Be Connected NEWSLETTERBoys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo

A Peek Inside this Issue:• BGC Week• Teen Party• Grant Funding• Inspiring Great

Futures Concert• Picking-up

STEAM

Boys & Girls Club Week Door Decorating Contest SubmissionEach year, Boys & Girls Clubs (BGC) of America sets aside one week for Clubs across the nation to celebrate all that is great about BGC with their members and community.Every one of the more than 4,000 Clubs nationwide work in unison toward one goal, showing-off the positive influences BGC provides its members.This year, there was a call for door decorations that were to showcase what about BGC made great futures start here.Our Babcock Clubhouse decided that they felt lucky to be able to take part in programs here every week, and felt it was the programs that made great futures start here. So they took the LUCKY theme and created a slot machine door. This 3-D project took them a week to complete, and although they did not win, they had plenty of fun creating it and taking part.Good job to those who participated!

Summer at Boys & Girls Clubs Means Lots of Summer JobsWith summer only months away, Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo is beginning to take registrations for our full-day summer program as well as looking for amazing applicants to work at our Clubhouses for the summer.Qualified applicants can spend up to 20 hours a week having fun alongside Club members. As a Youth Development Professional, you will partake in curriculum development, small group programming and field trips.Applicants must be 18-years of age or older and all placements are part-time.If you know anyone interested in making a difference this summer in the life of a child, please contact Human Resources at 716-825-1016, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm or careers@bgcbuffalo.org or visit bgcbuffalo.org/get-involved.

March/April 2016

Babcock Clubhouse entered the National Door Decorating Contest with a door titled: So Lucky.

bgcbuffalo.org

BE Informed:

A Soldering Good Time @ECC

52% will not skip school*

130% are more likely to hold leader-ship roles*

MOMENTS

Members enjoyed learning about soldering, the parts of a computer, installing computer components, programming a microprocessor over spring break. ECC generously opened their doors and knowledge of the IT Industry and invited our members to take a hands-on approach to career discovery.

Shine Light on Power w/National GridNational Grid continued its programming with hands-on learning at our Clubhouses. Through these visits, youth were taught power safety, energy efficiency, and

STEM principles. National Grid introduced members to a PVC piping team building activity that taught youth about velocity, followed solar power cars which had kids scurrying about pointing lights at cars to see which went the fastest. National Grid also developed a board game that centered around renewable energy, the conservation of energy, and cost effective budgets. The game helped members identify different types of renewable energies and experience how to budget in order to reach a goal.

BGC America News Update Center

Of kids who meet with mentors regularly

*mentoring.org

Nearly 20 percent of students don’t graduate on time, and the odds are far worse for most young people of color. Today’s teens face tough challenges, and Boys & Girls Clubs of America recognizes the need to provide them with guidance and support. One of the greatest risks facing teens is pessimism. Half of teens BGCA surveyed at the 2015 Keystone Conference said they are not hopeful about the future. Without hope, teens are even more vulnerable to the forces encouraging poor choices.For many teens in America, the chance for a great future is bleak. At Boys & Girls Clubs, our goal is to provide a world-class Club Experience that assures success is within reach of every young person. BGCA is making bold moves and declaring 2016 as the Year of the Teen.Year of the Teen is a campaign to raise awareness and, most importantly, teen membership and impact in 2016 and beyond. Year of the Teen is essential to propel our Movement forward for teens, building focus and energy to drive the teen agenda now and into the future.

• BairdFoundation- Bridging the Gap

• M&TBankFoundation- Money Matters

• GeneralMillsFoundation-Healthy Habits

• GEICO- Bridging the Gap

Teen Dance I Love the 80s!

Winter/Spring 2016

It’s theU

in Funding that Makes all the Difference.

Nearly 100 teens descended upon the Babcock Clubhouse to show their love for the 80s.Dressed in their dayglo best, teased big hair and gold chains, teens from several of the clubhouses put together lipsync battle teams, or dance-off troops and came prepared to “BEAT IT.”Costume contests and a basket raffle filled the evening with fun. Teens enjoyed dinner provided by Delaware North and candy take-home bags by Tops Supermarkets.

DJ B-Cutz spun the top tunes of the day: BEAT IT, LET IT WHIP, MATERIAL GIRL, BILLIE JEAN, LIVIN’ ON A PRAYER and so many others, while teens danced and cheered for their favorites.Those who didn’t want to dance, but wanted a fun and safe night out were able to tackle science projects in the science lab. What a fun night and such a great way for them to meet like-minded teens from the other clubs. What will the theme be next year?

Study reveals Boys & Girls Clubs are Good InvestmentA return on investment (ROI) study conducted by the University of Michigan found that every dollar invested returns $9.60 in current and future earnings, as well as cost-savings to American communities. Through member surveys and outcome data, the study examined how the costs required to provide Club programming compare to the long-term benefits for youth and family in economic terms.The biggest benefits are from Club members’ improved grades and reduced alcohol use and their parents’ earnings. Collectively, Clubs spend $1.4 billion annually on operating costs, resulting in $13.8 billion in lifetime benefits to youth, families and society.Boys & Girls Clubs contribute major savings for society by helping to prevent costly expenditures for health care, public assistance and criminal justice involvement and incarceration.

Inspiring Great Futures Concert

Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo282 Babcock Street Buffalo, NY 14210

www.bgcbuffalo.org716-825-1016

Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo first ever Inspiring Great Futures Concert held in April at Kleinhan’s Music Hall, proved to be a showcase of both talent and support.More than 300 individuals attended the event which featured the Buffalo Philharmonic Brass and a dinner catered by Oliver’s Restaurant. Musical coaches from the Buffalo Philharmonic Brass performed with members of Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo. The teams had been rehearsing since October.

A group of siblings, Maria, Ariana and Angel, performed on the violin and cello, beside Harpist Kela Sanders. Trumpet player for the BPO, Geoff Hardcastle, played alongside Babcock trumpet player Essence in place of original coach, Alex Jokipii as Alex had to undergo emergency surgery two weeks prior and was unable to play. Principal BPO Trombone player, Jonathan Lombardo paired with Sadeq from our Eggertsville Clubhouse.The newly formed Great Futures Vocal Collaborative made up of Ruby,

Gabriella and Jaylieanne, sang their debut performance in front of the enamored crowd. All those in attendance were amazed at the hard work and effort put forth by such young musicians and many pledged support for next year’s event planned for April 6, 2017.The event was haled as the most successful fundraising event in the Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo’s 90 years, raising $110,000 in one evening.