Summer Newsletter 2017
Helping Kids. Building Communities. Helping Kids. Building Communities.
“I strongly believe that financial literacy is a key ingredient to long-term confidence, financial security, and social mobility.” CARRIE SCHWAB-POMERANTZ, President and Board Chair of the Charles Schwab Foundation, shares her thoughts on the importance of Boys & Girls Clubs and the value of financial literacy education for young people. Describe your involvement with Boys & Girls Clubs.
For the last six years I have been honored to sit on the national Board of Governors with distinguished and dedicated colleagues from around the country. We all participate on different committees, but share a commitment to the mission of this incredible organization that supports so many deserving youth.
“AT SCHWAB, WE ARE DEDICATED TO HELPING OUR CLIENTS BE SUCCESSFUL FINANCIALLY, AND THIS EXTENDS TO OUR COMMUNITIES.” CARRIE SCHWAB-POMERANTZ
Charles Schwab Foundation
In addition, my colleagues and I at Schwab are so proud to have worked with Boys & Girls Clubs of America over the years to create and sponsor the Money Matters: Make It Count curriculum. To date, more than 800,000 teens at nearly 1,700 Clubs nationwide have participated in this program that promotes financial responsibility and independence. Why is it important to start learning about finances at a young age? Like so many other life skills, you want financial awareness to be automatic, just a part of your life and how you think. Therefore, the earlier you start thinking that way, the better. In addition, it’s important
to know how to avoid serious mistakes later in life that could potentially derail your finances for years. Tell us about the culture you strive to create at Charles Schwab. I feel so fortunate to work with civic minded, caring individuals every day. At Schwab, we are dedicated to helping our clients be successful financially, and this extends to our communities. Our employees support their local communities in all sorts of ways, both financially and with their time and expertise. My team leads Schwab’s philanthropic and employee volunteer programs nationwide, and we are always striving to magnify our impact. For example, every year we organize a national week of service called Schwab Volunteer Week. This year’s was our biggest ever, with nearly 6,000 employees doing volunteer projects across 170 cities. It’s a huge effort that not only helps the nonprofits in the communities where we operate, but also brings our employees together and allows them to connect in a meaningful way. CONTINUED
in this issue:
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Impact of Your Investment
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Anatomy of a Club Member
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Redesigning the educational system
A letter from the CEO Dear Friends,
For most of us summer means vacations, time with family and fun in the sun. However, for our Club members and their families, the summer can be a challenging time – both logistically and financially. The average cost for summer camps and programs is $300 per week. Many families, especially those living paycheck to paycheck, simply can’t afford summer. In some cases, they may seek help from friends and family to watch their child, or they might even leave their child alone while they are working. Additionally, during the summer, low-income youth can lose more than two months’ worth of reading skills, while their middle-class peers make slight gains. An estimated 43 million children in the U.S. miss out on expanded learning opportunities during the summer due to a lack of affordable options.
“we are here to make sure that our Club members have an enriching and memorable summer .”
That is where we come in. Through our reading programs, field trips, sports and our summer camp in the mountains, we are here to make sure that our Club members have an enriching and memorable summer. Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver is committed to being the most affordable after-school and summer option for families and kids in our community. The only reason we are able to make this impactful commitment is because of your support. I hope that you all have a fun, safe summer and thank you for making sure that our Club members do too!
ERIN PORTEOUS
CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver
Fast Facts about Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver’s graduating teen Club members:
93%
OF GRADUATING TEEN CLUB MEMBERS HAVE COLLEGE OR CAREER PLANS
73%
OF GRADUATING TEEN CLUB MEMBERS PLAN TO ATTEND COLLEGE (COMPARED TO 55% OF ALL GRADUATING TEENS IN COLORADO).
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Your investment makes an impact on the future of our Club members Through our programs and services, Boys & Girls Club teen members are improving academically and focusing on their future plans.
93% of our graduating teen Club members have college or career plans, with 73% of graduating Club members planning to attend college (compared to 55% of all graduating teens in Colorado). 250 teen Club members participated in portfolio-building and programs focused on post-secondary education, career exploration, and financial literacy, helping them to plan for life after high school. Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver’s teen Club members continue to volunteer more than twice as often as other Colorado teens. 75% of our members volunteer at least once per month.
more from carrie schwab-pomerantz
Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz, pictured with Charles Schwab Senior Vice President and Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver Board Member Brian McDonald, accepting the 2017 Champion of Youth Award at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver Gala.
“Anything we can do, as families or as members of a community, to help our kids succeed academically, socially, and emotionally is our greatest investment in the future. ”
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from cover
How does partnering with Boys & Girls Clubs benefit your organization?
What is the most important thing people can do to support kids in our community?
If I put my corporate hat on for a minute, I would say that the Boys & Girls Clubs brand aligns perfectly with the Schwab brand. Collaborating with Boys & Girls Clubs provides our employees with another way to help strengthen our communities, and in the process enriches our employees’ lives as well.
To my mind, it all starts with developing the skills and discipline to be successful at school. So anything we can do, as families or as members of a community, to help our kids succeed academically, socially, and emotionally is our greatest investment in the future. This is exactly why I admire Boys & Girls Clubs so much; they are dedicated to helping the whole child develop into a thoughtful, educated, resourceful, and independent adult.
Why is it important for business leaders and their companies to give back? The evidence from 3rd party research is clear that people want to work for and do business with a company that has a higher purpose. So strictly from a bottom-line perspective, it makes sense. At Schwab, we are fortunate that our founding mission of democratizing investing has proven to be the natural springboard for our lasting and organic social mission – and that gives our employees a platform to give back on their own.
If you were to share a lesson or piece of advice with Boys & Girls Club members, what would it be? I may be biased, but I would strongly advise every teen to sign up for the Money Matters program! I strongly believe that financial literacy is a key ingredient to long-term confidence, financial security, and social mobility. This program will give you the tools to grab your future!
Mary finds strength & hope at the Club At age six, with an edge of uncertainty, Mary walked into the Wilfley Boys & Girls Club for the very first time. At first, the unfamiliar landscape made her nervous. However, it did not take long for a staff member to welcome her into the art room where she felt a sense of belonging and would soon develop one of her favorite passions – playing the piano.
“Boys & Girls Club has taught me how to be a leader, a good sport, be humble, and to listen.”
Now, ten years later, Mary has relied on the support of the Club countless times turning to the piano as an outlet to overcome a myriad of hardships that life has thrown her way. “Playing the piano gives me an awesome feeling,” said Mary. “When I need a moment to myself, Mrs. Helen won’t let anyone sit by me so that I can have some “me” time and just play.” Despite facing many obsitcles in her life, Mary has flourished in the Club environment which helps her stay on track to excel academically and pursue her dreams of attending college. Through engaging in Club leadership programs, cultural art contests, athletics, and more, Mary has grown to become a sound leader and a source of strength for her peers. CONTINUED
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When Mary was told at a young age that a woman’s place was at home cleaning and cooking, it only made her that much more determined to get a college education. In pursuit of achieving academic excellence, the Club has helped Mary set obtainable goals and realize her true potential. “The Club has taught me grit,” claimed Mary. “They have ingrained a hard work ethic within me and taught me the importance of always finishing what you set out to achieve.” Mary has turned to the Club’s Learning Center countless times to improve her reading and writing skills, seek homework help, and access resources to stay on track to become the first in her family to graduate from high school.
Whenever life at home becomes turbulent, Mary’s feet have a way of leading her to the Club. At a young age, Mary was taught that crying is a sign of weakness and powerlessness. Mary, though sweet on the outside, learned to maintain a tough exterior - strong enough to mask life’s aches and pains. But eventually, Mary hit a tipping point when she learned that she was adopted and that her cousin – whom she has never gotten along with – was in fact her biological mother. Amidst this discovery, Mary let her guard down and began uncontrollably crying in the only place that she felt would understand – the Club. “The Club is a place where my vulnerability is accepted and not seen as a lack of strength or a loss of dignity,” said Mary. At the Club, Mary finds solace in releasing her emotions through writing in the Learning Center and finds guidance in her mentor, Mrs. Helen, the Club’s Cultural Arts Specialist.
Anatomy of A Club Member
Facing one emotionally tolling circumstance after another, Mary’s heart has been torn several times over the past couple of years. Between dealing with deaths in the family, her mom discovering a tumor, and her father fighting cancer, Mary has had to step into the main caretaker role many times. This is one of the reasons Mary truly cherishes her time inside the Club where she can escape and allow her heart to be filled with the simple joys of being a kid. “The Club is a place that I can turn to and unwind from tension at home,” said Mary. Temporarily leaving these “adult-like” responsibilities at home, Mary escapes into a world where she can enjoy playing sports and engaging with her peers. “The Club members engulf me with joy, love and respect,” said Mary. “They see me for me and motivate me to work towards a brighter future.”
Growing up in a neighborhood where gang activity and violence are prevalent, Mary has witnessed firsthand how idle hands led her older brother to get involved with the wrong circles. Mary decided early on that this was a path that she did not want for herself. Mary has committed her outof-school hours to keeping her hands busy in just about every corner of the Club. The programs available at the Club provide Mary with enough mental stimulation and structure to keep her off the troubled streets of her neighborhood. Over the years, she has developed into a strong role model and has taken on a variety of leadership roles at the Club. “Being a Peer Leader gives me a chance to take initiative,” said Mary. “It gives me the opportunity to educate younger Club members about cultural diversity.” This past year, Mary’s leadership was recognized when she received the 2017 Mayor’s Youth Award and the 2017 Citywide Junior Youth of the Year Award.
Watch this video to learn more about Mary:
www.bgcmd.org/marys-story
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Redesigning the educational system to foster vocational skill sets In this digital age, industries around the world are becoming increasingly interconnected. As a result, there is an increased demand for a workforce that is equipped with skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and digital literacy. It is estimated that 70% percent of the jobs that will exist in 20 years don’t exist today. In order to best prepare today’s students for this ever-changing vocational landscape, school systems need to bring real-world lessons into the classroom in order to help students develop the skill sets necessary for future success. It is widely agreed that high school is a critical time for youth to develop these job-readiness skills. This is especially true for youth growing up in low-income households that turn to the school system as their only support to guide positive learning and growth. However, many high school curriculums are operating off an antiquated education system which depends on a student’s ability to memorize and regurgitate information to pass standardized tests, helping schools secure further funding. This fundamental structure does very little to help youth develop skill sets necessary to succeed in the workforce, making the need for a redesign of the system clear. We need to focus not only on what we are teaching kids, but how we teach them. As a result, education is on the brink of a major reform. Research tells us that teenagers pay attention better when they sleep in later, move more during the day, and have shorter hours of direct lecture. Studies also show that teens are most engaged and motivated when they can connect their classroom learning to real-world events and projects. Students need to be encouraged to explore the skills that they have, establish what is really important to them, and be well informed about what jobs are available to them. In order to achieve this, several organizations have challenged the paradigm of high school education by redesigning staff roles to introduce youth to purpose-provoking curriculum. These models assign students
70% to staff members who inspire them to explore their dreams and aspirations while developing meaningful relationships with adults working in a variety of industries within the community. Fostering an interest in expanding skill sets applicable to future career options is substantially more important for youth growing up in low-income households. With fewer resources available to attend high-quality schools, many youth growing up in poverty face an uphill battle when it comes to achieving success after high school. Many students who grow up in low-income households and go on to pursue college (many of whom are firstgeneration students) face a myriad of additional obstacles, including financial and psychological barriers, when it comes to succeeding in the college arena. For some, applying skill sets developed in high school to the work world is a much more viable option to achieve success and break the vicious cycle of poverty. This is why Boys & Girls Clubs are working to help prepare Club members for life after high school through career exploration programs. These programs encourage members to assess their skills and interests, explore careers, make sound educational decisions, and prepare to join our nation’s work force. Through these programs, Club members are exposed to opportunities including mentoring, job shadowing, internships, certificate programs, and much more. These opportunities help them to build their resume and position themselves better to compete for jobs globally.
of the jobs that will exist in 20 years don’t exist today.
The typical college graduate makes
$23,000 more per year than the typical high school graduate.
1 in 5
high school students fails to graduate on time in America.
For more on education reform: Care, Esther & Vista, Alvin. “Education is Changing – It’s Time Assessment Caught Up”. Stanford Social Innovation Review, March 27, 2017. Date Accessed: May 6, 2017. https://ssir.org/articles/entry/ education_is_changingits_time_assessment_caught_up For more on redesigning American high schools: Cook-Deegan, Patrick. “Redesigning American High Schools for the 21st Century”. Stanford Social Innovation Review, June 27, 2016. Date Accessed: May 2, 2017. https://ssir.org/ articles/entry/re_designing_american_high_schools_for_the_21st_century For more on first-generation students: Pappano, Laura. “First-Generation Students Unite”. The New York Times, April 8, 2015. Date Accessed: May 11, 2017. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/12/education/edlife/first-generation-students-unite. html?_r=0
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Donate today at my.bgcmd.org/ElevateKids
Up close with Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz, President and Board Chair of the Charles Schwab Foundation
Redesigning the educational system
Meet Club Member Mary - a driven and motivated teen leader