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On Thursday, October 20th, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County celebrated Lights on Afterschool with the Afterschool Alliance and other clubs throughout the nation to raise awareness of the importance of afterschool programs for youth.
Too many young people are left to their own devices during after school hours, before parents return from work. Boys & Girls Clubs and other afterschool care programs provide an enriching environment where youth can enjoy safe, healthy, and educational activities focused on personal growth.
Throughout Lee County, our clubs celebrated Lights on Afterschool by participating in unique activities.
Here are some photographs and comments from the youth:
I enjoy the company of my new friends, completing my homework and really, really like arts and crafts.
Rylee (3rd grade)I like being able to come and feel like part of a team. The staff and video games make the club a great place to be.
Alton (8th grade)I like having my homework completed before leaving the club, because I have things to do when I get home.
Yesenia (7th grade)I enjoy all the extra love and attention I get at the club.
T.J. (2nd grade)
Help us reach our $150,000.00 Goal!
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County invites you to tour one of the seven Southwest Florida locations nearest you. It’s important that people throughout the area see our young people and watch them as they participate in “fun with a purpose.”
There’s a unique atmosphere at each of our clubs – a spirit of welcome, fun, teamwork and learning. People feel it when they come – they see our children in program-driven activities and want to be a part of it.
We want you to be a part of it, too.
Our annual campaign began October 1st. The Great Futures Start Here campaign has an aggressive $150,000 goal that ends December 31st, 2011. These funds go directly to programming enhancement, quality staff and memorable group experiences.
This is where the Lee County community can help. The Boys & Girls Clubs gets the majority of its funding through support from people just like you. Tour a club – see what we do – and donate what you can.
We realize that times are tough, you may not be able to spare $100, $1000 or more – but realize that every little bit helps. Donate what you can, because no amount is too small – and spread the word to friends and family.
Help the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County support at-risk youth because Great Futures Start Here.
To schedule a tour of your local Boys & Girls Club location or to donate, contact Garrett Rasmussen via e-mail at grasmussen@bgclc.net or call 239.334.1886 ext 4.
Who: Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County & Saks 5th Avenue
What: Wine, Women & Shoes Event
When: Thursday, November 10th from 6pm – 8pm
Where: Saks 5th Avenue – Bell Tower Shops, Fort Myers
Saks 5th Avenue and The Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County are hosting an event in honor of Lee County’s women that share a love for good wine and great shoes!
The event will take place at Saks 5th Avenue in the Bell Tower Shops. Featuring gorgeous male models presenting the latest shoes collections! You’ll enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres and a variety of wine samplings from Bistro 41.
Don’t miss this exclusive event! Your $25.00 donation will benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County.
For reservations or more information, please contact Deborah Liftig at 239.334.1886.
YOU’RE INVITED TO TURN THE LIGHTS ON AFTERSCHOOL
Make plans to join Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County and the Afterschool Alliance to celebrate the importance of afterschool programs, October 20, 2011 3:30 pm- 5:30 pm
Lights On Afterschool!
In communities today, 15.1 million children take care of themselves after the school day ends. Afterschool programs keep kids safe, help working families and inspire learning. Join us, along with 7,500+ afterschool programs nationwide, in celebrating our afterschool programs.
Come and experience first hand what fantastic activities the BGCLC Afterschool program is providing the youth of Lee County.
Each club is doing a special craft, or having a special snack to showcase the their day at the BGCLC. Pueblo Bonito members created a light bulb piñata for their celebration.
Friday, September 30th, the Boys & Girls Club at Shady Oaks held their annual “All American Day”. Alton Tatum welcomed the guests and dignitaries among whom included William P. Mitchell, Manager of the City of Fort Myers. Jakeria Shaw led the youth in the Pledge of Allegiance and Auveon Thomas and Soneria Barnes recited the Boys & Girls Club Code and Mission. Ms. Leslie, one of our dedicated volunteers led everyone in the singing of the National Anthem.
Mr. Kevin spoke to the young people about what being an American means to him and another volunteer, Ms. Saterria, talked about what September 11th means to her as a U.S. Army Veteran and what it should mean to each youth.
Shady Oaks would like to give a special thanks to Ms. Leslie who did a wonderful job coordinating the event and to Mr. Elijah “Pops” Perry for grilling food for all the youth that attended.
According to Mr. William P. Mitchell, “The All American Day was a wonderful event for young people and it was an opportunity to participate and enjoy the food, the love and caring that is a mainstay at the Boys & girls Club.”
The event was a huge success thanks to the rest of our Shady Oaks Team: Ms. Mae, Mr. Darrell, Ms. Tonya, Ms. Chris, and Mr. Chris.
Here at the Boys & Girls Club, it’s very important to us to get to know and keep in touch with our Lee County alumni that were a part of the Boys & Girls Clubs in their youth.
With the launch of the new Great Futures Start Here campaign, we really want to show parents and club members in Southwest Florida where our adults are today and how the Boys & Girls Clubs helped them achieve their goals. We want every youth to know that anything is possible with a little hard work and a support system behind them.
If you or someone you know would like to share their story and their experiences at the Boys & Girls Club, please contact Deborah Liftig at dliftig@bgclc.net or respond directly to this blog post.
We would love to feature your story on our website and Facebook Page. Be part of our initiative by participating in this program and help youth and parents throughout Lee County understand that Great Futures are achievable.
*Please share this link throughout your social media channels and ask your friends to do the same. The more alumni we can locate, the more stories we can share.*
The Boys & Girls Clubs is pleased to report that the Wells Fargo Foundation has awarded a grant for $8,500 in support of our Power Hour Homework Assistance Program.
Did you know: 3 of 10 youth won’t graduate on time?
Despite this statistic, 90% of Boys & Girls Club Members earned a high school diploma or equivalent.
Over the last few years, research has shown that homework develops student initiative and responsibility. It serves as an intellectual discipline and establishes good study habits. In addition, the reinforcement through repetition of concepts learned in class allows for better retention.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County recognizes the importance of homework and has specifically designed our after school program to include a Power Hour; time set aside in which the youth receive homework assistance every day.
The program seeks to positively affect the lives of Club members by emphasizing outcomes that help ensure academic success. When Boys & Girls Clubs offer extended learning opportunities and educational enrichment programming during the non-school hours, they help improve young people’s academic performance and encourage them to graduate from high school, pursue a post-secondary education and develop a lifelong love of learning. Homework completion is a critical component of young people’s academic success.
We’re very excited that the Wells Fargo Foundation has recognized the importance of education and awarded us this grant to support Great Futures for at risk youth in Southwest Florida..
Our deepest thanks go out to the Wells Fargo Foundation and the certified teachers, site directors and volunteers that assist the young people at the Boys & Girls Clubs every day during Power Hour.
To learn more about Power Hour or enroll a young person in the after school program at one of the Boys & Girls Clubs in Lee County, please contact our corporate offices at 239.334.1886 or e-mail dliftig@bgclc.net.
If you didn’t already know, The Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County have seven locations throughout Southwest Florida.
This week we spent a little time at the Boys & Girls Club location in Bonita Springs at Pueblo Bonito. Pueblo is located in the Pueblo Bonito community at 26120 Pueblo Bonito Boulevard. The club is filled to capacity, serving as the after school headquarters for up to 65 youth.
We joined the young people just in time for Power Hour. Power Hour is homework time at the Boys & Girls Clubs, and just like all of the other locations, the directors at Pueblo stress the importance of education. Laid out much like a classroom, the main room at Pueblo is equipped with a small kitchen. The large TV in the corner is equipped with a Wii game system for the young people to enjoy active video games.
Just outside the main building, there is a large patio that the staff and the youth have customized into a very unique and colorful play area. Board games, ping pong and dodge ball are some of the activities that we watched. Activities are a great way for the young people to learn how to properly interact with one another and play as part of a team.
The computer lab at Pueblo is a place where the young people get to interact with technology through educational software programs. It’s also where the Pueblo teens do their homework for Power Hour before heading over to the Teen Center at Pueblo.
The teen center gives the older youth a place of their own to interact and be themselves.
The teen center is located in another building in Pueblo Bonito and is equipped with a pool table, several computers and a pavilion with picnic tables.
Constructive after school programs are particularly important for teenage youth, as they are the most susceptible to outside influence.
One of the great things that we witnessed on our tour of Pueblo was the interaction between the young people at this location. It’s hard to communicate a feeling, but we hope that these pictures will show the camaraderie and friendships that we found.
While the Boys & Girls Club at Pueblo serves as the after school headquarters for many of the youth in the Pueblo Bonito community, there are almost 200 other youth in the community that must be turned away every year because the club is at capacity. There are plans for growth, but funding is limited.
We would love to offer a safe, constructive place for the young people of Pueblo Bonito to gather after school. Help us make a difference in their lives by donating now.
Contact Deborah Liftig at dliftig@bgclc.net or call 239.334.1886.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County help thousands of young people every year to reach their full potential as constructive, caring individuals within our community. One of those individuals is recognized each year for their successes in citizenship, academics and commitment to the Boys and Girls Club. This year the Boys & Girls Club’s Lee County Youth of the Year was Alvin “AJ” Barnes.
AJ has been a member of the Boys & Girls Club for the past seven years. AJ graduated from Dunbar High School, despite odds stacked against him. He will be attending college to pursue a career in culinary arts. His ambition is to become a chef.
Not only has AJ used The Boys & Girls Club as a resource to assist in his own success, but he is also actively involved in tutoring youth during Power Hour homework time at Shady Oaks in Fort Myers. He has been a mentor to many of our club members, talking to them about the importance of education and putting forth special effort in their own success.
His Unit Director, Mr. Chris Morant says, “He has a great attitude toward his peers. He is always positive and gives good advice to our youth. He has shown the youth how to think before they act and how to be peaceful in resolving conflicts.”
Pastor Eddie Felton of New Life Hope Assembly Church describes AJ as an “Outstanding and faithful member: This young man leads by example when it comes to his faith and spirit. His devotion to God is second to none.”
Congratulations, AJ for empowering yourself to be successful and being part of the success of many other young people. We look forward to hearing about the great things you’ll do and become.
AJ Barnes is a great example of how Great Futures Start at the Boys & Girls Clubs.
Thanks to all who participated in the Day of Kids & Caring!
Saturday, September 3rd, the youth of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County gathered at our Shady Oaks Location at 3280 Marion Street to enjoy a Day of Kids & Caring.
On Friday Publix supermarkets dropped off three massive truckloads of school supplies for deserving youth throughout Lee County. Our gracious volunteers spent hours stuffing book bags with these supplies – and Saturday the young people lined up at 10am to receive their bags and enjoy the festivities of the day!
In addition to receiving bags of school supplies, each youth was individually fit for their own bicycle helmet. The Boys & Girls Club encourages safe practices in all of our youth, and by providing free helmets we can assist each young person in safely riding their bicycles.
The day was filled with fun games and activities as well!
An inflatable basketball hoop, bounce houses and huge slides were just part of the fun activities that the young people participated in throughout the day. Game Guys brought
a Game Trailer with
Wii and other game systems. Everyone enjoyed watching the youth dance to the music, play bowling and other fun video games.
The healthy snacks provided by Publix fueled all of the youth and sno-cones cooled them off.
The Boys & Girls Club would like to thank all of the organizations and individuals who helped make this day possible.
Click here to view a slideshow of the photos from the Day of Kids & Caring.
