind that there will always be turf issues.�

In order for the programs to run smoothly there is a need to achieve integration with the school day program, �In most of our schools, if we have office space, we will have at least one full-time person�a site director or a Club manager. That helps communication, builds relationships with school staff and boosts daily attendance. In schools where we have full-time presence, we try to offer programs during the day, and this enhances our credibility with the school. The teachers appreciate it, and our relationship with the students improves. That�s why even when we don�t have offices in the building we still make sure our administrators show their faces during the school day; because there�s no question that programs run better when you have presence during the day.�

According to Smith, another challenge, particularly at the beginning, is the cultural difference between Clubs and schools. �Often teachers and administrators are distrustful at first. Many don�t understand our way of doing things. We often use the phrase �organized chaos� to describe the way we run our programs.It�s noise but is good noise. It is our responsibility to clarify what we do. When we explain and show them our components and that we cover five different core areas, they begin to understand and to say, �Oh this is more than just recreation. They really are doing something.��

The school-based Clubs offer a very similar program to that of traditional Clubs covering all of the five core areas: education and career development, health and life skills, the arts, sports fitness and recreation, and character and leadership development. The Clubs also address academic needs by providing homework help, test preparation and tutoring; at some sites they even have individual tutoring programs where young people who need extra assistance get one-on-one tutoring, usually provided by volunteers. They try to offer a curriculum that can �trick the kids into learning� so they don�t feel that what they do after school is a repetition of the day curriculum.

Smith believes that constant communication is key �Teachers and principals need ample time and opportunities to understand the program�s worth. It�s the responsibility of the Club staff to pinpoint the value-added. Mutual expectations should be out there, up front. Things must be clearly communicated, verbally as well as in written format, so that all the partners can have something to go back and look at if you�re not around as a site director or Club manager. However structured, you want to make sure the school administrators can easily pull something and read off what it is we requested from the beginning.� According to Smith, written forms and agreements are helpful though not enough. �We have a good example, in one school we signed a letter of agreement with one principal when we were applying for the 21st Century funds, but another principal came in the door when it was awarded. She was fine with honoring the agreement but she wanted to make sure that it was understood that she didn�t have to honor it.� That was an eye-opener that made the Club realize the need for more institutional protection.

Most funding for school-based programs comes from 21st Century Learning Centers, which has its pros and cons. It allows the Clubs not only to serve more youths but also to create an environment where the parents and community can use the school in the evening as well as the day. But it makes them too dependable on a single source of funding.

In terms of sustainability, Bob Howard, President and CEO, is working to get support from the board of directors. �He shared a narrative of our school-based programs with our executive committee to engage them in a discussion to develop a strategic plan for sustaining our school-based Clubs. We are hoping that they understand the significant implication of losing these funds, because this may mean losing the programs at many of the schools. This can have a very negative impact, particularly in areas where there are no freestanding Clubs.� They are also applying for a new round of 21st Century funds to establish Clubs at more schools.

As for advice to other Clubs, Smith thinks that it is very important to educate the key stakeholders before actually going into any school building or partnering with a school district. She is convinced that for this type of partnership to succeed you have to have the support of the school district, the school administration, the community, and, particularly, the parents. �In our area we have regional managers and so it will be good to get them involved or someone who does community outreach in that school system. Prior to going into the schools we should show a clear plan of action, substantiated by any outcomes available, so that our prospective partners are aware of our worth in terms of youth development and recognize that we can really help them achieve their goals. Communication is the biggest piece�I can�t stress it enough. I practice something I call over communicating.�

One of the major lessons learned is the importance of building relationships. Smith advises to make friends with everybody. �Organize a teacher breakfast every few months, do a luncheon during the holiday times, get small gifts and give them not only to teachers but also to other people who have helped you. The custodial staff, for instance, is very, very important. Because they typically are the ones responsible for the building, you want to make sure you stay on their good side. Build relationships not just within the school but also with the community, such as the parent advisory group or local school council. They should know who you are, so that they can advocate for what you do.�

Working with parents is something all school-based Clubs are encouraged to do but, according to Smith, it varies from site to site and there is room for improvement. �Sometimes our work with parents isn�t where we would like it to be because we don�t have anyone who can really focus on it. I think we have to budget for that. Get one of the parents, one of the most involved, and hire them, at least part-time. Because oftentimes, parents may want to volunteer but they can�t because they need to get paid. I believe that is something we definitely need to change in youth services in general. Parents shouldn�t be an afterthought. I�m sure that if we have a person focused on involving parents, their participation will be greater.�

As a closing thought, Smith wants to advise other Clubs pursuing school-based funding to make sure that they build strong relationships and mechanisms that would make them less vulnerable to leadership changes in a school. She also wants to remind other Clubs that working with schools addresses the Movement�s mission of serving as many youth as possible. �Our staff knows that the work we do, the reason that we exist, is for the betterment of young people. No matter their role, our staff has to understand that we are creating the leaders of tomorrow. We�re creating the next generation of Club directors and executive directors. We are here to give these young people our all. And even if it is a bit harder, the schools are a great catchment area.�