Boys & Girls Club of Garfield Summer 2012

Good Afternoon.  It is the Friday, June 22nd the last day before the start of the 2012 Summer program. Camp Garfield is more than ready to kick off both at 490 Midland Avenue and at the Garfield Middle School location.  In both programs we have exceeded all expectations and will be serving almost 300 children a day between the two locations.  With the leadership of an amazing staff led by Todd Vanderpool, Kandece Francis, Alejandrina Banch and Adrian Woodard I am very confident that the children who will be attending our summer programs will have a very safe, fun, exciting summer.  Not only will our kids have fun they will be participating in excellent programs that focus on Academic Success, Healthy Lifestyles, Character & Citizenship.

We are thrilled with the success that we know we will have this summer and we know that as we concluded the 2011-12 school year that our programs and services were able to deeply impact almost 2000 children in the last 10 months.  Whether our members participate in Volleyball, Basketball, Football, Baseball, Keystone Club, Job Ready, Power Hour, Project Learn or the 21st Century Community Learning Center we know that they are receiving amazing services that ensure that they are achieving high levels both educationally and socially.  As we use our youth development strategy to ensure that every member receives a sense of competence, usefulness, influence and belonging it is ensured that our members feel good about themselves and have a strong self esteem.  

As we conclude the 2012 school year this weekend will feature some great baseball and an end of the Year Baseball celebration hosted by the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield Coaches Association.  It is great to close a year with the celebration of our children.  This past weekend we celebrated with the Cruise for a Cause:Helping to Launch Great Futures event aboard the Cornucopia Destiny.  

Live entertainment was provided by Bounce Entertainment’s very own Hit Doctors,   Audience Pleasers provided a great Casino Night with fantastic prizes.  Event sponsors included Sound-n-Vision, Great Escapes Travel, MIB Mediaworks, Lawson Mulvihill Media, DiGeronimo Architects, Community Bank of Bergen County, Spencer Savings Bank, Archer & Grenier, PC and Bounce Entertainment, Inserra Shoprite, M Awards Plus, Bobs Auto Body, Audience Pleasers and special Media Sponsors Sirius radio, & ESPN Radio, NY.  Special prizes included a radio Expereince with ESPN radio.  Over 100 guest joined the Cruise as views of the NYC Skyline including the Intrepid, the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge and more were enjoyed by all.    One guest stated “It is so great that everyone can have such a great night and support an amazing organization all at the same time”. 

Fresh off the success of this great event the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield announces it’s annual 2012 Golf Outing at the Emerson Golf Club in Emerson, NJ on August 27, 2012.  The day will start with registration and BBQ Lunch at 11:00 am followed by a Shotgun Start at 12:30 PM.  Contest will include closest to the pin, hole in one and longest drive.  Dinner will follow at the Emerson Golf Club, and the presentation of prizes and gifts.  For more information on registering as a player, foursome or being a sponsor please call Boys & Girls Club of Garfield, CEO Paul Casey at 973-478-7662 or speak with outing Chairs Eric Johnson & John Reilly no later than August 13, 2012 or visit the website at www.bgcgarfield.org.  

At the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield, our purpose is to inspire and enable young people especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.

The Boys & Girls Club of Garfield is part of a unified nationwide affiliation of more than 5,000 Clubs and provides after-school and summer programming to more than 1,500 children with an average daily attendance of over 400 members in two different locations.  In addition, the Club provided outreach services to more than 2,000 children last year.

 A study just released by Prof. Jamshid Damooei of Damooei Global Research demonstrates how the social and economic benefits provided by New Jersey Boys & Girls Clubs translate into “tremendous economic value” for New Jersey Club members, their parents and their communities.

According to the report, “while it is easy to appreciate the work of the Clubs in qualitative and emotional or social terms, it requires additional analysis to understand the monetary and economic value of these institutions. At first glance, the Clubs can be praised for the social benefits that they create in the state. However, by digging deeper, it becomes readily apparent that these social benefits create tremendous economic value in New Jersey.

The study found that every dollar invested in Boys & Girls Clubs can generate 15 dollars of positive impact in the community, through improved safety and academic performance for children and teenagers, as well as increased parental income. For example:

·  Every $1 spent by the Clubs to provide a safe after-school environment can save $2 annually on costs communities could have incurred for teenage pregnancies and births, underage drinking and expenditures for the criminal justice system.

·  For every $1 spent by the Clubs, $1.45 of increased earnings is generated through the increased lifetime earnings of Club members, whose school performance and graduation rates improve through educational assistance.

·   Every $1 spent by the Clubs can generate $9 of earnings by parents, who can keep their jobs due to high-quality, low-cost after-school supervision offered by the Clubs.

“The economic impact report confirms that the essential investment Boys & Girls Clubs make, on a daily basis, in the future of our young people is really an investment in the future of our state,” said Al Koeppe, Chairman of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.

The Boys & Girls Club of Garfield provides youth with fun, safe, interesting and relevant programming. Most importantly, the Club provides activities that build confidence and self-esteem. Every day, staff members at the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield help kids with their homework, reinforce learning concepts taught at school, and provide activities that are fun and educationally beneficial.

These programs exhibit great outcomes.  Last year more than 200 members participated in the Club’s Power Hour program (homework assistance).  Additionally, members participated in a literacy mentoring program to improve their reading abilities.  The majority of our members participated in spelling and math activities, as well as computer literacy.  These skill building activities increase members’ proficiency in many subject areas.

Most importantly, local teachers and school administrators whole-heartedly endorse and support the programs offered at the Club.  Anna Sciacca, the Garfield Middle School principal states:

“The Boys and Girls Club offers an exemplary extended day program that is tailored to the interests of middle school students. The diverse selection of extracurricular activities and the tutoring component make it a perfect place for middle school kids to learn and have fun in a safe and nurturing environment.”

Educators believe in our programs because we positively impact the youth in our community.

Please enjoy our Award Winning Promotional video below.  If you would like to help or find out how you can get involved please reach out to us by calling 973-478-7662.  Thank you for helping us make sure that Great Futures Start Here!!!  Have a great Summer!!!!

http://youtu.be/xTZ0ZarrYIQ