After-school Season is here - Time to Invest in our Youth!!!

Friends of Youth,

You have the opportunity to positively influence and impact the youth of our community by supporting the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield to ensure that Great Futures Start Here!

Today we are excited to start our 2013-14 After-school program.  As we entered the month of September, I am pleased and proud as many of our recent graduates/members head off to their first year in college.  Jasmine Cubuk our 2013 Youth of the Year is a freshman at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Merit Award Winner, Ariana Gomez, All-time leading Garfield High School Girls Basketball scorer enrolled at Montclair State University and the 2012 Youth of the Year Mark Espinoza enrolled at University of Pennsylvania. This small group of Alumni is just a sampling of the Great Futures coming from the Boys & Girls Club Garfield.    

Without places like Boys and Girls Club, our members have fewer opportunities to receive positive guidance and academic support.  We need your help to continue to provide this support and meet these challenges.    As we head into a new school year, we are reading headlines about first days of school and dropout rates, and the importance of education. Our studies prove that children that attend the Boys & Girls Clubs achieve at higher levels academically.

As we begin this back to school season and weather begins to get a little cooler as we get closer to the season of giving, we need your support.   Please consider giving generously and investing in our vital work.   No investment is too great or too small to ensure the future of our children.  Our membership and program fees are affordable so that all children can have access to our programs.  Your financial investment helps us continue to welcome and inspire more and more children who need help each day.  Your support enables us to be their home away from home. You help make dreams become reality for our children.  Each dollar helps to build GREAT futures.  Your investment enables our caring, dedicated staff to forge strong relationships with young people and influence their ability to succeed in life - to make sure “GREAT Futures Start Here!”

• $3,000 provides after-school and summer camp services for one child for a full year
• $1,500 provides after-school services for one child for ten months
• $500 provides an athletic scholarship for up to 5 members
• $150 provides one child with after-school services for one month.

After all, it is our future.   Please consider giving your gift now to the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield Great Futures Start Here Annual Campaign. 

You can do this by clicking on this link http://www.bgcgarfield.org/content/make-donation to access our secure donation page or by reviewing other gift giving opportunities on our website.  Your help is so important and we are so thankful for your continued support.

With sincere appreciation,

Paul J. Casey

Chief Executive Officer

Celebrating Summer Success and the Excitement of the Fall

As we come to the closing days of the 2013 Boys & Girls Club of Garfield Summer program, we have so much to celebrate and so much to be excited about.

This summer the Club served more children than any summer in its history – more than 200 at both Garfield Middle School and at 490 Midland Avenue for a total of almost 500 kids in Summer programs. Members and their parents all have told us how much fun they’ve had, how supportive the counselors have been and that they can’t wait to come back next year or to register for our after-school programs beginning Sept. 9.

Every fall, kids look forward to seeing their friends back at school, while parents are focused on ensuring that there children are achieving at high academic levels. All parents want their children to BE GREAT!  But the reality is that too many of our kids aren’t achieving at the levels we would like them to. The Boys & Girls Club can help with that. 

Club members know they can BE GREAT because we have created a seamless network of support for them, with more than 4,000 Boys & Girls Clubs across the country where caring, concerned adults tell them so every day.

The Club’s emphasis on education pays off for youth. According to a National Harris Survey of Boys & Girls Club alumni:

-        90% of alumni graduate from high school or obtain a GED;

-        Nearly two-thirds reported that Club staff contributed to their success in high school;

-        70% credited their time at the Club as helping them discover subject areas they enjoyed.

The Boys & Girls Club of Garfield provides the same kind of academic support for the children we serve. Every year kids who attend the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield attribute much of their success in school to their time spent in our after-school program. Recent Garfield High School graduate and 2013 Boys & Girls Club of Garfield Youth of the Year Jasmine Cubuk credits the Club with the assistance it provided while in high school.

The other thing that we all look forward to in the fall is football season! In only six months, the center of the pro football universe will be in our backyard for the Super Bowl at MetLife Stadium. As the region prepares for the big game, the kids here at the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield are preparing for the fourth season of Garfield Junior Boilermaker Football -- and hopefully a return trip to the Bergen Passaic Youth Football League Super Bowl.

Each night our kids ages 6-14 in four separate divisions conduct their football drills. I am amazed and thrilled by the commitment that our coaches, parents, volunteers and staff have to them. And it is wonderful how hard these youngsters work to improve on the field and strive to reach the levels of some of those players who came before them.

 

Growing up at the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield and in the City of Champions, we frequently remind our members that anything is possible. Just look at our outstanding Alumni: former San Diego Charger Luis Castillo, Dallas Cowboy Miles Austin III, and former New York Jet Wayne Chrebet.

All of them spent a significant amount of time as members of the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield, requiring as much guidance and attention as any other kid on the block. They all joined in counselor-led enrichment activities, where they learned important values such as teamwork, sportsmanship, respect and trustworthiness. It’s these lessons that Former NY Jet Wayne Chrebet still cherishes: “You learned a lot about the importance of relationships,” he said. “You learned to trust the kids around you and to play the best for each other. Belonging to the Boys & Girls Club is a huge advantage because you learn more than just sports. You learn about life.”

In the 54 years since its opening, the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield has been a positive force in the lives of local youth. Besides athletes, its alumni have gone on to become politicians, doctors, dentists, lawyers, and more. “I think maybe the biggest thing is that you start young learning to be a good kid, learning to respect the counselors,” Chrebet said, “but most of all learning the importance of hard work.“

Wayne still remembers his two favorite people at the club, former program director, Glen Staron and traveling basketball coach Steve Wienick.

“I really loved the Pacers, our traveling basketball team,” he said. “It was the first activity that allowed me to meet with kids from other schools.”

“I didn’t play right away,” Chrebet said, laughing. “Steve, Coach Weinick, was always getting on me. Because of him, I learned that if you want something, you gotta work on it. That’s the first time that I really realized that hard work really does pay off.

“I think maybe the best thing about the place is that I made lifelong friends there—not just counselors or administrators.”

They remember Wayne, too. “I can still see him running around the club,” Staron said. “He was a real go-getter, a very determined kid with a unique ability to focus on what he wanted and then do everything in his power to achieve it. I saw that in him even when he was just a kid.”

“I see Wayne as a testament to the work we do as an organization,” he added. “The Club has always been an anchor in the community for the youth—a true pioneer in youth development. I’m very proud of the work we do.” 

Chrebet not only provides tangible proof that you really can be anything you want to be if you put your mind to it. He has also become an ambassador for the club, extolling its positive impact on his life and leaving us with some advice: “Kids, listen and learn! The things you learn there will help you the rest of your life.”

“Remember, the biggest thing is have fun,” he said. “Turn off the video games and the television. Get out there and run around, go experience life the real away. As for parents, I’d say the Club is a great way to have your child experience life. The younger years are the most impressionable and this place has programs that reflect the kinds of values you want them to learn, the kinds of values you teach them at home. I know if I lived in Garfield, my sons would be involved with the Club. I had an absolute blast there.“ 

The Boys & Girls Club of Garfield provides programs and services to ensure that children achieve at high levels academically, live healthy lifestyles and develop strong character and citizenship to contribute in a positive way to their community. In short, we make sure that Great Futures Start Here.  For more information about any of our Club programs please visit our website at www.bgcgarfield.org or call 973-478-7662.

Summer 2013- Value

As we start summer 2013 I first want to wish you well and I hope that you enjoyed your Holiday weekend. The Boys & Girls Club of Garfield's summer program has started off well and we are serving close to 400 kids daily. The summer is such an exciting time, as I walk around the building and speak with our members I am in awe of their excitement, manners, and how happy each of them are.

This is a tribute to so many people that contribute to the great work we are doing here to see the wonderful smiles on the faces of our kids. I am fortunate to hear from our kids about the latest music trends, who their favorite baseball team is, what they did over the weekend and so much more. But, the thing I most enjoy is listening to our young people and staff telling me about what they want to be when they grow up and to hear about their dreams and aspirations. It is amazing to me how clear it is to them that the Club is part of these dreams and they do seem to understand the kind of value that comes with being a member here.

As a friend of the Club I know that you know the value and I thank you so much for the time that you spend in order to help us make sure that Great Futures Start Here. When I think of the word value I often think back to the recent Economic Impact study that was done on the value of the Club and I am reminded that 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 study identified several additional areas where Club participation has significant economic implications: 

Health: More than 60% of registered Club members reported reaching or maintaining a healthy weight by participating in physical activities; and 62.4% of parents report that their children have made better food and drink choices since attending Boys & Girls Clubs.

Parental education: 20.4% of parents whose children attend the Clubs have been able to pursue further education or skills training.

“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. 

This study clearly shows that Boys & Girls Clubs have an impact even beyond the enormous social and educational benefits we have always recognized. The tremendous economic rate of return is a testament to the vital role the Clubs play in shaping the lives and futures of members and their parents, as well as the community.

This economic impact is tremendous and it is great to be able to share outcomes like this with you, but the work of effecting change in a young person’s life is perhaps the most valuable part of the investment we make in children's lives. It is a pursuit that molds and shapes our future. Within the walls of the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield, there are more than just children playing ping pong, swimming in the pool, or playing basketball to pass the time between school and dinner. There are opportunities to develop friendships and lasting relationships with positive role models. As for our athletic endeavors, there is more than just a good game and healthy competition; there is a lesson in coordination, teamwork and strategy. In our activities, children engage in more than a fun run at “Guess Who,” line dancing, or triple play; they learn about other cultures and languages. At our Club, kids enroll in more than literacy programs and health and nutrition activities they engage in opportunities to develop good decision-making skills and lessons in character. They develop a moral compass. Within our walls are dreams and aspirations, potential awaiting cultivation. In short, our work is important… priceless even. We ensure the academic success, healthy lifestyles and strong character & citizenship of our children. What could be more valuable?

I invite you to come and join us and get involved to see what we do firsthand. Experience the value of the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield. Thank you so very much for all of your support.

Boys & Girls Club of Garfield Thrives in the Face of Adversity

Good morning,

The Boys & Girls Club of Garfield facility at 490 Midland Avenue was, as many of you already know the victim of vandalism early Friday morning.  As cleanup was taking place a conversation began between staff from the Garfield YMCA and the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield.

Through this conversation we quickly realized that young man who damaged the Club needed our help more than many of the kids we serve each day.  If this young man had been a Club member and had the appropriate support system he would most likely would not have gone down this road.  Does he need to learn from this terrible behavior?  Yes, absolutely and he will face his day in court.   But, as the mission of the club is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential  as productive, responsible, and caring citizens we all agreed that maybe things would have been different had we reached this young man.  We hope he will find the resolve to turn his life around and become one of these productive members of our community.

As the day progressed we focused on the cleanup and our staff was more than ready for the close to 500 kids we served on Friday and for our 2013 prom for children 6-13 and their families was a tremendous success. As I watched children and their families dance in the gym it was so satisfying to know that we were providing a supportive, fun, and safe environment for our members.

The resolve of our organization was tested and although the facility was vandalized, our organization, staff, and volunteers decided that, "what doesn't kill us will make us stronger!"  

To all those who reached out to us over the last few days we say thank you for your kind words of support, friendship, and donations.  Our commitment to help the children of Garfield and surrounding communities is unmatched and we want you to be part of that.

For information on getting more involved please call us at 973 478 7662 or email me at pcasey@bgcgarfield.org or visit our website at www.bgcgarfield.org.

Thank you so much.

Paul J. Casey

CEO, Boys & Girls Club of Garfield

Social Innovation - Identifying ways to impact Social Change

Paul J. Casey, CEO

Boys & Girls Club of Garfield

At the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield it is so important to practice what we preach.  As we work with our members on the primary impact areas of Academic Success, Healthy Lifestyles and Character & Citizenship , it is so important as the positive adult role models that we work on these things as well.  We are looking to help children reach their full potential as life long learners, that live a healthy lifestyle and who most importantly make a positive contribution on their communities.  But as we provide the daily mentoring for so many children we must do the same to reach our full potential.

So, over the last few days I continued my life long learning as I attended the Social Innovation Summit at United Nations Plaza in NYC, hosted by JP Morgan, Landmark Ventures and the United Nations.  I was so happy to be invited to this tremendous summit.  The Social Innovation Summit was a private, invitation-only forum that explored “What’s Next?” in the world of Social Innovation. Identifying ways among thought leaders to impact social change.  Attendees included top Fortune 500 Corporate Executives, Venture Capitalists, Government Leaders, Foundation Heads and Social Entrepreneurs eager to discuss global and local challenges, analyze innovative approaches for problem-solving, and build partnerships that enable them and their organizations to maximize social impact.

The speakers throughout the two day summit were tremendous and the takeaways were inspiring.   The impact that this kind of information and enthusiasm has on me as a leader and on a Club like the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield is outstanding.  It left me with a number of thoughts.  First, as a non-profit organization we must collaborate and partner with other organizations similar to ours and with innovative and socially conscious companies that are looking to give back.  We then need to act as partners who can show the value and resources that we bring to the table for the communities we serve.  I am thrilled that there is no question that we are doing a great job of that.  Our partnerships with other Boys & Girls Clubs and organizations like Vacamas Programs for Youth, the Garfield YMCA, Meadowlands Environmental Center, City of Garfield, Garfield Board of Education, Bergen Arts & Sciences, Synetek Solutions, MIB Mediaworks, the Meadowlands Chamber of Commerce, ProCamps and many others have proven to help us be much more innovative as we identify additional solutions to serve the children in our Club.

Additionally, as discussed at the Summit, once these innovative ideas, partnerships and solutions are put together we must have the right people on the bus in order to move these initiatives forward.  At the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield we have built a culture of accountability that includes people that have the values of Teamwork, Caring, & Leadership and who have a Commitment to High Quality and Integrity.  So the staff, volunteers and parents of this organization are all of these things and more.  But, most importantly we are helping young people reach their full potential as children with strong Character & Citizenship.  We are also helping these children achieve Academic Success and live Healthy Lifestyles.  As a result we are building the future innovators and leaders to be on the "bus" and who will be employable for companies like Microsoft, Intel, HP, Verizon and others in the future.

Education was a major topic of discussion at the Summit.  We must identify ways to close the achievement gap and move our educational progress forward as a Nation.   As was shared we must do this by personalizing education and ensuring that education is tailored to the learning needs of our children.  One way of doing this is through blended learning initiatives similar to the High Yield Learning Activities that Clubs offer on a daily basis.  As these innovative ideas materialize the thoughts are that Education in the future will be similar to the model that Clubs provide.  Arts, music, and other recreational and extra-curricular activities will work their way back into schools in this kind of setting.  Learning must become more interesting and provide an experience that kids will enjoy.  Also, in 2012, more data was collected than at any time in human history, now we must figure out ways to use it.  Boys & Girls Clubs are effectively doing that with the use of the National Youth Outcomes Initiative.  This data will help us prove that the kids participating in Club activities are achieving at higher levels.

Finally, Social Innovation is being funded at a very high level and multi-stakeholder partnerships are being created to create collaborative innovation.   As a local Boys & Girls Club I wasn't sure what role we could play but one presenter suggested the following "If you think you are too small to be effective you've never been in bed with a mosquito."  So with that I know that the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield is on the bus to be a partner to identify innovative ways to meet the largest challenges and accomplish at very high levels for our members and their families.   Also, we have what I believe is the most valuable resource available, children who are willing and interested to learn to be the innovators for the present and future.  Robert Orr, Assistant Secretary General for the United Nations started the 2nd day of the Conference by saying "Think of yourselves as delegates of the world for the world, now lets get to work. "  I invite you to get involved with the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield and lets get to work!  For more information on Club programs or to get involved please visit our website at www.bgcgarfield.org or give us a call at 973-478-7662.  

GREAT FUTURES START HERE

The Boys & Girls Club of Garfield serves over 1500 multi-ethnic children per year.  They seek to inspire and enable all young people to realize their full potential and have provided opportunity for youth since 1959. They are part of a national network of some 4,000 neighborhood-based facilities, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, which serves more than 4.6 million young people annually, in all 50 states and on U.S. military bases worldwide. Known as “The Positive Place for Kids,” the Clubs provide guidance-oriented character development programs on a daily basis for children 6-18 years old, conducted by a full-time professional staff. Key Boys & Girls Club programs emphasize leadership development, education and career exploration, financial literacy, health and life skills, the arts, sports, fitness and recreation, and family outreach.  For more information on Club programs please call (973)-478-7662.

Boys & Girls Club of Garfield Announces 2013 Youth of the Year

Jasmine Cubuk to Now Vie for State Title and Scholarship

             Selected among several local outstanding youth, Jasmine Cubuk will compete against 22 other Boys & Girls Club members for the New Jersey Youth of the Year title and a college scholarship. As the new Youth of the Year for the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield, 18-year old Jasmine is a true example of an extraordinary young woman recognized by Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) for her sound character, academic achievements, leadership skills and willingness to give back to the community.

            Being named Youth of the Year is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can receive. As BGCA’s premier youth recognition program, Youth of the Year recognizes outstanding contributions to a member’s family, school, community and Boys & Girls Club, as well as overcoming personal challenges and obstacles. Youth of the Year encourages Club members to reach their full potential by achieving academic success, leading healthy lifestyles and contributing to their communities. Youth of the Year honorees are shining examples and living proof that great futures start here at the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield.

“Jasmine is an outstanding young lady who is excelling in school, is part of multiple teen leadership programs and is an amazing representative of the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield” said Paul Casey, CEO, Boys & Girls Club of Garfield.

Jasmine has been a member of the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield for 3 years.  She does not hesitate to serve the community by volunteering with several organizations throughout Garfield. Jasmine makes a commendable effort in lending a hand to friends and relatives in need. She is a stellar student who takes the time to enjoy her education and is proud to be a part of the National Honor Society. Jasmine currently has a 4.0 GPA. Jasmine aspires to attend Richard Stockton College of New Jersey where she plans to study biochemistry.  At the Club Jasmine is an active member of the Keystone Club a teen group dedicated to leadership and community service.  Jasmine stated “becoming a member of the Boys & Girls club of Garfield is the best decision I have ever made.”

If Jasmine wins at the state competition on June 4^th at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ she will compete for the title of Northeast Region Youth of the Year and additional scholarships.   Five regional winners will advance to Washington, D.C., in September 2013, to compete for the title of BGCA’s National Youth of the Year. The National Youth of the Year will receive an additional scholarship and will have the opportunity to meet with the President of the United States in the White House.   For more information on the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield and/or the Youth of the Year program please call 973-478-7662. 

The Boys & Girls Club of Garfield also kicked off its 2013 Great Futures Start Here Annual Campaign. The Club announced it has already raised $22,000 of their $75,000 goal. This year’s campaign is being co-chaired by Anthony Tom Barckett and Todd Williams. Barckett is a current Board of Education member in Garfield and also is the Director of the Englewood on the Palisades Charter School in Englewood, NJ. Todd Williams is a current teacher in Garfield and a Club Alumni who was Boys of the Year in 1983. If you are interested in making a donation to the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield’s Annual Campaign please call 973-478-7662 x12.