Connections Winter 2010/2011 by Boys & Girls Clubs of America

CELEBRATING OUR 2010-11 YOUTH OF THE YEAR WINNERS

IN THIS ISSUE Torch Club Turns 40 Motivating Board Volunteers Alumni Support Military Youth Overseas

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA & FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA Honorary Chairpersons RICK GOINGS PETER L. HAYNES M. ANNE SZOSTAK Chairmen Emeriti ROBBIE BACH Chairman of the Board ROXANNE SPILLETT President & CEO EVAN MCELROY Senior Vice President Marketing & Communications

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KELLY GAINES Editor in Chief JOHN COLLINS Managing Editor CREATIVE SERVICES Layout

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winter 2010/11 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

LEADING WITH HIS HEART Robbie Bach has served as chairman of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Board of Governors for the past two years. His accomplishments have been enormous, his contributions incalculable. As Robbie’s term comes to a close, it is only fitting to pay tribute to this dedicated member of the Boys & Girls Club family. Robbie Bach congratulates Robbie served on the board of the Boys & Mona Dixon. Girls Clubs of Bellevue, Wash., for more than a decade before becoming BGCA’s chairman. This experience instilled the exceptional wisdom and insight he displays on the national level. A family man whose primary focus is his children, Robbie brings enormous heart and humanity to his Boys & Girls Club work.

To enhance Clubs’ impact and learn firsthand about the challenges they face, Robbie traveled to numerous Clubs over the last two years. The deep connections he formed with Club members and professional staff are as genuine as they are vital in informing our direction going forward. Anyone who was at the 2009 Keystone Conference in Atlanta witnessed Robbie’s energy as he connected with our teens; his enthusiasm was tangible – and mutual. A skilled and talented executive, Robbie’s expertise ignited our most successful marketing strategies ever – the BE GREAT campaign, and now, our new slogan, Great Futures Start Here. It is because of these visionary efforts that the Boys & Girls Club Movement now enjoys more visibility than ever, visibility that leads to a deeper understanding of the critical need for Clubs and greater support.

Connections is published quarterly by Boys & Girls Clubs of America. It is distributed without charge to member Clubs of Boys & Girls Clubs of America as a service of their memberships. It is also available by subscription at $10.00 per year. Single copy price is $3.00. Articles or article ideas should be submitted to the Editor, Connections, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, 1275 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30309. Use or return of material cannot be guaranteed and no remuneration can be made. Opinions expressed by contributing authors do not necessarily reflect policies of Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Perhaps no anecdote better illustrates Robbie’s spirit than our visit to Washington, D.C., in September with our Youth of the Year finalists. Throughout the week, Robbie formed a tremendous bond with these exceptional youth. By the end, it was as if he was sending his own children off to college, as he encouraged and assured our finalists that they are certain to succeed and continue their journey to a great future. On behalf of thousands of Boys & Girls Clubs and the millions of young people they serve each year, thank you, Robbie. Your influence and inspiration will be felt for generations to come.

ROXANNE SPILLETT PRESIDENT & CEO

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2 Great Futures Start Here

Youth of the Year winners shine in Washington, D.C.

8 A Tale of Two Classics

MLB Delivers for Clubs at All-Star Game, World Series

10 Tech Skills Compute For Club Youth Teen’s turnaround, studies show Club Tech’s value

12 Torch Club Turns 40

Program celebrates four decades of building future leaders

columns Page 2

14 Chairman’s Report

From BGCA leader Robbie Bach

24 Excellence in Action Best practices from the field

contents

features

26 Managing Risk

Real situations, real solutions

28 View from the Potomac Current events from the capital

news 16 J-Lo, Ne-Yo Boost Club Visibility

Entertainers latest alumni to join BE GREAT campaign

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17 LeBron Steps Up for Boys & Girls Clubs TV special generates millions, raises awareness

18 Summer of Service

European internships yield lessons for Club alumni

20 Inside The Jeremiah Milbank Society Members share what motivates their noble support

22 Out of Atlanta, Into South Africa Youth leaders represent U.S.A. at World Cup

Mona Dixon (center) is the 2010-11 National Youth of the Year. Mona and the Regional Youth of the Year winners (from left) Tommy Walls, Delsy Morales, Maria Hernandez and Darrius Shaw in front of the White House.

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GREAT FUTURES START HERE YOUTH OF THE YEAR WINNERS SHINE DURING EXHILARATING WEEK IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

t’s a tradition as expected and refreshing as the return of autumn. Each September, the five regional winners of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Youth of the Year program convene in Washington, D.C., primed to take the final steps in their quest to become the National Youth of the Year. Of course, the annual event always features many stirring moments, but 2010 proved to be one of the more exhilarating weeks in recent memory. All week long, the five exceptional teens worked hard and played hard. Whether appearing before an esteemed panel of judges, hosting a car-wash fundraiser for local Clubs, scouring historic city spots for scavenger hunt swag, or dining with two fellow alumni – BGCA National Spokesperson Denzel Washington and newly appointed National Youth of the Year Ambassador Ashanti Douglas – each finalist demonstrated the intelligence, diligence and respect that earned them their trip to the nation’s capital. At the annual Congressional Breakfast hosted by Sen. Orrin Hatch and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, the five teens anxiously awaited the judges’ decision. With an inspiring ability to overcome tremendous challenges – including homelessness – and an unflagging character that enabled her to excel academically and contribute to her community, Mona Dixon of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley in Tempe, Ariz., was named the 2010-11 National Youth of the Year. Another detail that made this year’s festivities even more meaningful was the opportunity to say thank you to Reader’s Digest Foundation for its longtime support as the founding sponsor of the Youth of the Year program. Tupperware Brands Corporation, another longtime supporter, will assume sponsorship of the Youth of the Year program in 2011. Both organizations supported this year’s festivities, as did The Rick and Susan Goings Foundation – operated by the Tupperware chairman/CEO and longtime BGCA governor, and his wife, a passionate advocate of Boys & Girls Clubs and a BGCA national volunteer. For their magnificent achievements, each of the five finalists were awarded $22,000 in scholarships from Reader’s Digest Foundation and Tupperware. As the 2010-11 National Youth of the Year, Mona also received a $15,000 scholarship from Reader’s Digest Foundation and a $50,000 scholarship from The Rick and Susan Goings Foundation.

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NATIONAL YOUTH OF THE YEAR

MONA DIXON

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE EAST VALLEY, TEMPE, ARIZ. Mona Dixon believes in turning setbacks into incentives to succeed. For much of her youth, she and her family led a life of constant change, moving from one homeless shelter to another in city after city. To ensure everyone had a warm place to sleep each night, the family often found themselves separated. These hard experiences led Mona to seek a place she could consider home. Five years ago, she found that place to call home at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley. At the Club, Mona took advantage of every chance she had to teach younger kids the value of being responsible, caring, productive members of society. Committed to serving her community, she joined the Keystone Club, BGCA’s teen leadership program. Mona’s volunteer work included organizing food drives and park beautification efforts, as well as serving in a children’s reading program at a shelter where she once lived. Last spring, Mona graduated third in her class from Tempe High School, where she also captained the basketball team and participated in the National Honor Society, student council and the math team. Today, the ambitious young woman is a freshman at Arizona State University, studying international retail management.

“THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB IS MY HOME AWAY FROM HOME. IT BROUGHT STABILITY TO MY LIFE. I AM SURE THAT IF THEY COULD, MANY CHILDREN WOULD CHOOSE TO PACK UP THEIR ROOMS AND STAY THERE.”

– MONA DIXON

During the week in Washington, from top: Mona and Maria prepare for car wash to benefit local Clubs; Mona and East Valley CPO Ramon Elias react to her victory; making a gracious acceptance speech; visiting the National Air and Space Museum.

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MIDWEST YOUTH OF THE YEAR

TOMMY WALLS

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER MILWAUKEE, WIS. At an early age, Tommy Walls decided that, in order to survive, he had to become a leader in his family. Born into dire circumstances in Detroit, surrounded by mental illness and drug addiction, he strived to change his living situation. And he did just that: after meeting relatives from Milwaukee at a family reunion, Tommy moved to the city to live with an adult cousin and begin a new life, one that included the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee. At the Club, Tommy is known for his enthusiasm, optimism and desire to serve. He participated in the Keystone Club and the Upward Bound college preparatory program. In addition, he volunteered for various community-oriented programs, such as Peers with Impact and the Summer of Peace Project. As class salutatorian, Tommy received his international baccalaureate diploma from Montessori High School. He also played varsity basketball, participated in student government and created a freshmen tutoring program. Today, he attends Marquette University on a four-year, full-tuition scholarship.

“THE CLUB WAS THE ONLY STABLE PLACE IN MY LIFE WHEN EVERYTHING ELSE WAS JUST HECTIC. I CAN WALK INTO THE CLUB EVERY DAY AND KNOW THAT MY ‘FAMILY’ WILL ALWAYS BE THERE TO LOVE AND SUPPORT ME.” – DELSY MORALES

NORTHEAST YOUTH OF THE YEAR

DELSY MORALES “I WANT TO BE A ROLE MODEL AND LET OTHERS KNOW THEY, TOO, CAN BE LIKE ME.” – TOMMY WALLS

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF DELAWARE The youngest of four children raised by their eldest sister, Delsy Morales’ life began in an environment plagued by drugs, alcohol and violence. Determined to escape her circumstances, she left home at 16, working two jobs while attending high school. Ten years ago, Delsy found a place to start building a great future. At the Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware, Delsy was a leader, participating in Keystone Club, competing on the swim team and playing basketball. Devoted to community service, she organized a food drive to benefit local families and a basketball tournament called “Taking Back the Streets.” Early on, Delsy decided education was the key to changing her circumstances. From elementary school onward, she made the honor roll, including graduating with honors from Howard High School. Today, Delsy is pursuing a nursing degree at Delaware Technical & Community College.

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SOUTHEAST YOUTH OF THE YEAR

MARIA HERNANDEZ BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF CLEVELAND, TENN. As a young girl, Maria Hernandez endured challenges no child should have to face. While dealing with a family member’s alcoholism and her own battles with depression, she helped raise her four younger siblings. She credits the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland with helping her to surmount her obstacles by building her self-esteem and otherwise improving her overall well-being. An active Club member, Maria served as president of her Keystone Club and helped lead SMART Moves, BGCA’s prevention/education program that addresses issues such as drug and alcohol use and premature sexual activity. A devotee of community service, Maria views volunteering as not only a duty, but also as a chance to teach others its value. She especially enjoys visiting nursing homes and caring for elderly people. As a high school student, Maria was an officer in both Future Business Leaders of America and Health Occupation Students of America, as well as a member of the Spanish Club. Now a pre-med student at East Tennessee State University, her goal is to become a neonatal nurse. “MY EXPERIENCE AT THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF CLEVELAND WAS LIFECHANGING. IT LAID THE FOUNDATION TO HELP ME LEAD A POSITIVE LIFE AND MAINTAIN A WELLROUNDED SENSE OF BEING AND CHARACTER.” – MARIA HERNANDEZ

“I OWE A GREAT DEAL OF MY DEVELOPMENT AND MY CONFIDENCE TO MY CLUB. IT WAS THE PLACE WHERE I WAS ABLE TO LEARN, GROW AND BE PROTECTED FROM THE PERILS OF THE WORLD OUTSIDE ITS DOORS.” – DARRIUS SHAW

SOUTHWEST YOUTH OF THE YEAR

DARRIUS SHAW

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER DALLAS Raised by his great-grandmother in a crime-ridden area, Darrius Shaw refused to give in to the lure of the streets. Instead, he turned to academics and community service. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas was his safety net, providing him with the crucial encouragement and guidance to pursue his goals. The young man seized every opportunity the Club offered, including participating in tutoring and mentoring programs. As Keystone Club president, Darrius organized community service projects such as neighborhood clean-ups. The Club boosted his confidence, inspiring him to master public speaking skills and pushing him to excel in every way. At the School of Science and Engineering Magnet High School in Dallas, Darrius belonged to the National Society of Black Engineers and the Texas Wing of the Civil Air Patrol. He also served as the president, and captain, of the Science and Engineering Bowl Team. As a senior, he mentored incoming freshmen to transition from middle school. Darrius is currently pursuing an engineering degree at New York University.

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RAISING AWARENESS OF THE HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT CRISIS Barely an hour after being named the 2010-11 National Youth of the Year, Mona Dixon hit the ground running – literally. From the halls of Congress, she proceeded directly to the National Press Club. As her first official act, Dixon took part in a panel discussion to elevate awareness of the high school dropout crisis in America. Hosted by Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the discussion was presided over by BGCA Chairman Robbie Bach. Joining Dixon as panelists were noted dropout expert Robert Balfanz of Johns Hopkins University, BGCA National Spokesperson Denzel Washington and BGCA President/CEO Roxanne Spillett. Presenting key findings from his research, Balfanz said that decreasing the dropout rate requires community support – especially caring adults to tutor, mentor and provide positive learning experiences during the out-of-school hours.

Denzel Washington reflects on his Club experience and the access it provided to educational opportunities.

Dixon and Washington – living proof of the vital role Boys & Girls Clubs play for so many young people – spoke passionately about how the Club experience enabled them to realize educational opportunities that might not otherwise have been available to them. In her remarks, Spillett addressed the vital role that the scope and proven history of Boys & Girls Clubs can play in helping to combat the dropout crisis. “With more than a century of experience and a network of 4,000 communitybased locations,” she said, “Clubs are uniquely positioned, in partnership with schools and parents, to help our most vulnerable students value education.” A centerpiece of the event was the public release of BGCA’s position paper on education, “Our Nation’s Dropout Crisis is Everyone’s Problem: Why Boys & Girls Clubs Are Part of the Solution.” Later that day, Washington accompanied the five Youth of the Year representatives to the White House to meet President Obama. In the Oval Office meeting, Washington presented the position paper to the president, urging him to continue supporting the important work of Boys & Girls Clubs.

Mona Dixon speaks movingly of the Club’s impact on her life.

For more information about the panel discussion, see the Chairman’s Report on page 14. To download the position paper, visit bgca.org.

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Noted dropout expert Robert Balfanz says reducing the dropout rate must involve adults mentoring and tutoring young people during the out-of-school hours.

Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

3 1: From left, Tommy, Youth of the Year Ambassador Ashanti, Maria and Darrius listen intently during the panel discussion. 2: BGCA President Spillett presents BGCA’s position paper on education. 3: Following the event, the five Youth of the Year representatives meet with President Obama in the Oval Office.

4: Maria, Mona and Ramon Elias – CPO of Mona’s East Valley Club – hurry to the National Press Club after the Congressional Breakfast.

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A TALE OF TWO CLASSICS

FROM THE ALL-STAR GAME TO THE WORLD SERIES, MLB DELIVERS FOR CLUBS ONCE AGAIN By John Collins t’s not every day a young person finds him or herself front and center at premier sports events such as Major League Baseball’s® All-Star Game and World Series. That, however, is exactly where thousands of Boys & Girls Club youth did indeed find themselves, thanks to our friends at MLB.®

CLUB KIDS PARTAKE IN ALL-STAR CELEBRATIONS For some 2,000 young people representing 16 Southern California Boys & Girls Clubs, MLB All-Star Week™ in Anaheim, Calif., delivered a grand slam of unforgettable memories. From July 9-13, the children and teens thrilled to the magic surrounding baseball’s Midsummer Classic, interacting with players and participating in official ceremonies. At MLB All-Star FanFest,® an annual interactive event, youth from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Anaheim and the Boys & Girls Club of Stanton assisted the legendary Rod Carew in officially opening the event. Meanwhile, youth from the Boys & Girls Club of Cypress and the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach participated in a baseball clinic led by another legend, Cal Ripken Jr., and Jennie Finch, the renowned Olympic gold medalist pitcher for USA Softball. Ziere (left) and Esther, of the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Ana, Even as 2010 All-Stars prepared for the big game, they, announced the All-Star Game’s starting lineups to millions too, took time out for Club kids. Outfielder Matt watching the live broadcast. Holliday put on a fielding clinic for youth from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tustin, and superstar catcher Joe Mauer challenged the same kids to a video game showdown. But even more extraordinary opportunities lay ahead for our young people. As part of MLB All-Star Week celebrations, Club youth – along with BGCA President/CEO Roxanne Spillett (left), Angels owner Arte Moreno and his wife, Carole – lend a hand renovating the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Ana.

DONATING WITH DISTANCE For the live, nationally televised State Farm® Home Run Derby® exhibition, eight local Club youth were paired with eight of baseball’s best home run hitters, including David Ortiz, Hanley Ramirez and Miguel Cabrera. Batting for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Fullerton and 11-yearold “teammate” Malik Campbell, Ortiz knocked 32 homers, enough to make him Home Run Derby champ. Making the feat even more impressive, Ortiz’s power resulted in a $50,000 gift to Malik’s Fullerton Club to renovate its teen center. The seven other Club kids left the field winners, too, with each earning $10,000 to refurbish their Clubs’ teen centers. In all, 135 home runs were hit, raising a magnificent $573,000 from State Farm and MLB for upgrades to eight Boys & Girls Clubs and to support Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Finally, the MLB All-Star Game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim provided Club kids with even more once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. In pre-game ceremonies, Ziere McClure, 9, and Esther Madrigal, 11, of the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Ana, announced the game’s starting lineups to

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GEORGE STEINBRENNER, 1930-2010 With the passing of New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner on July 13, the day of the MLB All-Star Game, Boys & Girls Clubs and baseball lost a great champion, of both the game and Clubs. Glenn Permuy, longtime BGCA national staff member and former executive director/president of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay, remembers Steinbrenner as “a man who would do anything to help kids.”

National Youth of the Year Mona Dixon (left) delivered the game ball to the mound for Game 3 of the World Series with Jamara Hogan of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Arlington, and former Texas Rangers player Rusty Greer.

stadium spectators and millions nationwide watching the live TV broadcast. Then, before 60,000 cheering fans, 19-year-old Josie Gonzalez, star pitcher for the Boys & Girls Club of Stanton’s baseball team, proudly delivered the official game ball to the pitcher’s mound. By providing extraordinary opportunities throughout MLB All-Star Week, Major League Baseball hit yet another grand slam for young people and Boys & Girls Clubs.

THE FALL CLASSIC There are few stages larger than the World Series. Generously sharing the spotlight, MLB dedicated Game 3 to Youth Development and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. A smiling Mona Dixon, BGCA’s 2010-11 National Youth of the Year, delivered the game ball to the mound for the ceremonial first pitch. In fact, a Boys & Girls Club youth had the same thrilling honor for every game of The Fall Classic. MLB also delivered a pitch to raise public awareness of Boys & Girls Clubs. For the entire game, a blue banner emblazoned with Boys & Girls Clubs of America and our logo was positioned behind home plate – directly in the sightline of the TV audience of 11.5 million viewers. As we know, the San Francisco Giants are the 2010 World Series Champions. With the generous support of

Over the years, “The Boss” was there for the Tampa Bay Club time and again. He helped establish the Yankee Luncheon, an annual fundraiser that raises $250,000 to $300,000 each year. He arranged for celebrities such as Bob Hope and Donald Trump to speak at fundraisers and once served as keynote himself. “He always gave me whatever time he had available,” says Permuy. “In the 30 years I knew him, he never failed to return my phone call. He was great about helping and listening, and great about offering his thoughts and ideas.” BGCA expresses its deep condolences to the Steinbrenner family – wife Joan, sons Hal and Hank, and daughters Jessica and Jenny. Thankfully, the Steinbrenner’s involvement with the Tampa Bay organization will continue, as both Hal and Jenny serve on its board of directors.

Major League Baseball, our longtime partner, Boys & Girls Clubs can continue providing the millions of young people they serve with the guidance to do well in school, lead a healthy lifestyle and give back to their communities. Such qualities will enable them to become champions, too, in the game called life. John Collins is senior writer/editor for BGCA.

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TECH SKILLS COMPUTE FOR CLUB YOUTH

TEEN’S TURNAROUND AND LATEST STUDIES DEMONSTRATE THE VALUE OF CLUB TECH By John Collins

bout halfway between San Jose and San Francisco, you’ll find the communities of East Palo Alto and Palo Alto, Calif. While they share a name, they are, in fact, separate, distinct entities. Palo Alto, home to high-tech businesses such as Facebook and Hewlett-Packard, is a prosperous city with a per capita income of nearly $66,000. Among residents 25 and older, 97 percent hold at least a high school degree. On the other side of the Bayshore Freeway, in East Palo Alto, life is much different. Conditions in East Palo Alto have improved since 1992, when 42 homicides earned it the notorious title of the nation’s “per capita murder capital.” But life is still hard here, where the annual per capita income is $16,680, 19 percent of residents live below the poverty threshold, and barely 70 percent of residents 25 or older hold a high school diploma. Richard Kaho, 17, grew up and still resides in East Palo Alto. Today, after a personal journey that included finding his passion through Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Club Tech program, he’s working to increase those high school graduation numbers.

CLUB TECH’S IMPACT Last year, Richard collaborated with Betzy Padilla and Alexis Garcia – fellow members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula in nearby Menlo Park – on a video project for the 2009-10 Club Tech National Digital Arts Festival. The short video, a call to young people to stay in school, was named the national Movie Tech winner in the 16-18 age group. Since the program’s inception in 2000, Club Tech founding sponsor Microsoft has donated more than $100

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million in software to Boys & Girls Clubs throughout the United States and on U.S. military installations worldwide. As a result, thousands of young people have learned advanced digital arts skills in graphic design, animation, web design, video production, music production and robotics. Additionally, millions of Club members are able to learn to use Word, Excel and PowerPoint, ubiquitous To further enhance technology software used daily in education for Boys & Girls schools, businesses and by Club youth, Club Tech founding the general public. sponsor Microsoft has teamed up with Comcast, By providing young people a longtime supporter of local of all ages and circumstances Clubs, to promote the critical access to technology importance of digital literacy• resources, Club Tech enables them to develop crucial The exciting initiative includes skills that are central to a dynamic new series of academic success, workplace public service announcements preparation and being fully and an innovative public engaged in modern society. advocacy campaign • Digital The program’s approach literacy represents an important helps kids to expand their component of academic imaginations – and their success, one of Boys & Girls aspirations. Clubs of America’s three key impact areas to help put youth A BOY’S LIFE on the path to great futures• Just 2.2 square miles in area, BGCA is grateful to Microsoft East Palo Alto seems more a and Comcast for their vital small town than a city. But support• Stay tuned for more that doesn’t mean it doesn’t details soon.• have big city problems.

PROMOTING DIGITAL LITERACY

In April 2010, the East Palo Alto Police Department verified at least 10 active gangs, comprising more than 300 members, in the community. By employing several innovative initiatives, the police have had success curbing gang activity. However, the department still directly links more than 80 percent of violent acts in its jurisdiction to gangs. With such prevalence, it’s hardly surprising that Richard became a gang member. What is startling is that he was just 9 years old when he joined. “I started off with gangs, just being a real bad person,” says Richard. By the time he reached high school, his aberrant disposition was becoming unwelcome. In due course, his bad attitude, poor behavior and penchant for violence led the school to expel him. But worse news lay ahead. Shortly after his expulsion, Richard learned his mother was seriously ill. The two events gave the young man pause, prompting a critical self-assessment. His delinquent ways had already gotten him kicked out of school. Now, he feared, continuing to lead the same irresponsible lifestyle could cause his mother’s health to further deteriorate. Richard knew he had to change his ways. He began attending a community school near the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula. Soon, he became involved with Club Tech, where he discovered and embraced his passion for music and video. The Club’s music studio became an outlet for Richard’s deepest thoughts, feelings and concerns, as he evaluated his life through his lyrics. Club mentors encouraged him academically and helped build confidence in his talents, encouraging him to produce songs and music videos.

EMPIRICAL EXPLANATIONS Richard’s story bears out several recent independent studies of Club Tech. For example, a 2009 report by the Technology & Social Change Group at the University of Washington Information School (formerly the Center for Information & Society) found that Club technology programs attract youth who would not otherwise be there, particularly teens. Club technology programs were also found to be uniquely relevant, engaging and effective because of the experienced youth development professionals who implement them. Moreover, Clubs were found to be creating environments where youth are enhancing their technical fluency to help them adapt to a changing workforce.

In another 2009 study by research consultants Rockman et al, and Youth Development Strategies, Boys & Girls Club youth enrolled in Club Tech were compared to members of Boys & Girls Clubs that did not run the program. At the start of the evaluation, the two groups’ technology skill level was the same. But upon its completion, the Club Tech participants reported a much larger increase in how often they used advanced software skills to execute tasks such as editing photos, designing websites and publications, and producing videos. Finally, a 2007 MGS Consulting study found that youth who participate in Club Tech and programs like it have a much greater chance of engaging in healthy behaviors and a greatly decreased risk for engaging in risky or destructive behaviors.

Youth who participate in Club Tech have a greater chance of engaging in healthy behaviors and avoiding risky behaviors. TECHNOLOGY STEERS FUTURE SUCCESS Young people who actively engage in Club Tech have an advantage. They feel more competent when it comes to technology and see computers as more than a means to an end for the “fun stuff ” like social networking and games. They recognize that these critical skills can help shape their futures. Today, Richard regularly attends the Club, where besides being a Club Tech participant, he works as a Junior Staff member. He was also re-admitted to the public school system. For Richard, his turnaround is easy to track. “Ever since I started going to the Boys & Girls Club,” he says, “I started switching my life around.” Visit dafgallery.bgca.net to see the winning video by Richard, Betzy and Alexis and all the national Digital Arts Festival winners’ artwork. John Collins is senior writer/editor for BGCA.

Once expelled from school, Richard Kaho, along with fellow Club teens Betzy Padilla and Alexis Garcia, now exhort youth to stay in school in their award-winning video.

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TORCH CLUB TURNS 40 PROGRAM CELEBRATES FOUR DECADES OF BUILDING FUTURE LEADERS

n 1970, Boys & Girls Clubs of America chartered the first Torch Clubs. Now, as the early adolescent leadership program marks 40 years of helping youth establish foundations for great futures, it, too, looks ahead. Entering its fifth decade, the program will feature an all new, more youth-oriented look, plus several more enhancements.

SERVING A VULNERABLE AGE Early adolescence is an age of particular vulnerability. While barely out of childhood, young people ages 11-13 experience more freedom, autonomy and choice than ever before. But they still need nurturing, protection and guidance, needs that families cannot meet by themselves. Developmentally, adolescents need increased involvement with peers and adults other than their parents. The Torch Club program helps answer that need. Designed specifically for young people ages 11-13, a Torch Club typically consists of an adult advisor and six to 15 members, who elect a president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. Together, all members plan and manage activities in four areas: service to Club and community, education, health and fitness, and social recreation. By organizing and participating in service activities – such as food drives, peer mentoring, health fairs, recycling and beautification projects – members’ self-esteem, listening and speaking skills, and decision-making abilities develop and improve. Often, they also discover volunteering simply makes them feel good, as helping others produces feelings of accomplishment, belonging and satisfaction. To foster personal growth, Torch Club kids also participate in enriching, educational activities such as career exploration, public speaking and discussing issues that are relevant to them, such as bullying and drug use. By instilling qualities such as tolerance, civic responsibility, community involvement and leadership, the program strives to promote an appreciation for the responsibilities of citizenship and the democratic process in its adolescent members.

RENEWED GENEROUS SUPPORT Since 2002, Staples Foundation for Learning, the private charitable arm of Staples, Inc., has been the sole sponsor of the Torch Club program. Today, with Torch Club offered in more than 1,400 Boys & Girls Clubs countrywide, it has become one of the most widely implemented BGCA programs, positively impacting nearly 80,000 young people. 12

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Based on this tremendous impact, the foundation recently renewed its investment in America’s youth, awarding BGCA a three-year, $3 million grant. This extends its previous $6 million, six-year commitment, enabling the program to continue cultivating future leaders nationwide. “Staples Foundation for Learning is committed to the Torch Club program and its mission to help youth become productive, responsible and caring citizens who will become the leaders of tomorrow,” said Mike Miles, the president of Staples Foundation for Learning and COO/president of Staples, Inc.

NEW ENHANCEMENTS EMPHASIZE YOUTH This renewed commitment includes exciting enhancements to the leadership program, including a new national service project. Conceived by Torch Club members, the “Linking Hearts and Hands” national service project will involve youth helping other young people locally, nationwide and internationally. Working together to plan and implement projects, members will learn what is required to be a leader, the significance of helping others, and how their commitment and actions can make a positive difference. Finally, even though Torch Club just hit 40, there is no need to break out the black balloons and streamers. As you’ve read, this is one 40-year-old that’s getting better with age, which includes an all-new look. Redesigned with feedback from members, the fresh new Torch Club logo and accompanying assets feature a more youth-oriented orange and blue color scheme and edgy typeface. Entering its fifth decade of serving thousands of young people, the leadership program is looking – and performing – better than ever. By delivering its message of service and leadership to young people early on, Torch Club helps them to discover their own great futures as productive, responsible and caring citizens. For more information about the program, please contact Kelvin Davis, national Torch Club advisor, at kdavis@bgca.org or (404) 487-5762.

TORCH CLUB AWAR

For 2010-11, BGCA an d Staples Foundation for Learning are making numerous awards av ailable to Torch Clubs that ex cel in various areas: • “Linking Hearts an d Hands” – For creatin g and implementing ex ceptional national service projects, thre e Clubs will be awarded first ($2,500 ), second ($1,500) an d third place ($1,000). Plus, up to 45 Clubs will receive $500 for succ essfully implementin g the project. • Regional Torch Club Awards – This new award honors the ou tstanding Torch Club in each of BGCA’s five re gions. Each winning advisor and two mem bers will travel to the 2011 National Keysto ne Conference, March 3-5, in Orlando to acce pt the $5,000 award. • National Torch Bear er of the Year – One Torch Club advisor w ill be recognized for demonstrated excelle nce in mentoring and developing members ’ leadership, characte r and citizenship. The winner receives a $2,000 award and pl aque; their Boys & Gi rls Club a $2,000 award to host a celebration; and a $1,000 award w ill go to the advisor’s Torch Club. • Staples Torch Club Awards – Young leade rs can demonstrate their talent, creativity and commitment to service by designing and implementing an orig inal project based on Club or community ne ed. Clubs can win cash awards up to $2 ,500. For complete award information, visit the Torch Club Corner online co mmunity at groups2. bgca.net. Use your bc ga.net user name an d password to log in. Yo u can also contact Ev e Respess, BGCA assis tant director, characte r and leadership developm ent, at erespess@bgc a.org.

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columns Chairman’s Report

CREATING PATHWAYS TO GREAT FUTURES

mmediately following the Congressional Breakfast on Sept. 15, I had the great privilege of hosting a major media event for Boys & Girls Clubs of America in Washington, D.C. To an audience of prominent national news outlets, we announced Boys & Girls Clubs’ leadership position in helping to address the alarming high school dropout epidemic and unveiled our new national slogan, Great Futures Start Here.

Robbie Bach

It was a wonderful event, made even more special by a distinguished panel featuring noted high school dropout expert Robert Balfanz of Johns Hopkins University, BGCA National Spokesperson Denzel Washington, newly named 2010-11 National Youth of the Year Mona Dixon and BGCA President/ CEO Roxanne Spillett. Our major focus was the important role that youth development organizations, such as Boys & Girls Clubs, can play in reversing the crisis that sees

During a discussion of the dropout crisis, Denzel Washington spoke of the positive impact the non-school hours can make on young people.

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1.3 million students dropping out of school each year. Research tells us that how kids spend their time when they are not at home or in school has a dramatic impact on how well they do in school. As Dr. Balfanz explained, young people need caring adults to tutor, mentor, encourage and provide them with additional positive learning experiences. For these reasons and more, it is imperative that we sound the alarm bells about the critical role that the Club experience plays in helping youth to become caring, responsible, productive adults.

IT TAKES A COMMUNITY Our new slogan, Great Futures Start Here, reflects Boys & Girls Clubs’ century-old work of enabling youth, especially those who need us the most, to gain hope and have a positive outlook for their lives. To realize a great future, our young people must be given the skills and mentoring they need to value education, do well in school and expect – not hope

Chairman’s Report

columns

BOB FOWLER, 1920-2010 With the passing this year of Bob Fowler, Boys & Girls Clubs lost an exceptionally generous and empathetic individual. Bob’s service to the Movement began in 1965, when he co-founded what is today the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida. That experience instilled a lifelong commitment to youth in Bob. For more than 20 years, he served as chairman of the Southeast Region. In 1978, he was appointed to the Board of Governors. His many tributes include the Herbert Hoover Humanitarian Award and the Distinguished Benefactor Award – BGCA’s highest honors for volunteers. The entire Boys & Girls Club family extends its deepest sympathies to Corey, Bob’s beloved wife and constant companion.

– to graduate from high school, with a plan for their future. But this ambitious vision cannot be achieved by any single entity or organization alone. It must involve the entire community.

impact is the eventual outcome – young people equipped with the attitudes, confidence and motivation to finish high school and aspire to achieve something great.”

Education does not start and stop with the school bell. How kids perform in school is affected by their home life and where they spend their free time. This is just one reason why we maintain strong working partnerships with schools. In fact, today we have more than 1,000 Clubs located in schools across the country. We also have a very strong family support program in Family PLUS (Parents Leading, Uniting, Serving), the vital initiative sponsored by our great friends at Kimberly-Clark, which empowers the entire family unit to hold an education in high esteem.

Our National Youth of the Year exemplifies the power of a Club, against all odds, to turn a life around and create a great future. Mona Dixon grew up in and out of homeless shelters, at times doing her homework by the glow of a street light. As a teen, she discovered the Boys & Girls Club. It was there, at this safe place where Club professionals supported her and believed in her that, finally, Mona found her home. And that has made all the difference. Today, after graduating third in her high school class, Mona is pursuing her dreams in college.

FOCUS AREAS FOR SUCCESS In terms of our programming, we have worked hard to isolate the prime areas of focus that will enable our youth to become well-rounded, successful, caring and productive members and leaders of their communities. Across the country, Clubs are putting kids on the pathways to great futures by helping them do well in school (academic success), encouraging them to make smart choices about their health and well-being (healthy lifestyles) and imparting the principles of community service and giving back (good character and citizenship). These areas are part of our position paper on education, “Our Nation’s Dropout Crisis is Everyone’s Problem: Why Boys & Girls Clubs Are Part of the Solution,” which we publicly released during the media event. Perhaps panelist Denzel Washington summed it up best when he said, “As the largest network of communitybased youth development organizations in the world, Boys & Girls Clubs of America has set its sights on reframing the education discussion … Research indicates that quality time spent with children during the nonschool hours builds character, encourages good health and increases academic performance. The most profound

A HOME FOR MONA

Of course, there are millions of examples of the lifechanging impact of Boys & Girls Clubs. That’s why each of us does what we do, day in and day out. And that’s why we’ll continue providing the programs and services, the guidance and support – the total Club experience – to help the young people who need us most find their paths to a great future.

MY THANKS TO YOU On Dec. 31, my term as chairman of Boys & Girls Clubs of America concludes. Over the past two years, I’ve treasured this incredible opportunity to play a leadership role on behalf of Boys & Girls Clubs. I will continue to serve on the board and look forward to working with my fellow board members, including our incoming chairman, Emil Brolick, the COO of Yum Brands, Inc. Most of all, I want to express my sincere thanks to the dedicated professional staff and volunteers at Clubs across the country and on military installations worldwide. Having served more than a decade on the board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue, Wash., I know how hard you work, and the crucial difference you make, in the lives of America’s youth. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. It is an honor to serve with all of you. CONNECTIONS

J-LO, NE-YO BOOST CLUB VISIBILITY ENTERTAINERS ARE THE LATEST ACCLAIMED ALUMNI TO JOIN BE GREAT CAMPAIGN

oys & Girls Clubs of America’s national BE GREAT campaign works to increase public awareness of the critical role Boys & Girls Clubs play in helping young people achieve great futures. To that end, distinguished alumni such as Denzel Washington, Ashanti, Usher and Jackie Joyner-Kersee have generously lent their household names and countenances to the campaign. In 2010, BGCA was further honored when actress and singer Jennifer Lopez and singer Ne-Yo volunteered their services to the campaign. BGCA is grateful for the selfless support of all alumni involved in the BE GREAT campaign.

performing arts program, with first encouraging her to get on stage. “The Kips Bay Club was where I first sang,” she said. “It’s where I first danced and performed in front of an audience.” The world owes K Company a debt of gratitude. Without its well placed encouragement, we may have missed out on a major talent.

JENNIFER JOINS UP Last June on the streets of New York, film star and multiplatinum recording artist Jennifer Lopez enthusiastically joined BGCA’s BE GREAT awareness campaign. At a spirited Times Square ceremony, the Bronx native led a vast crowd in counting down to the unveiling of a Jennifer Lopez-inspired billboard. Once revealed, the crowd cheered her girlhood photo – in pigtails and plaid jumper – and the message “Be Extraordinary,” a call to young people that with hard work, desire and selfconfidence, they, too, can achieve success. The entertainer was accompanied by husband Marc Anthony and several members of the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club in the Bronx, her childhood Club. In remarks, Lopez credited K Company, the Club’s renowned

VEGAS UNVEILING A month earlier in his hometown of Las Vegas, singer Ne-Yo launched his own BE GREAT billboard. Inspired by his album Year of the Gentleman, the message “Be A Gentleman” urges all youth to be considerate and respectful to others. It’s a lesson Ne-Yo first learned at the Club. Before he was Ne-Yo, he was Shaffer Smith, an innercity kid who got bored easily. His mother, raising Shaffer and his sister by herself, decided her son’s restless energy needed an outlet – particularly during the out-of-school hours when supervision was scarce. Which is how they came to join the Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Vegas. Since then, the entertainer has reciprocated that muchneeded support. For example, last December, Ne-Yo’s Compass Foundation provided more than 500 young people at the Lied Memorial Clubhouse in Las Vegas with gifts such as MP3 players, bicycles and toys, all personally delivered by Ne-Yo. Every day, in communities nationwide, Boys & Girls Club youth also receive the gift of valuable guidance to achieve academic success, lead healthy lifestyles and develop good character. Each is vital for a young person to discover and pursue their own great future.

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LEBRON STEPS UP FOR BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS TV SPECIAL GENERATES MILLIONS, RAISES AWARENESS

s LeBron James entered the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich, Conn., gymnasium – escorted by the Club’s Youth of the Year, Camryn Ferrara, and the secretary of its Keystone Club, Sophia Lewis – the beaming basketball player was greeted with thundering applause from the throngs of Club young people packing the bleachers. James had chosen the Greenwich Club as the site for last July’s TV special in which he announced that he would join the NBA’s Miami Heat. But basketball fans in South Florida weren’t the only ones who celebrated James’s big announcement. His strong belief in our work led him to request that all event proceeds be directed to Boys & Girls Clubs. As a result, some $3 million was raised to support Clubs, primarily to help refurbish play spaces and athletic facilities.

SUPPORTING YOUTH FITNESS

as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Routine physical activity can also alleviate feelings of depression and anxiety.

A POWERFUL PUBLIC PLATFORM The event also raised significant public awareness about Boys & Girls Clubs, as nearly 10 million viewers tuned in for the live broadcast. “During one of the most difficult economic periods in our country’s history, with so many young people needing so much,” said Roxanne Spillett, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, “the visibility Boys & Girls Clubs received because of this broadcast was critically important.” Equally important will be the enhanced and refurbished recreational facilities, which will help keep kids fit and promote healthy lifestyles among Boys & Girls Club youth for generations to come.

These resources to enhance recreational facilities at Clubs could not have come at a better time, as the nation faces a startling epidemic of childhood obesity. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, 1 in 3 American children is overweight or obese. The regular exercise these spaces will be used for can reduce a young person’s risk of becoming overweight Club youth at the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich or obese, and developwatched while LeBron James announced that ing related illnesses such he’ll play for the Miami Heat.

BGCA President/CEO Roxanne Spillett with LeBron James.

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SUMMER OF SERVICE

EUROPEAN INTERNSHIPS YIELD VALUABLE LESSONS FOR CLUB ALUMNI By Teresa Quinn-Vesely

A PROUD PARTNERSHIP Established in 1991, BGCA’s partnership with the U.S. military includes all service branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. From serving 1,900 children, BGCAaffiliated Youth Centers today are on virtually every U.S. military installation, where they serve some 449,000 children and teens of service personnel. With the average military child moving six to nine times between kindergarten and completing high school, BGCA programs provide consistency in an otherwise unfamiliar setting. 18

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From left, Felicia, Demetrice and Carolina – here in Heidelberg, Germany – were summer interns at BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. Air Bases in Europe.

t’s not every college student who gets to spend their summer break overseas. But for three Boys & Girls Club alumni – Carolina Correa, Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s 2009-10 National Youth of the Year; Felicia Arriaga, 2008-09 Southeast Region Youth of the Year; and Demetrice Tuttle, 2007-08 National Youth of the Year – summertime 2010 provided just that opportunity, plus so much more. Each was chosen to participate in the U.S. Air Force’s European Summer Leadership Assistants (ESLA) program. Those eligible for the six- to eight-week internships – on Air Bases in England, Turkey, Germany, Portugal and Italy – must be 18 or older, have spent at least six months as a Club program assistant, and been a Regional or National Youth of the Year within the previous three years. This 2007 enhancement to BGCA’s partnership with the U.S. military is designed to deepen the impact of programming on overseas military youth who belong to BGCA-affiliated military Youth Centers on Air Bases. Working with adult staff, Leadership Assistants mentor Youth Center members and offer guidance on how to best implement various BGCA programs, such as Fine Arts, Torch Club and Keystone Club. They also help develop, execute and manage the annual European Keystone Leadership Conference. This year’s conference in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, drew more than 80 teens from all military branches.

CHALLENGES LIVING ABROAD Stationed at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, Carolina Correa discovered a lot about the challenges military families face living abroad. Interacting with military youth offered her a glimpse into their world, which turned out to be a somewhat familiar place. Having emigrated from Colombia to Rhode Island at age 12, Carolina found her background allowed her to easily relate to difficulties families often encounter residing overseas, such as adjusting to a new culture and speaking a new language. “I learned so much about how it felt to be dropped into a new, unfamiliar country – not knowing the language, not knowing anybody,” says Carolina, a sophomore at Assumption College in Worcester, Mass. “It is not only our brave soldiers who sacrifice; it is also their spouses and children.”

CURBING CULTURAL DISCONNECTS As a Youth Specialist at Ramstein Air Base, Ruth Radloff has been vital to the ESLA program’s success. Named “European Woman of the Year” by BGCA for her work as the lead advisor for the European Keystone Summit, Radloff firmly believes the interns help families adapt

to living in a different country, an often disorienting experience. “Sometimes with our families located overseas, we feel disconnected to lots of things happening in the states,” says Radloff. “Being able to bring the National and Regional Youth of the Year winners to Europe helps connect our young people with just how much can happen through Youth of the Year and other BGCA programs in our Youth Centers.”

TEACHING, LEARNING, RELATING Felicia Arriaga found connecting with young people at Aviano Air Base came easily. The Duke University junior greatly enjoyed her time in Italy, which included planning youth programming on her own. But her most memorable highlight was using her Boys & Girls Club background to help Aviano’s Keystone Club president successfully apply to the National Keystone Steering Committee. “I like to think I had a small part in helping to make that happen,” says Felicia.

A FIERCE DESIRE An ESLA veteran, Demetrice Tuttle spent his third summer overseas, this time within the 423rd Air Base Group in Alconbury, England. Looking back, the LaGrange (Georgia) College senior feels like the program has helped him to grow. “The day I was asked to be a part of the program,” he recalls, “the only thought I had was ‘Eight weeks in Europe? Gladly!’ Little did I know the profound impact this experience would have on my life.” Working with military youth, says Demetrice, has helped him to develop “a fierce commitment to provide opportunities for greater impact and growth to our military youth.”

AN EQUALLY ADVANTAGEOUS ALLIANCE As vice president of military and international services for BGCA, Terrill Wicks has no doubt that the ESLA program positively impacts everybody it touches. “The opportunity for interns to spend time with staff and overseas military dependants is a key part of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s partnership with the U.S. military,” says Wicks. “Military youth have the opportunity to learn about traditional Clubs, while Youth of the Year representatives gain extensive knowledge about military families. We are grateful to the Air Force for their ongoing support of the ESLA program.” Teresa Quinn-Vesely is BGCA’s service director, military services (Europe).

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usinessman, philanthropist and lifelong proponent of volunteerism, Jeremiah Milbank Sr. (1887-1972) was a man who gave freely of his time and wealth to help those in need. To serve returning World War I veterans, he founded the International Center for the Disabled in New York. In the 1920s, he led a campaign to eradicate diphtheria, a respiratory illness that once killed up to 15,000 Americans annually. Fortunately for Boys & Girls Clubs, he also lent his generosity and leadership to serving America’s young people. When Herbert Hoover became the chairman of the Boys Clubs of America in 1936, Milbank – who chaired Hoover’s presidential campaigns – joined him as its treasurer and a close consultant. For the next 25 years, Milbank was integral in developing what would become Boys & Girls Clubs of America. In 2004, to honor this pioneer for his invaluable service and generosity, BGCA established The Jeremiah Milbank Society. It recognizes individuals who, like Milbank himself, believe the Club is a vital community asset and eminently worthy of their high-level support. Those who make an unrestricted monetary gift of $10,000 or more to a local Boys & Girls Club organization’s annual campaign qualify for Society membership in that year.

INSIDE THE JEREMIAH MILBANK SOCIETY MEMBERS SHARE WHAT MOTIVATES THEIR GENEROUS CLUB SUPPORT By Michael von Neumann

Since the founding of The Jeremiah Milbank Society, members have contributed an inspiring $128.7 million to local organizations. Even amid the challenging economic circumstances of 2009, its 1,100 plus members contributed 17 percent more than the previous year. Why do members of The Jeremiah Milbank Society choose to support their local Boys & Girls Clubs at such a generous level? To find out, Connections interviewed several Society members countrywide, revealing similar motivations, expectations and emotions behind their altruistic support.

HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED WITH YOUR CLUB? Kristin Davidson (Board volunteer who has been involved with Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia since 1991.): I went through a program called Leadership Philadelphia, whose goal is to place people on nonprofit boards. I selected the Boys & Girls Club because of my interest in youth development. Annette Smith (Board volunteer for the Omaha, Neb., Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands since 2006.): I was asked to join the Club’s Guild Board. Getting involved directly with the kids helped me understand the difference Clubs make at the most fundamental level – I saw the impact Clubs can have on members’ lives. Vince Gifford (As a child, he joined the Boys Club of Asbury Park, N.J., in 1951. Today, he supports the Boys & Girls Clubs of Monmouth County, N.J.): My first involvement was as a member. It was half a block from my home and the only thing in town for me and my buddies to do.

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WHY DID YOU BECOME A MEMBER OF THE JEREMIAH MILBANK SOCIETY? Annette Smith: I realized the importance of Clubs in our community and saw a need I have the good fortune of being able to contribute to. It is my hope that I can inspire others to become members. Ted and Alice von Briesen (Board volunteers for the Grenville Baker Boys & Girls Club of Locust Valley, N.Y., since 1992.): We felt it was important to give back and support the Club for all the good work that it does for the kids. We don’t have children of our own, so this is our way of helping out. Scott Heider (Board volunteer who has been involved with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands since 1980.): Supporting Clubs is the right thing to do. High unemployment and other economic factors make this an especially important time to get and keep youth off the streets.

HOW DO YOU FEEL THE CLUB IMPACTS YOUTH AND COMMUNITIES? Ted and Alice von Briesen: The Club has helped so many children with academics. Today, we see about 500 kids in the homework help program, have a dedicated technology lab with 25 computers and an English as a Second Language program with more than 50 kids. Bill Beechler (The chairman emeritus and current governance committee co-chair has served the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland since 1978.): Inner-city challenges can be overwhelming; the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland addresses them and makes a positive impact. It’s the most effective way to help underprivileged kids in Cleveland. Kristin Davidson: We provide a safe, secure location with caring adults and good programs in sometimes unsafe neighborhoods. Youth can see opportunities they might not otherwise know were there.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO BELONG TO THE JEREMIAH MILBANK SOCIETY? Richard Harrington (Since 1995, he has served the Boys & Girls Club of the Pee Dee Area in Florence, S.C., in various functions, including on its board.): Because I give at this level, it is easier for me to ask others to give. Vince Gifford: Being a member shows the community the Club is worthy of support – that it is worthy of my time and financial support. Annette Smith: I am happy to do what I can to contribute to the Club, as I can see its importance and value in our community. Membership is only important to me if it helps encourage others to donate.

WHY ARE YOU INVOLVED WITH YOUR CLUB? Scott Heider: I enjoy working with young people. The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands serves a real need in our community today, where I also serve on the boards of a local middle school, Creighton University and Creighton Preparatory School. Vince Gifford: The Club was such an important part of my childhood. It was and remains a safe environment to keep kids off the street. Annette Smith: The Club’s mission to provide a safe place where kids can be nurtured to become productive members of society is near and dear to me. I feel this type of nurturing is vital in a child’s development.

WHAT DOES MEMBERSHIP IN THE JEREMIAH MILBANK SOCIETY MEAN TO YOU? Vince Gifford: Knowing the positive benefit on kids’ lives my involvement helps to provide… How can you put that feeling into words? It is how I can give back. Scott Heider: I feel supporting well-run youth organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands is my duty. Richard Harrington: I give to the cause, not for personal recognition. We need more people to be sustaining givers of substantial gifts.

WHAT IMPACT DO YOU FEEL THE CLUB HAS ON YOUTH AND THE COMMUNITY? Vince Gifford: I think the Club has a greater impact for kids today than it did for [my generation]. Kids are tougher now, from tough situations. Annette Smith: Clubs have a direct impact that helps youth understand how to positively relate to others. When a child reflects on positive experiences and applies what they’ve learned, they can become better functioning, more productive members of society. Positive experiences are passed along in many ways… Over time, it adds up to make a tremendous difference in our community.

Don’t miss out on the exceptional development opportunities The Jeremiah Milbank Society can offer for your Club’s annual campaign. To learn more, go to the Resource Development section of bgca.net, then click FUNDRAI$INGbank. You can also request information by sending an e-mail to jms@bgca.org. Michael von Neumann is director, operations, resource development – Club services for BGCA.

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OUT OF ATLANTA, INTO SOUTH AFRICA CLUB YOUTH LEADERS REPRESENT U.S.A. AT SOCCER WORLD CUP

or one month this past summer, the world’s attention was focused on South Africa, site of the 2010 World Cup. Among the 3 million or so gathered for the quadrennial get-together of the planet’s best soccer teams were four young men from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta.

drumming sessions. And they didn’t depart without seeing the continent’s famed wildlife, as tours of nature sanctuaries allowed the four to get up close and personal with elephants, white lions, rhinos, cheetahs, tigers, pumas, jaguars and zebras. But if they thought those beasts were wild, they had yet to see the untamed soccer fan.

For their leadership and mentorship as members of the Brookhaven Boys & Girls Club, Tomas Chipman and Landon Louizia, both 16, and 13-year-olds Justin Barber and Edmundo Robinson were chosen to participate in the Coca-Cola 2010 FIFA World Cup Flag Bearers Program. Led by Bobby Dunn, Brookhaven ’s executive director, the young men would represent their country prior to the USA vs. Slovenia match.

SHOULDERING THE STARS AND STRIPES

LIONS AND TIGERS AND CULTURE – OH MY!

For 13-year-old Justin, the experience was simply amazing. “It was the most extraordinary thing I have ever done,” he said. “The experience of the game really made me appreciate the sport more – and I loved being part of South Africans’ way of life.”

While soccer was behind the five-day transcontinental trek made possible by The Coca-Cola Company and Walmart, the teens made certain their first trip overseas was a wellrounded experience, as they participated in several activities unique to the region. Joining locals for the traditional South African-style barbeque known as Braai, they sampled dishes such as alligator, lamb and bull tongue. Visiting Lesedi, a livinghistory replica of an African village, they learned about African cultures, including tribal folklore and ancestral traditions, and even took part in ritual dances and

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On June 18, before more than 45,000 frenetic soccer fans, the Brookhaven boys carried the American flag onto the field of Johannesburg’s Ellis Park Stadium for the opening ceremonies. Afterwards, they were led to their seats, where they watched the exciting, hard fought 2-2 draw.

Michael Pelletier of Coca-Cola, who accompanied the Atlanta ambassadors, expressed pride in their comportment. “They represented themselves, their families, Boys & Girls Clubs, and the United States of America in front of hundreds of millions of viewers all over the globe and did so amazingly well,” said Pelletier. “I’m proud of each and every one of them.”

MEET THREE UNCOMMON CLUB YOUTH WITH THREE THINGS IN COMMON 1. EACH IS A BOYS & GIRLS CLUB ALUM. 2. EACH IS A YOUTH OF THE YEAR WINNER. 3. EACH IS ATTENDING COLLEGE FOR FREE.

RYAN ALLEN • 18 BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER KANSAS CITY, MO.

AMAYA HAMILTON • 18 RAMSTEIN AFB YOUTH PROGRAMS, GERMANY

TAMARA JOHNSON • 18 PUEBLO OF POJOAQUE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB, SANTA FE, N.M.

The Marquette University-BGCA Youth of the Year Scholarship – a four-year, full-tuition scholarship – makes it all possible. It’s part of a national education partnership between Marquette University and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Only winners of Youth of the Year – BGCA’s premier character and leadership recognition program – are eligible for the scholarship. Up to three scholarships are available for the 2011–12 academic year. Qualified candidates must:

Be a local, state or regional Youth of the Year Meet Marquette University admission criteria Apply no later than Feb. 15, 2011

LEARN MORE TODAY. GO TO

MARQUETTE.EDU/BGCA

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columns Excellence in Action

MOTIVATING BOARD VOLUNTEERS

A FRESH APPROACH TO GOVERNANCE STIMULATES IDEAS, DIALOGUE AND ENGAGEMENT By Karen Luebbert, Ph.D.

s a St. Louis resident, I’ve long been aware of the Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club’s impact on youth and the community. It’s one of the reasons I accepted their 2006 invitation to become a board volunteer. Although I was aware of the Club’s value, it was direct contact with the young people it serves that made me realize just how vital its services are.

As I watched them rehearse, one teen after another told how a staff member’s mentoring and friendship had been crucial to their development. It hit home to me just how important Clubs truly are to youth. Gaining this perspective was one of the reasons that led me to increase my involvement with the Herbert Hoover organization, including becoming board chair.

Not long after my orientation, Dr. Flint Fowler, the Club’s chief professional officer, asked for my assistance on a project. I am a vice president at nearby Webster University and he wanted to know if I could enlist English Department representatives to coach Youth of the Year candidates on writing essays and speeches.

As is the case with many organizations, I soon discovered that motivating board volunteers could be a challenge. Board members lead busy lives, after all, and family and career take precedence. Still, there had to be something we could do to encourage engagement. Little did we know that change was about to come our way.

It proved to be an astute plan. Established in 1967, the Herbert Hoover Club had never produced a Missouri Youth of the Year. Within a few years of implementing the plan, two of our young people achieved the honor. We also helped candidates practice for the competition’s panel interview, questioning them in a similar format.

GRANT ENCOURAGES REAL IMPACT In September 2008, our Club was one of eight St. Louis-area youth development organizations selected to join the Deaconess Foundation Impact Partnership, a capacity-building initiative to help such nonprofits achieve their missions. That November, the president and CEO of the Deaconess Foundation, Jerry Paul, attended an all-day board meeting. He challenged us to focus our efforts on meaningful issues that could facilitate real impact. We took his challenge to heart at our next board retreat. During our retreat, we considered our roles, board culture and ways to build camaraderie. Board volunteers engaged in frank conversations about how we functioned and how we could best learn together. We performed exercises that helped us brainstorm new ways to increase board commitment. Especially useful was the idea of “macroengagement.”

A NEW WAY OF THINKING CPO Flint Fowler and board volunteer Karen Luebbert of the Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club were challenged to focus on issues that could make the greatest impact on youth.

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We drew from ideas in the book Governance as Leadership: Reframing the Work of Nonprofit Boards. Co-authors Richard Chait, William Ryan and Barbara Taylor propose restructuring board work around three modes of governance: fiduciary, strategic and governance. When all

Excellence in Action

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three are properly implemented, the result is governance as leadership. The three modes are summarized below. • Type I: Fiduciary mode constitutes the bedrock of governance – the work to ensure a nonprofit is faithful to mission, accountable for performance and compliant with pertinent regulations. Type I is essential; without it, governance has no legitimacy. If a board fails at the mode, the organization – as well as donors, clients and the community – could be harmed. • Type II: Strategic mode, the next level, involves the board and management strategizing to set priorities and direction, and to position resources accordingly. Without Type II, governance has little power or influence; it is more about staying on course, rather than setting the course. • Type III: Governance mode is the most advanced level. It requires board and management to engage in deeper inquiry in order to make sense of ambiguous situations. By considering alternative points of view, new opportunities are revealed. As a result, micromanagement is exchanged for macroengagement; that is, instead of a division of labor, a collective thinking takes place among the board. One creative way to encourage involvement is by engaging board volunteers at their point of interest; some wish to do something different from their daily occupation.

The Herbert Hoover Club’s first school-based site, opened in 2008 at Hazelwood Southeast Middle School, serves 150 children, with more than 50 attending daily.

of minutes, committee appointments, etc.) that don’t require discussion or individual motions are organized and approved separately from the rest of the agenda. In addition, board volunteers now receive pre-meeting dashboard reports – quick, comprehensible updates of the Club’s status and direction focused on important data, such as resources and outcome management. These changes produced positive results. Routine items are more quickly covered, providing more time for meaningful dialogue. Meetings are now more focused and our mission is clearer. At a recent meeting, for example, we invited a city juvenile judge to speak. During our discussion, he attributed the majority of juvenile crimes to kids with too much free time and too little adult supervision. That conversation alone re-affirmed the importance of our mission to us.

ONGOING ENHANCEMENTS The Deaconess Foundation Impact Partnership helped the Club develop the board involvement needed to keep up with recent growth, such as the new site that opened at this community center in 2006.

Rather than working exclusively on committees that reflect their profession, the Herbert Hoover Club’s board volunteers were given a choice. A board member who worked in IT joined the Marketing Committee. A marketing executive joined the Program Committee.

MEETING MAKEOVER To make the most of our board meetings, we restructured them to allot more time for presentations and discussions. Prior to meetings, Club staff now e-mail board volunteers consent agendas. Routine action items (approval

To continue to enhance the quality of our board, we are considering instituting term limits and capping the number of board volunteers. Properly implemented, such actions can lead to new blood and new voices, yet still allow longtime board volunteers to be involved in other capacities, even temporarily. A Boys & Girls Club that excels in achieving its mission is typically characterized by a standout board. At the Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club, we are resolved to be that standout board by being engaged and steadfast in our mission of serving youth, and by governing more effectively by taking a leadership approach to our work. Karen Luebbert, Ph.D., is immediate past chair of and a current board volunteer for the Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club.

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managing

risk

Situation

YIELD

Avoidance Strategies

Is Your Organization Vulnerable?

REAL SITUATIONS. REAL SOLUTIONS. The Cost of Blurred Boundaries

Situation

Like many Boys & Girls Clubs, the Centerville Boys & Girls Club staff includes several part-time employees. William, 21, a college student who works in the Club’s teen center, is typical of many part-time staffers – frequently college students, age 19-25, often in a youth development field of study.

Despite his initial objections, William gave in. Then, when the music abruptly turned from fast to slow, cell phone cameras captured the part-timer in a seemingly improper embrace. Circulated via text message and e-mail, the photos quickly found their way to parents. The appearance of impropriety caused an uproar.

In some respects, William is perfect for the position. For one, he’s young enough to relate to teen members, which can increase the Club’s influence and impact. However, his age can also work against him, as his judgment is limited by his life experience. In particular, he has difficulty setting and maintaining the personal and professional boundaries that are essential for successfully working with youth.

To avoid even the suggestion of inappropriate behavior, William was fired. Despite his honorable intentions, the young man’s actions share similarities with other unacceptable behaviors, which often begin with seemingly innocent personal boundary violations. Left unchallenged, such violations effectively provide a perpetrator consent to repeat it or commit another. In fact, such interactions can be early indicators of more serious inappropriate behaviors, even child molestation.

For example, when teens got a hold of William’s cell phone number and texted him homework questions, his concern for their academic success superseded his discretion; instead of following organization rules prohibiting unsupervised or unauthorized communication with members outside the Club, he engaged in digital conversations with several teens. In another instance, female members at a Club event implored the college student to dance with them.

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While William’s supervisor knew of both incidents, he initially took no formal disciplinary action. Consequently, the seemingly harmless, explicable situations were not documented – despite the fact that each incident exposed the Club and William to potential legal action. Certainly no less important is the fact that the hard-earned trust among the Club, the community and Club members’ parents was put in jeopardy, as well.

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Avoidance Strategies YIELD

This situation may have been avoided if:

• The Club’s code of conduct was updated with clearer policies defining appropriate and inappropriate interactions between staff and youth, as well as among Club members. • The Club identified corrective actions for any staff, volunteer or youth who violates the code of conduct. • Candidates for employment were asked to describe appropriate boundaries and behaviors during the interview process. • New staff and volunteers were required to read and sign the Club’s policies regarding inappropriate interactions before starting their job. • Staff and volunteers received training in understanding personal boundaries, and ways to avoid violations and false accusations that could affect their employment and even their career. • Club members were educated about inappropriate conduct as part of their initial orientation and ongoing instruction. • Staff and volunteers were required to report suspicious or inappropriate behaviors and were fully committed to doing so.

Is Your Organization Vulnerable? Use these questions to generate discussion with your board and staff: • Do our policies define acceptable interactions between employees/volunteers and Club members outside regularly scheduled program activities? • Do Club administrators consistently enforce Club policies and maintain a code of conduct for all employees and volunteers? • Do administrators use formal and informal methods to monitor employee and volunteer interactions with Club youth? • Does our Club respond quickly when staff or volunteers drift from operational standards or violate policies? • Do we provide our Club members with age-appropriate information about protecting themselves from abuse? • Do we inform our members and their parents about policies related to abuse prevention?

Want to Learn More? BGCA.net – From the homepage, click Operations, then select Club Safety & Design for a wealth of helpful resources, including: • Downloadable Staff Screening Tool Kit • Child Safety and Prevention: A Prevention Guidebook for Boys & Girls Clubs • Know the Signs, a report and analysis of sexual crimes Webinar – Even the best, most organized Clubs can find themselves in an unexpected situation. Learn how to best manage such risks with Keeping Kids

Safe, a free, one-hour webinar on child sexual abuse prevention. E-mail lnichols@bgca.org for schedule details. Praesidium – The risk management consulting firm offers Club Care, an abuse prevention program developed and tested with Boys & Girls Clubs through a grant from the New York Life Foundation. The program includes online training, policy review, gap analyses and ongoing assistance. Learn more at praesidiuminc.com/bgca. For more information, contact Les Nichols, vice president, Club safety & design for BGCA, at lnichols@bgca.org.

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columns View From The Potomac

CONGRESSIONAL BREAKFAST YIELDS UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS By Kevin McCartney t the annual Congressional Breakfast, our five Youth of the Year representatives impressed members from both sides of the aisle. Hosted once again by Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Sen. Orrin Hatch – two of our very best friends in Washington, D.C. – the breakfast was filled with incredible moments. We inducted Majority Leader Hoyer, who attended a Club in Miami as a child, into our Alumni Hall of Fame. Our great friends at Major League Baseball announced their renewal of our partnership at $3 million over the next three years. And we received terrific news from the Office of Justice Programs when Assistant Attorney General Laurie Robinson announced funding of $40 million to BGCA. Moreover, an additional $2 million will go to support Club mentoring programs on Native American lands. This achievement was especially impressive as the total pool of available funds was $60 million – with two-thirds going to BGCA, a powerful vote of confidence. The highlight, of course, was the naming of Mona Dixon as our 2010-11 National Youth of the Year.

Kevin McCartney is senior vice president of government relations for BGCA.

1 1: House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Sen. Hatch, at the podium, co-host the 2010 Congressional Breakfast. 2: Thomas C. Brasuell, Major League Baseball’s vice president of community affairs and a Club alum himself, announces the renewal of the MLB/BGCA partnership. 3: From left, BGCA Governor Denzel Washington, Mona Dixon, Asst. Attorney General Laurie Robinson, Sen. Patrick Leahy and National Youth of the Year Ambassador Ashanti at the Congressional Breakfast. 4: Majority Leader Hoyer, who attended a Club in Miami as a child, is inducted into the BGCA Alumni Hall of Fame by BGCA Governor Ron Gidwitz. 5: Rep. Donald Payne is a longtime BGCA advocate who has also served on the board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newark. 6: (From left) Mona Dixon accepts the 2010-11 National Youth of the Year award from Susan Russ of Reader’s Digest Foundation and Carolina Correa, the 200910 National Youth of the Year. 7: At an Oval Office meeting, Mona Dixon speaks with President Obama as the Regional Youth of the Year winners and Denzel Washington look on. 28

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8: Rep. Chaka Fattah, an active proponent of making a college education accessible to all, addresses the audience.

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Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

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