Connections Fall-Winter 2011 by Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Taking Steps to a Great Future

Our 2011-12 Youth of the Year winners experience an unforgettable week of events in Washington, D.C.

in this issue Ron Howard Directs New PSA The Club Experience: It’s Fun! Chef Bruno’s Never-ending Pasta Night

connecti ons

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA & FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA Honorary Chairpersons ROBBIE BACH RICK GOINGS PETER L. HAYNES M. ANNE SZOSTAK Chairmen Emeriti EMIL J. BROLICK 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 MICHELLE McQUISTON Writer/Editor PATRICK MARTIN Art Director ELLEN WESTING Graphic Designer

fall/winter 2011/12 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE My journey with Boys & Girls Clubs began with an eight-month contract. I was hired to work on a program that connected poor children with healthcare. That was in 1978, when the national organization was still in New York, in the old Herbert Hoover Building on First Avenue. Little did I know that Boys & Girls Clubs would become not just my life’s work, but my life.

That individual, without question, is Jim Clark, a collaborative leader as thoughtful as he is effective.

It has been my great fortune to remain a part of this incredible Movement, and a privilege and an honor to serve as your president and CEO. As I look back, a story of blessings unfolds. A wonderful time of hope and opportunity, in which our Boys & Girls Club Movement has grown to become the most effective youth-serving organization in the world. With that said, now is the absolute right time for me to move on. After 34 years, I’m ready to try new things and hopefully spend more time with my family, my grandchildren, to give back in different ways. My readiness is also a reflection of my final act for Boys & Girls Clubs, which I believe is one of my best.

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. 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.

To ensure our organization’s continued success, the National Board of Governors and I developed a very thoughtful plan of succession. We sought an individual with the proven skills and temperament to lead a large, complex organization. A leader firmly committed to the Movement and its mission. A leader who can unite the Movement as a family.

As president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee since 2004, Jim has taken the organization to unprecedented heights. With his guidance, revenue has increased every year, resulting in 17 new Clubs and 10,000 new members. Just as crucial are new program initiatives in literacy, teen outreach, college preparation and outcome measurement. In 2010, the Milwaukee Club was awarded a $4.14 million Investing In Innovation Fund by the U.S. Department of Education. Jim’s tremendous vision, tenacity and results-oriented approach make him the right choice at the right time to lead our remarkable Movement forward. But it is his passion for our mission that is Jim’s defining trait. He is dedicated to providing young people with the opportunities they truly deserve to build their great futures. I love the Boys & Girls Club Movement with all my heart. It is, and will remain, my life. Some ask how I could ever leave the Movement. My answer is always the same: I will take it with me wherever I go. Thank you for all you do for our kids, for the future of our country and, on a personal note, for being my family. I’ll miss every one of you more than I can say.

ROXANNE SPILLETT FSC_MS_2_LPC.EPS

PRESIDENT & CEO

2 Stepping Up to a Great Future

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

7 Star Power

Celebrity alums shine a light on the Club

8 Going to Bat for Kids

MLB helps Phoenix Club rise up with All-Star Week

10 The Club Experience

Fun, variety still keys to draw kids into Clubs

13 Addressing Grief

New initiative helps Clubs serve bereaved youth

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16 Anaheim Angel

Chef makes sure Club members don’t go to bed hungry

18 Road Rules

Driver safety program turns out street-smart teens

contents

features

20 Run Zoe Run

23-year-old runs 3,000 miles across U.S. for Clubs

22 A Day of Caring

Partnership benefits Clubs around the country

columns 14 Chairman’s Report

From BGCA leader Emil Brolick

Taking Steps Future

to a Great

Our 2011-12 Youth of the unforgettable week Year winners experience an of events in Washingt on, D.C.

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28 Excellence in Action Best practices from the field

30 Managing Risk

Real situations, real solutions

32 View from the Potomac Current events from the capital

news 24 Conference Offers Forum for Impact 2,000 gather in New Orleans for country’s youth

27 GameDay Exclusive

in this issue Ron Howard Directs New PSA The Club Experie nce: It’s Fun! Chef Bruno’s Never-e nding Pasta Night

From left: 2011-12 National Youth of the Year Nicholas Foley with Regional Youth of the Year winners Darnisha Victorain, Tamika Mallett, Akheem Holliman and DeShaun Bennett in front of the U.S. Capitol.

Club teens go behind ESPN cameras

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STEPPING UP TO A GREAT FUTURE YOUTH OF THE YEAR WINNERS SHARE PATH TO SUCCESS WITH CELEBRITY ALUMS

Denzel Washington, Akheem, Tamika, Ashanti Douglas, Darnisha, DeShaun, Nicholas and Ron Howard at the Youth of the Year Dinner.

Ashanti plays timpani with a local Club member.

at the National Youth of the Year dinner by two very special Club alums – BGCA National Spokesperson Denzel Washington and National Youth of the Year Ambassador Ashanti Douglas. Also at the finalists’ table were director Ron Howard and NBA player LeBron James, both dedicated Club supporters. James, whose foundation provided $2 million to renovate fitness facilities at 13 Clubs – including the newly renamed LeBron James Clubhouse in Akron, Ohio – was honored with the Champion of Youth Award. Denzel, Tamika, Akheem and DeShaun share a laugh.

ach September, five exceptional Boys & Girls Club teenagers assemble in Washington, D.C. After competing with thousands, they have achieved the penultimate honor of regional Youth of the Year. At the end of this exhilarating week, one young person is named National Youth of the Year, the most prestigious honor a Boys & Girls Club member can attain. This year the 64th annual celebration was made even more poignant when the five young finalists were joined

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But even these superstars couldn’t outshine the five extraordinary Youth of the Year finalists. Each candidate addressed a rapt audience, graciously sharing their personal histories. They spoke of the Club staff and volunteers who bolstered their self-confidence, the programs that provided the means to succeed as students and community leaders. Theirs were stirring stories that demonstrated the power of the Club experience to change young lives.

BREAKFAST WITH CONGRESS The next morning, Sen. Orrin Hatch and Rep. Steny Hoyer co-hosted an unforgettable Congressional Breakfast, where they and Sen. Patrick Leahy each emphasized the crucial benefits Clubs provide to America’s young people. Ron Howard, who directed BGCA’s new public service announcement featuring 21 celebrity Club alumni, previewed the spot for the audience, drawing a thunderous standing ovation. (Turn to page 7 to learn more.) But the event reached its true crescendo only when Nicholas Foley of Pittsburgh’s Sarah Heinz House Boys & Girls Club was named 2011-12 National Youth of the Year. The honor includes $61,000 in college scholarships from Tupperware Brands and The Rick and Susan Goings Foundation, as well as a new car from Toyota Financial Services. The four outstanding Regional Youth of the Year winners were each awarded $11,000 in scholarships. The remarkable stories of Nicholas, DeShaun, Ahkeem, Tamika and Darnisha appear in the following pages. Each story reveals the path of one extraordinary young person, through a Boys & Girls Club, and on to their own great future.

NATIONAL YOUTH OF THE YEAR

NICHOLAS FOLEY

Sarah Heinz House Boys & Girls Club (Pittsburgh) Nicholas has taken advantage of everything the Club has to offer throughout his 10-year membership. As a Junior Staff member, he is a leader to his fellow Club kids. An outstanding athlete, the well-rounded teen balances sports with activities such as the robotics team, music program and dance team. He also serves as a summer camp counselor. As president of his Keystone Club, Nicholas has logged more than 1,500 volunteer hours. He organized a holiday toy drive and a collection to help a local man get back on his feet after he lost his home to fire. Early in his childhood, Nicholas endured a period of homelessness himself. He later lived in a series of foster homes until his aunt and her partner adopted him in 2002 – and introduced him to the Boys & Girls Club. With the support of his adoptive family and the Club, Nicholas overcame those obstacles.

“My Club is the most amazing thing I have ever been a part of. Since the first time I saw the place, I knew it was where I belonged.”

Nicholas recently entered his senior year at the high school he chose for its pre-engineering curriculum. He plans to attend Penn State University to study civil engineering.

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SOUTHEAST YOUTH OF THE YEAR SOUTHWEST YOUTH OF THE YEAR

DESHAUN BENNETT

Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Arkansas (Little Rock) For 10 years, the Central Arkansas Club was a safe haven for DeShaun. At home, he has played important roles, including caring for his younger siblings and disabled grandmother, and contributing to the household income. That helpful spirit extends to his community, too – DeShaun has performed more than 1,000 hours of volunteer service over the past four years. His causes include a local hospital, cancer research, and providing food to families in need. DeShaun grew up in a neighborhood rife with drugs and violence. When he was just 11, he suffered the devastating loss of his father. But with the guidance of Club staff, DeShaun overcame those hardships. He grew into a young man of strong character, a leader who tutored younger members and spent his summers working at the Club. In high school, DeShaun was student council president, earned National Honor Society membership, and competed as a varsity wrestler. He graduated with honors in 2011 and now studies chemistry at Morehouse College, the first step toward his life goal to find a cure for AIDS.

“The Club is the foundation of my success and accomplishments. When I was there I had no fear, no worries, no pain, no suffering. It all disappeared.”

AHKEEM HOLLIMON Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida (Orlando) As a six-year member and leader at his Central Florida Club, Ahkeem was a mentor to several younger members. He participated in many different programs, served as Keystone Club vice president and worked as a Junior Staff member. Respected by his peers, Ahkeem served on the Club’s teen advisory board, which steers teen programming and events. He helped create the program “Brother to Brother” to empower the Club’s male youth to express themselves in constructive ways. The program was a natural outgrowth of the vital role Ahkeem played at home after the unexpected death of his older brother. In the wake of that tragedy, Ahkeem became a role model and consensus builder who helped his family heal. He vowed to work harder, to build a new legacy of hope and success for his family. And so he does, caring for his younger siblings, helping with chores and contributing to the family income. The honor student recently graduated from high school, where he played basketball and served as student representative on the local school board. Now a freshman at Valencia Community College, Ahkeem plans to major in engineering and management.

“Six years ago when I walked into my Boys & Girls Club, I had no idea that my life would change for the good. The Club saved my life.”

Emil Brolick, LeBron James and Ron Howard speak at the National Press Club about how Clubs help children achieve great futures.

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MIDWEST YOUTH OF THE YEAR

TAMIKA MALLETT Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana (Gary)

A four-year member of her Club, Tamika was a leader of the SMART Girls self-esteem-building program, serving as a mentor to younger girls. She took part in career development programming through Junior Staff, as well as the Power Hour academic enrichment program. As a Keystone Club member, Tamika helped organize a community food drive that provided a holiday feast to more than 200 local residents. Sadly, Tamika did not enjoy an entirely carefree childhood. At a young age, she became the primary caregiver of her younger siblings, who continue to look to her for guidance and support. Despite these challenges, Tamika developed into a strong leader in her Club and community. A well-rounded student, Tamika excelled academically and enjoyed pursuits such as choir and serving as president of a dropout prevention group, Jobs for America’s Graduates. The first in her family to attend college, Tamika is working toward a degree in sociology at Purdue University. She plans to pursue a career with Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

“There was never a time that the Club did not recognize me as someone significant. The Club has opened doors that I never imagined could or would be accessible to me.”

PACIFIC YOUTH OF THE YEAR

DARNISHA VICTORAIN

Boys & Girls Clubs of Ada County (Boise, Idaho)

In six years at the Ada County Club, Darnisha developed into a leader and role model to her younger siblings and fellow members. She also developed the confidence to believe in herself. At one point, Darnisha associated with peers who were a negative influence. She began to fail classes. Her mother took her to the Boys & Girls Club. With the staff’s support, she found her path back to a great future. Working as a Junior Staff member, Darnisha helped younger kids – and discovered her own self-worth. For the first time, she felt competent and useful. The respect she earned as a Club leader motivated her to become involved in community service projects – from rallying her peers to participate in community clean-ups to organizing holiday caroling at senior centers. Darnisha excelled academically in high school and led the debate team to the state championship. Now a University of Idaho freshman, her goal is to become a prosecuting attorney.

“If not for the Club, I’m not sure what path my life would have taken. The Club gave me a sense of value and taught me compassion. The more I did for others, the better I felt about myself. I now know I have the ability to accomplish amazing things in my life.”

GREAT FUTURES AGENDA STARTS HERE What better venue to announce our agenda for America’s youth than the annual Youth of the Year celebration? Promptly following the Congressional Breakfast, BGCA Chairman Emil Brolick hosted a press event at the National Press Club, with CNN, NBC, PBS, FOX News and the Associated Press among reporting media. Brolick outlined the critical issues putting millions of youth at risk: the 3 in 10 students who won’t graduate on time; the 3 in 10 children who are obese or overweight; the 1 in 5 kids who lives in poverty.

Director Ron Howard introduced the new Great Futures Start Here PSA, in which 21 celebrity alumni illustrate how Clubs help kids overcome obstacles and achieve their dreams. (See story on page 7.) Howard said that he had been incredibly moved by the stories of transformation and success he’d heard from Club alums and Youth of the Year finalists. In perhaps the most moving story of all, newly named National YOY Nicholas Foley took the podium to explain the relevance of our new agenda to his own life. Thanks to his Club, he said, “I stand before everyone today, a young man with a great future ahead of me.” CONNECTIONS

THE MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY YOUTH OF THE YEAR SCHOLARSHIP WHO’S NEXT?

RYAN ALLEN

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER KANSAS CITY, MO.

TAMARA JOHNSON

PUEBLO OF POJOAQUE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB, SANTA FE, N.M.

AMAYA HAMILTON RAMSTEIN AFB YOUTH PROGRAMS, GERMANY

JESSICA MADER

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF NORTHWEST COLORADO

Each year, Marquette University, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Wade’s World Foundation provide up to three full-tuition scholarships to Youth of the Year winners. Young people like Amaya, Ryan, Tamara, and Jessica, now pursuing their great futures as Marquette students. A Youth of the Year from your organization could be next. As a national education partner of BGCA, the Marquette University Youth of the Year Scholarship is available to qualifying Boys & Girls Club members named Youth of the Year at any level – unit, organizational, state, regional or national. Scholarship and admissions applications must be submitted by March 1, 2012. Students are urged to apply as soon as possible to improve the possibility of admission.

FIND COMPLETE DETAILS AT

MARQUETTE.EDU/BGCA

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Scan QR code to watch the exclusive video by Ron Howard.

STAR POWER CELEBRITY ALUMS SHINE A BRIGHT LIGHT ON THE LIFE-CHANGING IMPACT OF THE CLUB By Michelle McQuiston

t happened one summer day in Los Angeles. There was a film crew, an Oscar-winning director and 21 celebrities. But this was no ordinary movie set, no glamorous awards show. There were no paparazzi, no red carpet. Instead, there was a door. In front of that door gathered a diverse group of athletes, entertainers, entrepreneurs, even a four-star general. What brought them together was a profound bond. Now at the top of their fields, many of them household names, each got their start by walking through the door of a Boys & Girls Club. This illustrious group came together to film a public service announcement directed by Academy Award winner Ron Howard. Featuring Denzel Washington, Jennifer Lopez, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Gen. Wesley Clark, businessman and philanthropist John Paul DeJoria, and 16 more notable alumni, the two-minute spot brings to life our new tagline, “Great Futures Start Here.” Howard was inspired to take on the project after BGCA national spokesperson Denzel Washington approached him with the concept. “We realized we have a tremendous asset,” said Washington, referring to the many successful alumni who could shine a bright light on the power of Boys & Girls Clubs to help kids reach for their dreams. “We wanted to show people how effective the Clubs are,” said Jennifer Lopez, co-national spokesperson for BGCA. “We wanted to show the public how so many successful people – that they actually know – came through a Boys & Girls Club.”

ALL IN THE FAMILY Behind-the-scenes observers at the shooting of the PSA reported that it was more like a family reunion than a movie set. All of the former Club kids had stories they just couldn’t wait to share – about a favorite staff person, a cherished childhood moment or a singular experience that inspired and enabled them to be who they are today. “You go in the Club, and all of sudden you’re part of something really big and amazing,” said Lopez. “I would dance and spend my afternoons there, and then go home and dream about the next day. It just gave me a great sense of hope, and it kick-started my dreams.” For Cuba Gooding Jr., the Club was the only place he and his friends could break dance without being chased off by disapproving adults or courted by gang members – but Club staff required them to do their homework first. Washington remembered how the university pennants hanging on the Club walls convinced him that he, too, could go to college and make a better life for himself. It was because of experiences like these that so many successful alumni came together to support Clubs, where all of their great futures started. “It’s like full circle,” said BGCA Youth of the Year Ambassador Ashanti, “to be here today and be able to tell kids, ‘You can do it. I had my start here.’” Michelle McQuiston is writer/editor for BGCA.

CONNECTIONS

GOING TO BAT FOR KIDS

ajor League Baseball® gave fans many memorable moments in 2011. Riveting pennant races. An exhilarating World Series between the Texas Rangers and eventual champion St. Louis Cardinals. And once again, the amazing partnership between MLB® and Boys & Girls Clubs of America provided thousands of Boys & Girls Club members with unforgettable experiences, too.

6 to 12 baseball and softball skills with fun, engaging activities that encourage them to exercise and eat well. The on-field thrills provided by MLB in 2011 won’t soon be forgotten. But the league’s extraordinary support of Boys & Girls Clubs throughout our incredible partnership has made a lasting impact on young people, one that will endure beyond even cherished baseball memories.

At July’s All-Star Game, some 1,800 local Club members attended MLB FanFest® and took part in its entertaining fun and games. MLB and the Arizona Diamondbacks also gave back to the community, collaborating on a $2 million makeover of the MLB All-Star/Arizona Diamondbacks Branch: A Kieckhefer Family Legacy. The World Series was no less impactful. Club kids had the thrill of delivering the game ball to the mound before each of the seven games. But Game Three was truly unforgettable. And not only because Albert Pujols smacked a record-tying three homeruns. The league dedicated Game Three to youth in underserved communities and BGCA. A pre-game ceremony paid tribute to 2011-12 National Youth of the Year Nicholas Foley and retiring BGCA President and CEO Roxanne Spillett. Earlier that day, Club youth took part in a clinic centered around Wanna Play?™, the MLB-sponsored program that teaches members ages 8

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Chris, 12, a straight-A student and member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Fort Worth, delivered the game ball to the mound for Game 5 of the World Series.

Members stream into their newly renovated Club as Luis Gonzalez, Diamondbacks legend and BGCA Alumni Hall of Famer, graciously holds the door.

A huge baseball fan, 14-year-old Jared of the Boys & Girls Club of Bethalto, Ill., joined retired Cardinals pitcher Joe Magrane to present the Game 7 ball.

Serving as flag bearers for the XM Futures Game, prior to the All-Star Game, was a fitting honor for teens in pursuit of their own great futures at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley in nearby Tempe.

The $2 million facelift of the Kieckhefer Club included a new gamesroom, teen center, multi-use sports field, cafeteria, media center and computer lab, courtesy of MLB and the D-backs.

“One of the great pleasures for me in the past 15 years has been [MLB’s] association with Boys & Girls Clubs,” said Commissioner Bud Selig at the re-opening ceremony. “It has been great for us and a privilege.”

CONNECTIONS

THECLUB EXPERIENCE: IT’S FUN!

his year, 4 million kids will come through the doors of a Boys & Girls Club and get a start on their great futures. Just how much they achieve depends on the length of their stay in the Club and how often they return. The Formula for Impact spells out our strategy to build great futures for America’s youth. In addition to reaching the kids who need us most, we must also make sure that young people attend often enough and long enough to realize the full benefit of the Club Experience, and that they remain engaged in the Club year after year.

GET KIDS IN THE DOOR For more than a century, Clubs have operated on a simple principle: get kids in the door by offering them fun, and, while they’re there, teach them something important along the way – meet their need for caring guidance, support their academic success and help them develop as leaders of strong character. That principle is as relevant today as it was 150 years ago, and it should form the basis of every Club’s strategy to 10

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increase average daily attendance – which is, put simply, the number of kids in the Club each day. The total Club Experience – the welcoming environment, range of activities, caring and supportive adults, and life-changing opportunities – is more profound than the sum of its parts. And its impact is greatest when kids attend regularly. At its core, the Club must be fun, exciting and compelling to members. Conduct regular assessments to make sure that the programs you offer meet the interests and needs of the youth in your community. Provide a menu of high-yield activities and targeted programs, whether they’re national or locally designed. (For fun, quick activity ideas, see the High-Yield Activity Kits available on bgca.net/formulaforimpact.) When young people are interested and engaged in the offerings of the Club, they will continue to attend – and to achieve. Offer plenty of activities that are sure to be youth favorites, such as field trips, gamesroom tournaments or cooking classes that end with a shared meal. Encourage frequent attendance with small-group clubs that hold regular meetings. Events – such as picnics, family nights, staff-versus-kids or parents-versus-kids sports challenges,

and dances to which members can bring a friend from outside the Club – are both fun for members and effective outreach efforts. Promote upcoming programs and events in the Club and the community with “coming soon” flyers, notices in the Club newsletter and verbal reminders to kids and parents. An incentive plan is also a valuable tool to increase attendance and participation. Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue in Washington state created a “100-Day Club” for members who attend 100 consecutive days or more. Club members get to choose their prizes, including T-shirts and exclusive pizza parties. “It’s been wildly successful, and kids look forward to the event every time,” says Chief Professional Officer Cathy Haggart. The Bellevue Club was even able to find local businesses to donate the prizes.

your program hours. Is the Club open when young people need it most – after school, on weekends, during school breaks? To serve older youth, the Club may need to extend its evening hours. Make certain that staff members and volunteers form personal connections with young people. Remind them to greet Club members by name each day, ask about their progress at school and make the effort to get to know their parents or caregivers. Place phone calls to youth who have not been at the Club in a while. Discuss the

In addition, remember to regularly recognize youth for their years of membership with anniversary cards and renewal ceremonies, particularly in the years when they transition from elementary to middle school and from middle to high school.

MAKE EACH DAY COUNT We know from independent research by Public/Private Ventures that youth who visit the Club at least 52 times per year – about once a week – are more likely to achieve positive outcomes, and those who attend at least twice a week achieve even more. All Clubs should make it a goal to increase the proportion of members who visit at these frequencies – and to get all members attending more often. Increasing membership renewals and retention, especially as youth grow older, is essential, too. As one professional from the Boys & Girls Club of Holland, N.Y., put it, “Retention is growth.” Begin planning your strategy to increase average daily attendance and retention by assessing your current membership and participation data. Determine your Club’s capacity and use that to set attendance goals. Use your membership management system to monitor weekly and monthly attendance and participation rates. Consider

importance of frequent attendance and retention at staff meetings and trainings. To be sure the Club continues to reach the youth who need us most, establish strategic partnerships with other community organizations that can refer young people or add to the Club’s resources. City government agencies may be able to provide transportation for young people or programming opportunities through libraries and recreation departments. Nearby colleges or universities and local businesses can be sources of skilled volunteers and mentors to offer young people one-on-one guidance. We know that Boys & Girls Clubs create great futures for young people. Now it’s time to make an even greater impact for America’s kids – by ensuring that they’re in the Club often enough and long enough to gain the full benefit of the Club Experience. CONNECTIONS

THE CLUB EXPERIENCE: IT WORKS FOR TEENS

• A wide range of programs and activities to satisfy teens’ diverse interests • Opportunities to play a leadership role in the Club • Positive relationships between Club staff and teens • Teen-only areas (or dedicated teen-only hours) for socializing

he Club Experience provides tremendous benefits for teens, particularly those who attend frequently. That’s what independent researchers from Public/Private Ventures found when they tracked 400 youth at 10 Clubs for nearly three years. Teens who attended a Club at least once per week had greater confidence in their academic abilities, higher levels of community service involvement and increased levels of integrity. They were better able to understand how the choices they made in the present affected their futures. They were also less likely to have negative peers as friends, and less likely to start carrying a weapon, smoke or drink alcohol. With results like that, it’s clear that keeping kids engaged in the Club through adolescence should be an important priority in our efforts to serve youth to our full capacity. It can be tough to attract and retain older youth, as their interests change and they face more demands on their time. For teens, the Club Experience must not only be fun and dynamic, it must also meet their unique developmental needs. Be sure your Club offers: 12

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At the East Harlem Center of The Children’s Aid Society in New York, the Keystone Club holds town hall meetings to learn which activities teen members want and need. Its “Dare to Dream” program aids teens in a successful transition to adulthood. The Club keeps things fun, creative and relevant with dance, drama, and music workshops; classes in culinary arts and arts & crafts; career readiness programs; computer training; and sports and recreation activities. At the Boys & Girls Clubs of Annapolis & Anne Arundel County in Maryland, teen Club members have lots of opportunities to lead, from Keystone Club to Junior Staff to assisting with Power Hour and planning Club dances and parties. Teen services staff must be willing and able to communicate with adolescents, and remember to be sensitive to their likes, dislikes and general trends in the teen world. The Club can provide a safe environment for teens to test their newfound roles, responsibilities and freedoms. Adult staff must balance these new needs with teens ongoing need for guidance. It’s a tall order – but we know our teens are worth it.

ADDRESSING GRIEF NEW INITIATIVE ENABLES CLUBS TO BETTER SERVE BEREAVED YOUTH

he Boys & Girls Club of Ada County has provided Darnisha Victorain comfort and strength since she was 12. But when her father was diagnosed with cancer in 2010 and quickly succumbed to the disease, she withdrew from being active at the Club. “I didn’t want to be ‘that girl’ at the Club,” said Darnisha, who felt most people didn’t know what to say to her, from her peers to Club staff members. Eventually, she made her way back to the Club, where she found comfort speaking with the staff members to whom she feels closest. “We supported Darnisha through her loss by listening and allowing her to vent and express [her] emotions,” said Joey Schueler, the Club’s director of operations.

SOMETHING MISSING Darnisha appreciated the sounding board her Club mentors provided. But she felt there was something missing. “I wish the Club had been able to provide more resources where I could go for help,” she recalled. “Help for emotional needs.” Thankfully, Boys & Girls Clubs now have a resource to help them assist Club youth affected by bereavement.

BE THERE A grant from New York Life Foundation has enabled Boys & Girls Clubs of America to offer Clubs a new program that deals with this sensitive topic. Be There: A Nationwide Grief and Bereavement Initiative is designed to provide Club staff members with the knowledge to best support grief-stricken members and their families. By knowing the appropriate counseling and support services to direct them toward, Club staff can better help families come to terms with a loss. Helping kids with grief is not a new concept. In Appleton, Wis., the Center for Grieving Children is within the main unit of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Fox Valley (though not affiliated). But proximity doesn’t mean everybody knows exactly what the Center does. Loris Damerow, the director of the Center, said that Club members don’t always know about the services they provide. But she’s encouraged by the New York Life partnership.

Darnisha plans to draw on her own experience to support other youth who have lost a loved one.

“It will help tremendously,” said Damerow. “This kind of large-scale initiative will reach staff who work directly with children and make them more aware of grief issues and the need to find kids help in their community.” Darnisha is also enthusiastic about Be There. As the 2011-12 Pacific Region Youth of the Year, she will speak throughout the year about bereavement. She hopes that Club staff members who hear her story will seek out Be There and be prepared should they ever have to help a child through this life experience. Details on pass-through funding opportunities to aid implementation of Be There will be posted on bgca.net in early 2012. For information, email Linda Wiltse of BGCA Program & Youth Development Services: lwiltse@bgca.org. CONNECTIONS

columns Chairman’s Report

SALUTING A TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADER

or the last 15 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America has had the great fortune to be led by an individual who exemplifies the very word “leadership” and embodies the spirit of a vast, far-reaching Movement – Roxanne Spillett. By now, you all know that Roxanne will conclude her illustrious term as president and CEO at the end of the year. While that tenure is drawing to a close, her legacy will continue to positively impact generations of children for decades to come. Emil J. Brolick

This is a monumental time in our history. Throughout the century-long existence of the national organization, there have been just 10 leaders to stand at the head of this Movement. With Roxanne at the helm, we have benefitted from leadership that has impacted the Boys & Girls Club Movement and the youth we serve as much as anyone. It’s no exaggeration to say that the face of our Movement was changed during Roxanne’s tenure. From building an elite board, to leading our most effective national marketing efforts ever, to exponentially expanding our reach and impact, to advancing our powerful partnership with every branch of the U.S. Armed Services, she has championed one ground-breaking initiative after another. It is only fitting that we, in these pages, pay tribute to a visionary leader who has touched so many lives in so many ways.

CATALYST FOR ROBUST GROWTH Roxanne began her pioneering work for the Movement as director of a national health project in 1978. Later, as vice president of the Northeast region, she oversaw the opening of 44 Clubs and raised $44 million in just two years. She went on to serve as senior vice president of Program Services, and was appointed president in 1996. 14

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As chief executive, Roxanne has guided significant program initiatives in education, technology and civic engagement. Personally, I have been honored to experience firsthand how Roxanne’s leadership galvanized our governing body into one of the most engaged nonprofit boards in America. She has built a rock-solid financial foundation and strengthened the Boys & Girls Club brand, now recognized as one of the top 10 nonprofit brands in America. Under Roxanne’s leadership, we have grown from 1,800 Clubs to 4,000, and from $438 million in annual revenues to $1.5 billion. During her service as president and CEO, more than $1.3 billion was generated by BGCA for our Clubs. At the very beginning of Roxanne’s tenure in 1996, BGCA received our first-ever Congressional appropriation. Later, the creation of state alliances enabled Clubs to secure funds from new and diverse sources – more than $587 million and counting. These are true triumphs for Boys & Girls Clubs!

Chairman’s Report

columns

Enjoying time with the final five candidates for 2011-12 National Youth of the Year.

VISIONARY LEADERSHIP FOR SERVING YOUTH Roxanne steered the Movement through two decades of impressive growth. But she has done more than open new Clubs. She has ensured that we are indeed serving the young people who need us most, by expanding our reach into public housing and public schools, as well as onto Native American lands, and by reaching out to serve the families of the U.S. military.

With Denzel Washington, BGCA national spokesperson.

We in the Boys & Girls Club Movement are not the only ones inspired by Roxanne’s extraordinary impact on the children of our nation. Newsweek magazine has recognized her as one of the “15 Sharing a hug with Shonnetta Henry, People Who Make America 2008-09 National Youth of the Year. Great.” She was appointed There are now more than 1,200 Boys to the President’s Council on & Girls Clubs in schools, offering important academic Service and Civic Participation by President George W. enrichment and caring adult guidance after the bell rings Bush, and she’s been awarded five honorary doctorates. each day. On Indian lands across the country, nearly 200 Clubs are fighting against the tragedies of youth obesity, PLANNING FOR alcoholism and intergenerational poverty. Clubs in public A GREAT FUTURE housing have reduced drug use and gang violence, while As Roxanne has said, her best and final act for Boys & increasing youth employment and academic engagement Girls Clubs would be to find the right leader to succeed – bringing hope to communities where it’s most often in her and guide our Movement through its next era. short supply. What began as a promise to embrace the sons and daughters of America’s troops during Desert Storm has grown, because of Roxanne’s visionary stewardship, into a unique partnership with all branches of the U.S. Armed Services. Today, virtually every Youth Center on a U.S. military installation is a BGCA affiliate, bringing the life-changing programs of a Boys & Girls Club to military youth around the world.

Even as we celebrate Roxanne’s legacy and extraordinary impact, we welcome the arrival of that new leader, Jim Clark. You can read more about Jim in Roxanne’s President’s Message on the first page of this issue of Connections. As you can well imagine, the charge of determining who would succeed a legend like Roxanne was a formidable task. In Jim Clark we are convinced that we have found perhaps the one individual best suited to advance and build on the incredible foundation that Roxanne Spillett has forged. CONNECTIONS

Chef Bruno and Anaheim Club members enjoy a meal together.

ANAHEIM ANGEL NONE OF CHEF BRUNO’S CLUB KIDS GOES TO BED HUNGRY By John Collins

very afternoon at 4:30, the vans arrive at the Anaheim White House, an exclusive Italian restaurant owned and operated by chef Bruno Serato. Trays upon trays of hot, fresh, handmade pasta and sauce are retrieved from the kitchen and packed into the van.

By 5:30, the food is delivered to three of the Anaheim Boys & Girls Clubs’ five units, where more than 400 Club members eagerly await their pasta dinner. While well-heeled diners pay a premium for Bruno’s cuisine, kids can enjoy his fare free almost every day, even on Sundays. During the school year, the Club used to close all weekend. But Serato saw a need to be open on Sundays, so he decided to underwrite the Club’s Sunday program. As a result, young people have access to the Club experience – and a fresh, hot dinner – 41 more days a year. On any given day, it’s the only hot meal some kids will have.

MOTEL KIDS “At least one out of five of our 2,700 members is functionally homeless,” said Michael Baker, the Anaheim Club’s executive director and a Club professional for more than 20 years. 16

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Baker became aware of Anaheim’s “motel kids” more than a decade ago, when he noticed unusually large numbers of young people at play or loitering in motel parking lots. When he stopped and talked to the kids, he discovered that they weren’t just hanging out. They and their families, in fact, lived at these motels. Anaheim is part of Orange County, the southern California community reputed for its affluence. But the OC is not an exclusively wealthy enclave. Not with up to 35,000 homeless people and 26,000 public school students in unstable housing county-wide, as reported by the Illumination Foundation, a local advocacy group for the homeless. A shortage of affordable housing, which sets off a cycle of poverty, is the primary cause. Many who don’t earn enough to own or rent a home instead live week-to-week at motels. According to Baker, weekly motel rates are usually around $300. This expense makes it difficult for most families to save up the deposit that most leases require, typically two month’s rent. “They’re literally one step away from being homeless,” said Baker. “Some of our kids are in a motel one week, homeless the next.”

HERO OF THE YEAR Chef Bruno was recently named one of the “Top 10 CNN Heroes for 2011,” which included a $50,000 grant to continue his service to Anaheim’s youth. All 10 heroes are finalists for “CNN Hero of the Year,” which comes with an additional grant of $250,000. The

Club to significantly expand and enhance its services. Baker recalls the restaurateur once asked him: What is the Club’s greatest need? Baker told the chef one more van would allow the Club to double its progress with motel kids. Within two days, Serato had purchased and delivered a new van, which now transports kids at 10 motels and five public housing complexes. Serato also underwrites Dance Club, which provides ballet and hip hop lessons. In addition, he is sole sponsor of the Club’s Music Program, which offers members drum, guitar, piano and voice lessons. “Bruno’s generosity has enabled dozens of children who were truly musically gifted, and didn’t even know it, to discover their gift,” said Baker.

winner will be decided by public

But it is pasta night that Chef Bruno is best known for.

online vote at cnnheroes.com.

A TRADITION IS BORN

Whether they have a permanent address or not, their Club membership is always in effect. In 2001, Baker helped launch the Club’s Motel Kids Outreach Program to provide these at-risk young people (and those in public housing and foster care) with access to Club programs and services, and the prospect of a great future. Youth in the program receive an annual membership scholarship and transportation to and from Club facilities, six days a week.

BENIFICENT BRUNO From the start, the program’s secret ingredient has been Bruno Serato, an active booster of the Anaheim Club since 2001. Over the years, his support has enabled the

In April 2005, Serato’s mother, Caterina, was visiting from Italy. One day when her son gave her a tour of the Club, she saw a boy eating a bag of potato chips. It was 5 p.m., dinner time. Appalled, Caterina told her son he had to make dinner for that boy and all the Club members. When he learned there were 70 kids at the Club, Serato resisted. But his mother would not take no as an Serato and his mother, Caterina. answer. The two went to the restaurant, where they prepared pasta for 70. So the tradition was born. Six years later, what began with one child has resulted in more than 330,000 hot meals served to Club members. Now Chef Bruno has even bigger goals. “I would like every Boys & Girls Club in America to follow this program,” said Serato. “If every Club called the chefs in their city, and every chef fed 20 or 30 kids a day, we’d feed every kid in America.” John Collins is senior writer/editor for BGCA.

Serato loves to serve dinner whenever he can.

CONNECTIONS

Kayla navigates simulated streets as past Atlanta Police Chief Richard Pennington, BGCA President and CEO Roxanne Spillett and UPS Foundation President Ken Sternad look on.

ROAD RULES FOR TEENS DRIVER SAFETY PROGRAM TEACHES CLUB YOUTH CRITICAL LESSONS By Brian Hill

ayla, 14, eagerly stretches her right leg beneath the work station, her foot searching for the control pedals. Once situated, the teenager grasps the steering wheel and focuses on the oversized monitors at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta. 3, 2, 1… she’s driving. The computerized safe driving simulator described above is just one component of UPS Road Code, a driver safety program delivered to Club teens by The UPS Foundation and Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

CREATING SAFER DRIVERS Since 2009, BGCA has worked closely with 22 Boys & Girls Clubs selected for the three-year pilot phase of Road Code. With an additional three-year commitment by UPS, the program will be rolled out to 30 more Clubs across the country in 2012. As a result, thousands more Club teenagers will have access to this unique drivereducation experience that can save lives. Road Code is based, in large part, on the safety training that UPS provides to its drivers. What’s more, UPS drivers also serve as the facilitators for each of the four 18

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one-hour Road Code sessions. In one session per week, UPS volunteers present two hours of classroom instruction to young people ages 13 to 18 at their local Club: • Week 1 – Teens hear from a driver with 25 or more accident-free years about the UPS drivers’ “five seeing habits.” • Week 2 – Risky behaviors such as using a phone to talk or text when driving and the possible consequences are covered. • Week 3 – Focuses on 10 safe driving tips and tools used by UPS drivers; also, teens identify road hazards using an interactive computer-based game. • Week 4 – The rubber hits the road as teens practice what they’ve learned on the driving simulator. With three monitors as the windshield, members use steering wheel, gas and brake pedals to navigate a virtual roadway, as the simulator evaluates their safe driving skills. At the final session, students, parents and UPS volunteers participate in a graduation ceremony. Each member receives a certificate of completion, and top achievers are recognized with small incentives.

ALL AGES APPROVAL Several Club teens on the verge of driving have taken advantage of Road Code’s simple but critical safety lessons. Just ask Michael from the Los Angeles Boys & Girls Club, who praised the program’s realistic approach.

Girls Clubs of the Midlands, had more mixed feelings: “I am grateful he was exposed to the seriousness of driving at an early age. Now he tells me every day what I am doing wrong!”

“It’s like driving a real car but less dangerous,” the 16-year-old said. “I learned how to be a safe driver and what it’s like to be a driver in your job, how to avoid accidents, keep speed to a minimum and to check your mirrors at least every five seconds.”

Myron Gray, president of U.S. operations for UPS and a member of BGCA’s Board of Governors, praised the program as a game-changing approach to driver education. “Car accidents are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens,” said Gray. “By bringing Road Code’s unique resources to our nation’s teens through Boys & Girls Clubs, we have an opportunity to make a positive impact on local communities.”

Road Code is also popular with Club youth a year or more away from being able to realize the privilege of driving. “Younger members between 13 and 15 are excited to learn more about anything that relates to driving,” said Heather Kavka of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, which took part in the program’s pilot phase. Statistics in Road Code videos, such as car crashes being the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, especially intrigued Club members, Kavka said, and “led them to talk more to other members and friends about the program.” Back in Atlanta, Kayla, for instance, says her mother now wears a seat belt much more often after hearing what her daughter learned through the program. In Omaha, Neb., a dad whose son took part in Road Code at the Boys &

Brian Hill is director of public relations for BGCA.

TOP TEEN-DRIVER RISKS YOU SHOULD KNOW Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens. In 2009 alone, they killed 3,000 teens and sent more than 350,000 to emergency rooms with injuries. Leading risk factors for teens who drive include the following: • Inexperience – Crash risk is particularly high the first year teens can drive. • Other Teens – Teen drivers are more likely to crash with other teens in the car; and the more teens, the higher the risk. • Abusive Behavior – 37% of male drivers involved in a fatal crash in 2005 were speeding; 26% had been drinking. • Seat Belts – 10% of high school students reported rare or no seat belt usage in 2005, less than any other age group. • Weekend Nights – 50% of all teen crash fatalities in 2008 occurred between 3 p.m. and midnight, with more than 56% happening on a weekend night. Grim as these Centers for Disease Control figures are, we can help change them. With UPS Road Code and similar driver education programs, we can bring such behaviors to teens’ attention and stop them from being their own worst enemy on the road. CONNECTIONS

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RUN ZOE RUN A YOUNG WOMAN’S RUN ACROSS AMERICA STIRS SUPPORT, AWARENESS FOR CLUBS

Body text n’ junk. Body text n’ junk. Body text n’ junk. Body text n’ junk. Body text n’ junk. Body text n’ junk. Body text n’ junk. Body text n’ junk. Body text n’ junk. Body text n’ junk. Body text n’ junk. Body text n’ junk. Body text n’ junk. Body text n’ junk. Body text n’ junk. Body text n’ junk. Body text n’ junk. Body text n’ junk. Zoe Romano completed a 3,000-mile Last May,

solo run across America to raise awareness and money for Boys & Girls Clubs. No support team accompanied the gutsy 23-year-old as she soldiered across America’s highways – just Zoe and the jogging stroller of supplies she pushed before her. Her epic journey raised $15,000 and received coverage by the Huffington Post, CNN Espanol and numerous local media outlets. Following is Zoe’s firsthand account of her trip.

Photo by AlexanderKreher.com

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grew up listening to my father tell stories about his boyhood days at his Boys Club in Portland, Maine, our hometown. A smile spreading across his face, his eyes would light up as he explained what went on behind those blue doors where he learned to swim and master ping-pong. It sounded incredible – a place dedicated to kids being kids. My afternoons and evenings consumed with sports practices, I never became a Club member. I never forgot my Dad’s stories, though. Zoe with her father, Rick, and her sister, Rosa.

AlexanderKreher.com

I developed a plan to support Clubs by running across America. I’d run 25 miles a day, six days a week and push my supplies in a jogging stroller. On January 8, I began my run in Huntington Beach, Calif. Over the next four months, I would cover nearly 3,000 miles on my own two feet, averaging 30 miles a day.

AlexanderKreher.com

I saw the country in a way few do – one mile at a time, eyes always taking in the landscape spread out before me. Along the way, I spoke with media about the Club’s mission, raised $15,000 and visited 25 Clubs.

On May 7, I jumped into the ocean in Charleston, S.C. At the end, the emotions I felt strongest were a deep sense of gratitude and a powerful conviction that anything is possible. If I have any wisdom to share, it is this: you can do anything you want to do, be anything you want to be, and chase any dream you have the courage to dream. You just have to take that first step. There was nothing more reaffirming of my mission than meeting kids at each Club, seeing first-hand who I was helping. I left every single Club feeling my heart overcome with love.

Learn more about Zoe and her journey at zoegoesrunning.wordpress.com.

CONNECTIONS

A DAY OF CARING COMCAST PARTNERSHIP BENEFITS CLUBS AROUND THE COUNTRY By Lakeshia Poole

ast spring, Boys & Girls Club members around the country learned an invaluable lesson about the importance of giving back to their communities. The lesson took place not at school but at their Clubs on Comcast Cares Day. Thousands of Comcast employees countrywide volunteered for projects at more than 50 Boys & Girls Clubs on the 10th anniversary of the company’s annual day of service.

SATURDAY OF SERVICE In Carpentersville, Ill., nearly 60 volunteers turned out for field day at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dundee Township. The event was true to the Club tradition to provide young people a fun, safe place to learn and grow. More than 150 Club members participated in athletic contests such as the 50-yard dash, softball throw and long jump. Curt

McReynolds, the Club’s executive director, found the day of service an inspired method to raise awareness. “This event was a great opportunity for us to educate volunteers on the work we do on a daily basis,” said McReynolds, “and how appreciative we are that they choose to give back to the community by investing in the youth we serve.” Meanwhile, some 1,000 miles east in Maryland, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Annapolis & Anne Arundel County hosted more than 200 volunteers and Club members for a day of mentoring and camaraderie. Folks faced off in a series of challenges based on the TV show Minute to Win It, enjoyed a healthy lunch, and took home commemorative T-shirts. According to Jennifer Lagrotteria, Club communications director, the partnership with Comcast is successful because the two share the same objective. “We share a common goal of an ongoing commitment to the future of our youth,” Lagrotteria said. “Our relationship is an excellent example of how public-private partnerships can make a difference.”

A HARVEST OF HEALTHY HABITS

Service came with a smile as some 2,100 volunteers lent their support to five South Florida Clubs, including these happy helpers in Delray Beach.

In south Florida, nearly 700 volunteers pitched in to help the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County establish a butterfly garden, install a digital literacy lab and paint a mural. But they really got their hands dirty when they planted a “Good Food Garden.” The Broward Club was one of 10 across the country to benefit from this gift, provided jointly by Food Network and Comcast.

The gardens provide children a fun, hands-on gardening experience that educates them about the importance of fruits and vegetables as part of their diet. In addition, garden produce can supplement more than 500 meals a 22

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Executive Director Curt McReynolds and Josie, 11, of the Dundee Township Club with the blue ribbon Josie took home for winning the 50-yard dash at the Club’s Field Day event.

year. Ongoing Food Network support includes a five-year garden maintenance plan and an annual stipend to fund plants, as well as a curriculum tied to the garden and its growing cycle. According to the Club’s director, the Saturday sowing of seeds captivated the assembled youth. “The members’ response was a series of oohs and ahhs,” said Karriem Edwards. “They were lining up for a chance to water the plants as if it were a Disney ride.”

A PROUD PARTNERSHIP For Charisse Lillie, president of the Comcast Foundation, the partnership her organization shares with BGCA is all about affirmative change. “Comcast is proud to partner with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, because we both believe in the positive difference Clubs have on youth and communities across the nation,” said Lillie. “Comcast Cares Day provides an excellent opportunity for our employees to connect with communities and Clubs.” The festivities are finished for now. But the spirit of community engagement demonstrated on the final Saturday in April will be felt far longer by young people across the country.

COMCAST TECH SUPPORT Comcast Cares Day is just one example of the media company’s generous support of Boys & Girls Clubs. As co-sponsor of the Club Tech digital literacy program since 2010, Comcast’s generous support includes funding and in-kind services for local Clubs, as well as the broadcast of a Club Tech public service announcement to its 23.6 million cable TV customers.

To watch a series of videos featuring Club Tech’s Faces of the Future, scan the code below with your smart phone.

Lakeshia Poole is assistant director, public relations for BGCA.

CONNECTIONS

Straight out of New York’s Educational Alliance Teen Center, The Edgies Glee Club had the audience singing right along to their medley of classic ’80s rock like Don’t Stop Believin’.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE PROVIDES FORUM TO DEEPEN IMPACT

ore than 2,000 Boys & Girls Club professionals, board volunteers and supporters gathered in New Orleans, May 18-20, for Boys & Girls Clubs of America’ 105th Annual National Conference and its theme of “Great Futures Start Here.” In sessions, workshops and presentations, attendees discussed and debated the best approaches to deepen our impact on Club members and give them the best opportunity to realize success. The conference got off to an exhilarating start with the Alumni Hall of Fame ceremony hosted by actor Courtney B. Vance. Six former Club members were inducted for their uncommon accomplishments as 24

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adults. Each inductee shared their personal story of how the Club helped them to overcome obstacles on their way to finding their great future. Notable events at the Conference included the vote by the National Council affirming the National Commission on Impact’s recommendation to pursue a strategic direction to enable Club youth to achieve great futures. The conference came to a rousing finish with the closing evening’s Grand Finale Celebration. Among the finale highlights was the presentation of BGCA’s most prestigious honors and invigorating performances by talented Boys & Girls Club members from across the country.

Lt. General Russell Honoré, commander of Gulf Coast military relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina, served as keynote speaker at a luncheon that recognized Clubs for their support of military families.

BGCA Chairman Emil J. Brolick expressed his gratitude to Boys & Girls Club staff and board members for being heroes to Club youth during his opening session remarks.

BGCA National Volunteer Susan Goings moderated “A Diploma In Every Hand,” a thought-provoking discussion of national education policy among (from left) Robert Wise, president of the Alliance for Excellent Education; Paul Vallas, past leader of Chicago, Philadelphia and New Orleans schools; and Torry Winn, Emory University development director and past Pacific Region Youth of the Year.

Jake, finale host, and second-banana Louie had the audience in stitches all night long. The 11-year-old ventriloquist is a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Schenectady, N.Y.

Johnathan Key was named the first National Torch Bearer of the Year, courtesy of program sponsor Staples, for his exceptional service as Torch Club advisor at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield, Mo.

CONNECTIONS

2011 ALUMNI HALL OF FAME

2011 BGCA Alumni Hall of Fame inductees (from left): Dr. Kenneth Dunn, Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.); Luis Gonzalez, former MLB All-Star; A.C. Green, NBA champion; Lucille O’Neal, author; Aaron S. Williams, Peace Corps Director; John Paul DeJoria, John Paul Mitchell Systems founder.

Six new inductees joined the illustrious ranks of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Alumni Hall of Fame. Each of the one-time Club kids spoke of how their local Club helped them to understand they had the ability to be a success. A distinguished military officer. A World Series hero. An NBA champ. A celebrated author. A worldclass entrepreneur. The leader of an international agency. The Club experience changed their lives and allowed them to achieve a truly great future.

CREDITS TO THEIR PROFESSION The Professional Association presented • its annual awards during the National Conference, paying tribute to Club • professionals whose outstanding service has made a profound impact on their organization and its Club members. Congratulations to the following individuals. •

Professional of the Year – CEO Paul Casey, BGC of Garfield, N.J.

•

Executive of the Year – CEO Lisabeth Marziello, BGCs of Portland Metropolitan Area, Ore.

•

Administrative Professional of the Year – Normalynda Zepeda, BGC of McAllen, Texas

•

Herman S. Prescott Award – Meryln Raco, BGC of Santa Monica, Calif. Distinguished Service Award – For 30 or more years of exceptional service: Caleb Harris, BGCA; Joseph Marziello, BGCs of Portland Metropolitan Area; J. Mack Reid, BGCs of Sarasota County, Fla.; Jamie Wilcox, BGC of Oshkosh, Wis. Set the Pace Award – For outstanding enhancement and nurturing of association members’ professional development: TPA Chapter of Ventura County, Calif.

(From left) CEO Lisabeth Marziello, Executive of the Year; Normalynda Zepeda, Administrative Professional of the Year; and Paul Casey, Professional of the Year.

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Desmond Howard, far left, and the ESPN College GameDay team with members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Big Bend in Tallahassee, Fla.

GAMEDAY EXCLUSIVE CLUB TEENS GO BEHIND ESPN CAMERAS WITH DESMOND HOWARD

esmond Howard’s work takes him to a different city every week during college football season. It comes with the territory as football analyst for ESPN College GameDay, the three-hour show that originates live from a college campus every Saturday during football season. Wherever he lands, Howard always invites local Boys & Girls Club members to the GameDay set. The former college and NFL wide receiver – one of only four players to win the Heisman Trophy and Super Bowl MVP – recognizes the vital role Clubs play in young people’s lives. To support these efforts, he provides Club kids this opportunity to see TV production up close. For some, it’s just a fun day out. For others, it may spark an interest in a communications career.

BEHIND THE SCENES Each week, two local Club members and a chaperone are invited to watch the production of College GameDay.

They shadow the broadcast team, arriving early in the day with the crew and on-air talent, visiting production trucks that manage video, audio and satellite transmissions. After the show, the kids often visit with Howard and his fellow cast members, taking photos and touring the GameDay bus. Over the last two seasons, more than 40 Club members have attended GameDay on nearly 20 campuses. That includes the two teens from the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Big Bend, who spent five hours backstage when the show took place at Florida State University in their hometown of Tallahassee. Theresa Flury, the president and CEO of the Big Bend Club who chaperoned the kids, described the experience as “incredibly exciting.” Especially for the Club kids. “They get excited about college and football and everything that goes with it,” said Flury, who is pictured above. And who knows? The next Desmond Howard might just be a Club member. CONNECTIONS

columns Excellence in Action

PEOPLE MAKE THE DIFFERENCE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT BUILDS CLUB’S LEADERSHIP AND CAPACITY By Greg Tolbert

n 15 years as chief professional officer at Boys & Girls Clubs of the Upstate in Spartanburg, S.C., I’ve learned the value of professional development. People make the difference at Boys & Girls Clubs. If we don’t invest in staff members, we’re missing an opportunity to train and retain Club professionals, and make more of an impact on Club members.

Greg Tolbert is chief professional officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Upstate in Spartanburg, S.C.

Professional development increases job satisfaction, leads to lower turnover and produces better youth outcomes. Staff members stay longer and become more committed to the Boys & Girls Club mission. Ultimately, the best trained staff will inspire young people, volunteers and colleagues.

LEADERSHIP U. Our Club takes full advantage of Boys & Girls Club Leadership University, which all staff members have attended in person or through online distance learning courses. This includes new employees, who the Club requires to complete the University’s Foundation Level as Youth Development Professionals within two weeks of their hire date. The University curriculum helps staff members understand the unique skills a Club professional needs to forge an impactful relationship with young people. It also helps new staff members to realize they are part of a much larger Movement with a long, successful history that offers career opportunities beyond our local organization. I had wanted to take part in the Executive Advanced Leadership Program (ALP) of Leadership University for some time. But I wanted the perfect confluence of the right team at the right time in the Club’s development. So I waited. Then our board rolled out a new strategic plan in 2009 that included opening 40 Clubs in 10 years within local schools to increase capacity and impact more youth. To make this leap, key staff members 28

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would have to take on new leadership and decisionmaking roles. Ready or not, it was time for us to participate in ALP.

RETURN ON INVESTMENT Our two unit directors, grants manager, chief financial officer, director of operations, area director and I enrolled in the six-month ALP team training. Our primary goal was to prepare and position our organization to open a Club in every local elementary school over the next decade. At a time when few grants are available for direct services, ALP provided with us a template to write compelling grants for local capacity-building dollars. As a result, one foundation that previously passed on our applications, awarded us our first capacity-building grant. Most importantly, ALP taught me how great my people really are. I ended up realizing that, for years, I had been the bottleneck. While everyone looked to me for direction, I often felt there were only a couple of point people to whom I could safely assign important projects. As a result, this often meant that little or no progress was made. Now, as long as we clearly define goals, roles and processes, we can diversify our project assignments and trust that progress will be made. Our folks always had the wherewithal. As their leader, I had to learn how to let go and trust them. They had to learn that their input and action was valued, wanted and needed. Because we learned how to share responsibility, we now make better use of each staff member and accomplish so much more. If an executive team member is not available, Club staff members look to each other to make decisions. As we empower people at every level to take on new responsibilities, I see increased eagerness and ownership in their eyes and actions.

Excellence in Action

MORE WITH LESS Because the central action behind ALP are leadership teams, tackling actual issues as a team are part of every training. Our team’s project was to determine how we could increase staff capacity to accommodate new schoolbased units and – other than a director at each new site – not add non-program staff. ALP helped that goal to become a reality. Doing more with less is a challenge of all organizations these days. While we were not interested in cutting our staff, ALP enabled people throughout the organization to take on new responsibilities. As we completed the program, the economy was in recession, donations were on the decline, and previously steady grant sources were faltering. Even so, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Upstate opened two new units in 2010. Today, we have six fewer full-time positions than we did two years ago. But through consolidation and partnerships, every child served in 2010 still has access to a Club. Our one free-standing facility is now fully utilized, with average daily attendance up by 10 percent. Instead of

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fundraising to maintain an office position, we’re raising money to accommodate more children. And seeking funding to increase membership and attendance is a much easier sell to board members and donors. Investment in our staff continues to pay huge dividends. Since our initial experience, 19 more staff members have attended various Leadership University trainings. We are poised for growth when the economy recovers and funding sources stabilize. Going through ALP has enabled us to open lines of communication, more clearly define roles and responsibilities, and provide staff members with opportunities to gain experience in several fields. This increased productivity has allowed us to weather declines in income while increasing services to youth. Clubs help young people build their great futures. Isn’t it just as important that Clubs be the place where our staff members build great futures, too? Greg Tolbert is chief professional officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Upstate in Spartanburg, S.C.

CPO Tolbert works with Club members in Spartanburg.

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managing

risk

Situation

YIELD YIELD

Avoidance Strategies

Is Your Organization Vulnerable?

REAL SITUATIONS. REAL SOLUTIONS.

IsThe YourCase Emergency PlanContractor Up to Date? of the Response Convenient

Situation

A Category 3 hurricane with wind speeds up to 130 mph was headed for Florida’s Atlantic coast. If the National Weather Service prediction was correct, the hurricane would reach landfall on a section of coast that had not received a direct hit in 100 years. The local Boys & Girls Club’s emergency response plan had served it well through previous weather events including tropical storms and even Category 1 and 2 hurricanes, which typically don’t cause major damage to building structures. Their plan clearly outlined tactical procedures for the most likely scenarios and the steps that would need to be taken in order to maintain the safety of Club members and staff. But the plan was also 15 years old. And with no comparable weather event for the region on the scale of this hurricane – which was likely to cause flooding along the coast and had the power to cause structural damage to the Club – their emergency response plan was suddenly obsolete. To address the urgent situation, the Club’s chief professional officer formed an emergency preparedness team. He gathered his three unit directors, operations director, finance director, human resources director, and several board members. After discussing the potential problems the hurricane could cause, they established two top priorities.

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They would first take steps to defend the organization’s three units from the expected high winds and airborne debris, which would make it more likely that they could re-open quickly after the storm. Secondly, they would safeguard Club staff members’ homes. Because if the staff members needed to spend significant amounts of time repairing their residences, the Clubs would not have the capacity necessary to be fully functional. Consequently, they would not be able to serve members and their families in the critical weeks following the hurricane. Assigned to work groups, staff members successfully buttressed the Club units and colleagues’ homes. But two more hurricanes of comparable strength hit the region that season. With each passing storm, Club leadership realized they had to further enhance their emergency planning and response. All three units suffered property damage and losses, including paper goods, food, computers and other electronics, that proper planning could have prevented. In addition, coordination with local agencies was inconsistent, not all generators worked, and some staff members were left temporarily homeless and unreachable.

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Avoidance Strategies YIELD

This situation may have been avoided if: • The Club’s emergency response plan was assessed on an annual basis to ensure it remained appropriate to its needs, with policies and procedures to address possible scenarios at various crisis stages. • An emergency communication plan had been developed to stay in touch with key staff via multiple channels such as cell phone, email, home phone and possibly Twitter and Facebook.

• A pre-hurricane preparedness checklist was in place and utilized to avoid issues such as generators that were broken or had no fuel. • Computers, paperwork and other important items were relocated to a secure offsite location. At a minimum, all items of value should have been moved from windows, elevated and covered with plastic sheeting to guard against water damage. • Contingency plans were in place to support affected or displaced staff members.

Is Your Club Vulnerable? Use these questions to generate discussions with your board and staff: • Have we conducted a risk assessment to identify possible natural and man-made disasters at Club sites? Do our procedures address each situation appropriately? • Do we have the right leadership team in place to reduce delays and confusion?

• How well trained are our staff members and volunteers to carry out emergency plans or adapt them to changing conditions? • How do we reunite Club members and their families if the Club closes or is evacuated? • How well can we support Club staff adversely affected by a natural disaster?

Want to Learn More? The following resources can help your organization prepare an appropriate emergency response plan. • Ready.gov – Resources to prepare and respond to hurricanes and other natural disasters including training, preparation, safety skills and other tools to help look after your Club members, staff and facilities. • FEMA.gov – A wealth of information on emergency planning and procedures that provides your Club an established national standard.

• BGCA.net – Discover Club-specific emergency planning resources in the Club Safety and Design section. • BattleStormGame.org – Boys & Girls Clubs of the Gulf Coast helped develop this free online game as a fun and captivating way to promote hurricane preparedness. For more information about emergency response planning, contact Les Nichols, BGCA’s vice president of Club safety and design, at lnichols@bgca.org.

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STATE ALLIANCE SUMMIT By Kevin McCartney

ore than 100 Boys & Girls Club leaders took part in the 2011 State Alliance Summit at the 105th National Conference in New Orleans in May.

Alliance leaders from across the country discussed timely issues and initiatives, and shared best practices at the summit. There were also several breakout sessions that addressed such topics as Assistance to Families, Federal Funding Diversification, Child Care Licensing, and Education Partnership and Funding. To inform Clubs about diverse funding opportunities, officials from the Department of Education, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Environmental Protection Agency, and Department of Agriculture presented several sessions during the conference and summit.

Benjamin Tucker of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, featured speaker at the Board Members Luncheon, is flanked by BGCA Chairman Emil J. Brolick (right) and Kevin McCartney, senior vice president of government relations for BGCA.

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Ron Gidwitz, BGCA Governor and Government Relations Committee Chair (left), and Tom Morris, summit representative from the Louisiana Alliance, chat before the start of the Opening Session.

Peter Grevatt, director of the EPA’s Office of Children’s Health Protection, led an insightful session about young people’s unique vulnerability to harmful environmental exposures and the crucial role Clubs can play to protect youth and their families.

Michael Robbins, senior advisor for nonprofit partnerships at the Department of Education, emphasized that Clubs are essential partners in education reform and must partner with schools to ensure out-of-school academic enrichment efforts enhance in-school programming.

Aya Collins of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy shared best practices on how Clubs can tap into an array of prevention programs and resources

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hey serve our nation with courage and dignity. We are proud to serve their children.

Twenty years ago, Boys & Girls Clubs across the country answered a call to support the children of military personel serving in the Persian Gulf War. It was the beginning of a proud partnership between BGCA and the U.S. Armed Services. As we enter our third decade of serving military youth together, young people in over 350 BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers, on installations at home and abroad, receive the same support and guidance, life-changing programs and inspiring opportunities they would find in a traditional Boys & Girls Club. Through programs like MISSION: Youth Outreach, Clubs are also meeting the needs of military families in civilian communities around the nation. We know that young people too often share the sacrifices of their parents in uniform. BGCA is proud to partner with every branch of the U.S. Armed Services to support the families who serve this great country. Find out how your Club can support military youth and their families. Contact Boys & Girls Clubs of Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Military Services at 404-487-5700 or via email at msi@bgca.org.