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| Monday, February 08, 2010 |
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In The News
Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley Club Members received much needed items, such as warm shoes and pajamas, thanks to the customers and employees of the Murray Olive Garden Restaurant and Murray High School faculty, staff and students. Because of these heartfelt gifts, Club children received some basic items that their families may have otherwise been unable to afford this year due to the struggling economy. A few days after Thanksgiving, the Murray Olive Garden Restaurant placed a Christmas tree in their lobby asking their customers to buy shoes for the children at the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley. All of the nearly 100 Murray Olive Garden employees also raised funds through bake sales and prize raffles made possible by the Cheesecake Factory and Best Buy. In addition, Payless Shoes gave Olive Garden employees Michelle Bower, Amanda Horrocks and Kyrsten Woller a 20% discount towards buying more shoes with the funds they raised. On December 22nd, they delivered 107 pairs of shoes for children ages 3-18 years old, all festively wrapped for Christmas. “This is the second year that both our customers and employees have provided the children at the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley with warm shoes during the holiday season. We were thrilled to be able to provide even more shoes this year.” said Michelle Bower, Culinary Manager for the Murray Olive Garden Restaurant. A total of 18 Murray High School faculty and staff also stepped up to help the children of the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley by sponsoring 20 families for the holidays. On December 21st, they delivered loads of wrapped presents to the Club and were thrilled to be able to also donate a small truckload of coats and boots from the Student Body Officers’ Boot & Coat Drive. “The faculty and staff truly enjoyed providing much needed gifts for the children and families of the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley. One teacher even made 20 sets of children’s pajamas for the sponsored families. We hope to make it an annual tradition at Murray High School.” said Laura deShazo, Business/CTE Teacher at Murray High School. “We were very touched by the generosity and willingness of the Murray community to help the children and families who rely on the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley for after-school and summer programs,” said Bob Dunn, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley. “In this challenging economy, more and more children need our services in addition to just the basic items to live. We are very grateful to Murray High School and Olive Garden Restaurant for helping make our Club members holidays happy this year.” About Murray High School Murray High School is the only high school in the Murray City School District in Murray, Utah. It is one of the smallest high schools in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area with 1,571 students enrolled in the 2007-2008 school year, the school enrolls students in grades 10-12. There are over 100 faculty and staff at Murray High School. About Olive Garden Restaurants  December 22, 2009--JCPenney Customers “Round up” for THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF
Thanks to funds raised through a recent “Round-Up” campaign at the JCPenney stores in West Valley City, South Jordan and Sandy, more local children in need will have access to afterschool programming. From December 4-13, JCPenney customers were invited to “round-up” their JCPenney purchases to the nearest whole dollar and donate the difference to the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley. Donations raised at JCPenney’s recent “Round-Up” event generated $7646 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley bringing the annual amount to $14,385 that was raised in 2009 through four “Round-Up” events held throughout the year. One hundred percent of the contributions collected directly benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley in an effort to make affordable afterschool programs accessible for local families. “We are very grateful for JCPenney’s ‘Round-Up’ program which enables us to continue to provide high-quality afterschool programs to children in need,” said Bob Dunn, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley. “With the funds raised this year, even more children can benefit from the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley’s life saving programs.” Recent studies show that more than a quarter of America’s school children are on their own between the hours of 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. each day.* More parents seek the resources to enroll their children in a beneficial afterschool program that help kids develop social skills, provide opportunities to be physically active and achieve academic success in school. JCPenney’s continuing support and commitment to the afterschool cause and has made it possible for tens of thousands of children to participate in essential afterschool programs nationwide.
 December 16, 2009--Discover Financial Services Employees Provide Winter Coats to the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley
This Generous Donation Will Give Warmth to Children Discover Financial Services employees collected and donated a total of 85 winter coats to teens at the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley. These winter coats will give much needed warmth to many Club teens who otherwise may have been unable to afford a new coat this year. This heartfelt donation from the Discover Financial Services employees was announced at a holiday reception on December 14th held at Discover’s Lake Park facility. The employees were also able to collect 10,000 pounds of food for the Utah Food Bank and additional coats and hats for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake. Discover presented checks to Jordan Valley and Frost Elementary Schools at the holiday reception as well. “We continue to be truly impressed by the Discover employees’ generosity and eagerness to help children who rely on the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley for after-school and summer programs,” said Bob Dunn, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley. “To see a company step forward and pay special attention to our teen population is even more amazing since this age group is often overlooked during the holiday giving season as they tend to be harder to shop for and often more expensive. Even so, the need for basics is just as great for the teens as for our younger Club members and we are so pleased that Discover Card would take on this challenge.” Fundraisers and donations such as these help make it possible for the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley to continue to provide life-saving programs to children in need and their families. If you’re interested in helping children in your community, you can make a tax deductible donation online at www.bgcsv.org, or by contacting Bob Dunn at 801.284.4251 or bdunn@bgcsv.org.
About Discover Financial Services Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a leading credit card issuer and electronic payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in
December 9, 2009--“Round-up” HOLIDAY PURCHASES FOR the boys & girls clubs of south valley
100 Percent of Donations Raised at Local JCPenney Stores From December 4-13, shoppers at the JCPenney stores in West Valley City, South Jordan and Sandy are invited to “round-up” their purchases to the nearest whole dollar and donate the difference to the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley to support quality afterschool programs. JCPenney has partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley to provide at-risk children with access to life-enriching afterschool programs that foster their academic, physical and social development. “The availability of affordable afterschool programs continues to be an important community objective in order to meet the needs of working families,” said Bob Dunn, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley. “As customers shop for the Christmas season, we hope they will keep our mission in mind by rounding-up their purchases to benefit a local cause.” All funds raised from JCPenney’s “Round-Up” campaign will make it possible for more local youth to participate in the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley’s afterschool programming, which focuses on character and leadership development, education and career development, health and life skills, the arts, and sports, fitness and recreation. Recent studies show that more than a quarter of America’s school children are on their own between the hours of 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. each day.* More parents seek the resources to enroll their children in a beneficial afterschool program that help kids develop social skills, provide opportunities to be physically active and achieve academic success in school. JCPenney’s continuing support and commitment to the afterschool cause and has made it possible for tens of thousands of children to participate in essential afterschool programs nationwide.
About JCPenney’s Commitment to Afterschool
As the leading corporate advocate for the afterschool issue, JCPenney works with afterschool organizations to increase the accessibility and affordability of afterschool programs across the country. Through its legacy of supporting youth and charitable organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club of America, YMCA of the USA, National 4-H, United Way and FIRST, JCPenney formalized its commitment to the afterschool issue by making it the company’s signature cause in 1999. Since its inception, more than $80 million has been distributed to afterschool programs in every JCPenney community thereby making it possible for more children to participate in life-enriching programs that inspire them to be smart, strong and socially responsible. For more information, visit www.jcpenneyafterschool.org.
 December 2, 2009--ART WORKS FOR KIDS PARTNERS WITH THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SOUTH VALLEY TO PROVIDE MUSICAL PROGRAMS FOR CLUB MEMBERS
Arts Works for Kids and Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley sponsoring The Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley recently partnered with Art Works for Kids, a non-profit organization that helps Utah children fulfill their potential by ensuring they have quality arts education during their elementary school years. The founder, Beverley Taylor Sorenson created this innovative program that collaborates with school districts, universities and community arts organizations, and has so far reached more than 90,000 children. Through funding from Art Works for Kids, Dan Whitley of the Notable Youth Pops Orchestra has been providing musical programs for elementary aged children at the Club. For several children, this is their only opportunity to be exposed to performing music. Last August, the Club children were actually able to perform live during a Fox 13 telethon held for all the Utah Boys & Girls Clubs.
“Not only are the Club children learning to appreciate music, the Club staff have also noticed that the children are more well behaved, get alone with others, and are able to better concentrate on other Club programs,” said Michael Cox, Murray Unit Director.
Dan Whitley and Club children are now practicing for a holiday musical program, “The Magic of Christmas,” which will take place on Monday, December 14th at 7:00 pm at the Murray Club located at 244 E. Myrtle Avenue (5065 South). All young musicians in the community are also welcome to take part in this meaningful Christmas program. Rehearsals are now taking place at the Murray Club every Tuesday night at 7:00 pm and the dress rehearsal will be on Friday, December 11th at 5:00 pm.
A special performance for family, parents and friends will take place on Saturday, December 12th at 7:00 pm and the free of charge public performance will be on Monday, December 14th at 7:00 pm. Everyone is invited to come enjoy the holiday season with the Club children.
“We so appreciate having the opportunity to work with the Boys and Girls Clubs of South Valley and look forward to a wonderful Christmas Program,” said Dan Whitley, Director of the Notable Youth Pops Orchestra.
About Art Works for Kids Art Works for Kids is a non-profit organization that helps Utah children fulfill their potential by ensuring they have quality arts education during their elementary school years. The founder, Beverley Taylor Sorenson created this innovative program that collaborates with school districts, universities and community arts organizations, and has so far reached more than 90,000 children. Friends of Art Works for Kids is a grassroots initiative created to ensure that Utah's school children receive the benefits of high-quality, integrated arts instruction through the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program. The program integrates art into the core curriculum, effectively increasing student performance in every subject-from language arts and social studies to math and science. For more information please visit http://www.artworksforkids.org/ About Notable Youth Pops Orchestra
Notable Youth Pops Orchestra is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing music into the lives of children. Dan Whitley is conductor of the Notable Youth Pops Orchestra. He teaches instrumental and vocal to young children in an accelerated fashion that allows them to perform together at a much earlier age than ever before. His secret to success is that he teaches the children to play simple things well instead of complicated things poorly. With keyboard and guitar, the arrangements are cut in two, allowing two children to play the part that an adult would usually play by themselves. This method allows children to play more complicated songs because they only have to play their part of the arrangement. These custom arrangements are totally unique to the Notable Youth Pops Orchestra. For more information, please visit http://www.notableyouthfoundation.org/ or www.danwhitleymusic.com. November 12, 2009--Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley Celebrating Their Clubs with Club Members and asks, "Do You Love Your Club?"
Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley Thanking Families and Community Supporters
on November 18th and 19th at the Murray and Midvale Clubs The week of November 16, 2009 is the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley’s sixth annual ‘Do You Love Your Club’ or DYLYC Week. This fun week involves various activities where Club members can share why they love their Club such as essay and art contests. Subsequently, the different Clubs have a culminating DYLYC event to show their appreciation to all of the families and community supporters who help make it possible for them to provide life saving services to 11,000 children annually. The Midvale and West Jordan Clubs are hosting a DYLYC Potluck Dinner for all their Club members, families and community supporters on Wednesday, November 18th at 6:00 pm at the Midvale Club located at 7631 S. Chapel Street (425 West). Parents from both Clubs are contributing to the dinner and some will also speak to the group on how the Club has made a difference in their family’s lives. The Clubs have also asked each youth to display what they love about the Club on DYLYC hearts in addition to having DYLYC essay and art contests. On Thursday, November 19th, the Murray and Kearns Clubs will be celebrating with their Club members, families and supporters at their annual Flying Pie Social from 5:00-6:00 pm at the Murray Club located at 243 E. Myrtle Avenue (5065 South). For the second year in a row, Rocky Mountain Pies is generously donating pies for this entertaining event. The Murray Denny’s is contributing pies this year as well. Each department and any interested parents are also being invited to make their own pies for pie tasting and judging. Winners of the DYLYC essay and art contests will also be announced that night. The first ‘DYLYC’ Week was created in 2004 as a way for Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley members, families and supporters to celebrate what they love about their Club. Club members were asked to write essays and draw pictures showing why they loved their Club. Parents of Club members were surveyed to find out how they felt about the Club, and even the Club’s Board of Directors was asked to consider how the Boys & Girls Club had impacted their lives. As a result of all these projects, the Club members, parents, board members, and community members began to realize just how important the Club is or has been in their lives. It helped them to reflect on what the Club has meant to them and the incredible things the Club has been able to accomplish. Six years later, Club members still look forward to each November when they can celebrate their Club. For more information on the Murray and Kearns Club’s Flying Pie Social being held at the Murray Club, you can contact Michael Cox, Murray Unit Director at 801.284.4259 or mcox@bgcsv.org. If you have questions about the Midvale and West Jordan Club’s Potluck Dinner being held at the Midvale Club, you can contact Billy Swartzfager, Midvale Unit Director at 801.256.9008 or wswartzfager@bgcsv.org.
 November 5, 2009--Denny’s Murray Restaurant Raises Money to Help the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley Continue to Provide Services for Children and Their Families
During the month of October, Denny’s Murray Restaurant was able to raise over $340 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley to help support vital Club programs. Due to the ongoing economic recession, the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley has been facing a significant budget deficit as the need continues to grow for families and children that depend on the clubs the most. After hearing about the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley’s shortfall in funds, the Murray Denny’s wanted to help raise money for the critical after school programs that the Club offers children in the community. In October, Denny’s customers had the opportunity to donate either $5 or $1 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley. If they donated $5 to the Club, Denny’s gave them a ‘Buy One Get One Free’ meal coupon to use at their next visit. If they donated $1, they received a 20% off coupon for their next visit. All of the Denny’s patrons that donated to the Club were able to place their name on a Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley placard that was displayed on the restaurant’s wall. Over 200 generous customers donated to the Club throughout the month. “We hope to repeat this fundraiser next spring and help raise more funds for the children at the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley,” said Heather Wenzel, Murray Denny’s General Manager. On November 5th, Heather Wenzel and other Denny’s employees presented a check to the Club and distributed Denny’s coupons to the Club kids. “I was very impressed by Denny’s enthusiasm and willingness to give back to the community they serve and help children and families who rely on the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley for after-school and summer programs,” said Bob Dunn, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley.
Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley has played an integral role in the community for over 42 years providing services to 44,000 boys and girls annually. The Club offers programs that emphasize character and leadership development, education and career enhancement, health and life skills, the arts, and sports, fitness and recreation. Fundraisers such as these in addition to numerous individual and corporate donations have helped make it possible for the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley to continue to serve children in this struggling economy. However, the Club still needs help from the community in order to continue to provide life-saving programs to children in need and their families. If you’re interested in being a hero to a kid, you can make a donation online at http://www.bgcsv.org/, or contact Shelly Parker at 801.284.4250 or spaker@bgcsv.org.
October 27, 2009--JCPenney Customers Invited to “Round up” for the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley
100 Percent of Donations from Recent “Round-Up” Program Benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley, a JCPenney Afterschool Fund Partner--Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley and JCPenney celebrate Lights On Afterschool Thanks to funds raised through a recent “Round-Up” program at the JCPenney stores in West Valley City, South Jordan and Sandy, local children in need will continue to have access to afterschool programming at the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley, the stores’ JCPenney Afterschool Fund partner. From October 16th-25th, JCPenney customers were invited to “round-up” their JCPenney purchases to the nearest whole dollar and donate the difference to local afterschool programs that provide at-risk children access to life-enriching activities that inspire children to be smart, strong and socially responsible. “With the $5560 raised from JCPenney’s recent ‘Round-U’ program at the Valley Fair Mall in West Valley, The District in South Jordan, and the South Towne Center in Sandy, even more children can benefit from the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley’s afterschool programs, said Bob Dunn, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley. “We appreciate JCPenney’s support as we work towards our goal of providing high-quality afterschool programs that provides academic, physical and social development for children in the Salt Lake City community.” JCPenney’s Round-Up program was held in conjunction with the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley’s event to celebrate Lights On Afterschool, the largest national Afterschool awareness day with more than 7,500 local events taking place throughout the nation. Marking the 10th anniversary of the rally, the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley organized a variety of events including a Lights On Dance at the Murray Teen Center, a Murray Child Care raffle and bake sale for parents, a Kearns Club production of Thriller, and a live game of the board game Clue held at the Midvale Club. Other Lights On Afterschool events across the country included student performances, open houses, art and essay contests, art displays, tree lightings, carnivals, and much more. As part of Lights On Afterschool this year, JCPenney and the Afterschool Alliance released results from America After 3 PM: A Household Survey on Afterschool in America, the most in-depth study ever done to explore how America’s children spend their afternoons. Sponsored by the JCPenney Afterschool Fund, a public charity that inspires children to be smart, strong and socially responsible, the study measures progress and includes updated information on afterschool participation nationally and in all 50 states.
“Lights On Afterschool is an exciting event that honors the importance of afterschool programs for America's children, families and communities,” said Kim Williams, Valley Fair JCPenney Store Manager. “Based on results from the America After 3PM survey, nine percent of Utah children access afterschool programs – a higher figure than ever before. However, we know we need to do more to keep up with the rising demand of afterschool programs locally. We look forward to continuing our strong, long term commitment to this issue and appreciate our customers for their support of this worthy cause.” The full America After 3 PM report with state summaries is available online at www.jcpenneyafterschool.org.
About The JCPenney Afterschool Fund The JCPenney Afterschool Fund is a charitable organization committed to providing children in need with access to life-enriching afterschool programs that inspire children to be smart, strong and socially responsible. To date, JCPenney and the JCPenney Afterschool Fund have contributed more than $80 million to local afterschool programs in every JCPenney community through partnerships with the YMCA of the USA, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, National 4-H and United Way of America. For more information, visit www.jcpenneyafterschool.org for more information.  October 7, 2009--BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF
Boys & Girls Clubs of
examines the social and educational inclusion of youth with disabilities Including Samuel, the award-winning documentary by photo-journalist Dan Habib, will be shown at the Boys & Girls Club of Murray located at 244 E. Myrtle Avenue (5065 S.) on Thursday, October 15th at 7:00 pm. The screening is free of charge and is sponsored by the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley. Since the film debuted in November 2007, Including Samuel has been screened at universities, national conferences and independent theatres across the country. The film has also been featured on NPR’s All Things Considered and Good Morning American NOW, as well as the Washington Post and the Boston Globe. Exceptional Parent Magazine called it a “must see” film. Before his son Samuel was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, photojournalist Dan Habib rarely thought about the educational inclusion of people with disabilities. Now he thinks about inclusion every day. Shot and produced over four years, Habib’s award-winning documentary film, Including Samuel, honestly chronicles the Habib family’s efforts to include Samuel in every facet of their lives. The film also features four other families with varied inclusion experiences, plus interviews with dozens of teachers, young people, parents and disability rights experts. Including Samuel is a highly personal, passionately photographed film that captures the cultural and systemic barriers to inclusion in schools. The Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley was recently awarded a $12,000 grant from the Bubel/Aiken Foundation and the Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Community Foundation to implement ‘Let’s ALL Play—Inclusion in Recreational Programs’ into their summer programming. “This movie is directly inline with the Club’s current summer programming that allows children with special needs to enjoy a successful summer camp experience in an inclusive setting,” said Michael Cox, Murray Unit Director. About Filmmaker Dan Habib Dan Habib, the director, producer, and cinematographer of Including Samuel, is the Filmmaker in Residence at the Institute on Disability / UCED at the  September 25, 2009--
to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of As part of the annual Alta High School Homecoming Week celebration, the cheerleaders held their annual “Kiss the Pig” fundraiser to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley and help support vital Club programs. Throughout the Homecoming week, the cheerleaders asked students for donations towards the “Kiss the Pig” contest. If at least $1000 was raised during that week leading up to the Homecoming football game on September 24th, the high school administration agreed to kiss a pig at the football game halftime. The Alta High Cheerleaders pick a charity each year to raise funds for through the “Kiss the Pig” contest and this year they selected the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley. Due to the ongoing economic downturn, the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley has been facing a significant budget deficit as the need for families and children that depend on the clubs the most continues to grow. As a result of the significant reductions in government, corporate and foundation giving, the Clubs were actually forced to close their doors on Fridays during the month of April. “I was impressed and proud that my alma mater wanted to help the countless children and families who rely on the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley for after-school and summer programs,” said Brandon Horrocks, Director of Operations for the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley and Alta High School Alumnus. Fundraisers such as these in addition to numerous individual and corporate donations have helped make it possible for the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley to reopen their doors on Fridays. However, the Club still needs help from the community in order to continue to provide life-saving programs to children in need and their families. If you’re interested in being a hero to a kid, you can make a donation at any Zions Bank branch, online at http://www.bgcsv.org/, or by contacting Brandon Horrocks at 801.284.4264 or bhorrocks@bgcsv.org.  September 21, 2009--BOYS & GIRLS OF SOUTH VALLEY PARTNERS WITH BANK OF AMERICAN FORK TO RAISE MONEY FOR VITAL CLUB PROGRAMS
Bank of American Fork will donate $50 for each new account Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley today announced a partnership with Bank of American Fork, which will donate $50 to the organization for every MyRate Checking account opened between Sept. 21 and Dec. 31, 2009. The donations will help the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley continue to serve children in a variety of ways including providing a safe, supervised and structured environment during the critical after-school hours. Not only are the Club’s services extremely affordable and, as a result, in higher demand during these tough financial times, it also provides invaluable assistance for children and their families. “We are extremely grateful for this partnership with the Bank of American Fork. Their generous support will help the Club continue to provide life-saving programs to children in need and their families,” said Bob Dunn, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley. To be eligible for the donation, new customers can visit their local Bank of American Fork with one of the promotional postcards that will be mailed to households along the Wasatch front or they can simply mention the offer at the time of account opening. MyRate Checking accounts can be opened at any of Bank of American Fork’s 12 locations throughout
About Bank of American Fork
Bank of American Fork, a subsidiary of People's Utah Bancorp, was established in 1913. With assets of nearly $840 million, the Bank operates 12 full-service branches across Salt Lake and Utah counties. Bank of American Fork is committed to safe and sound financial management for both customers and the Bank, and to contributing to each community in which the bank operates. For more information about Bank of American Fork, call 1-800-815-BANK or visit bankaf.com.  September 2, 2009--STARVING STUDENT DISCOUNT CARDS TO BENEFIT THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF
Sales of the Starving Student Discount Cards will help raise money Starving Student Fundraising has recently teamed up with the Boys & Girls Club of South Valley by donating a portion of sale proceeds from the Starving Student Discount Cards in order to benefit the important after-school programs the Clubs offer to children. The Starving Student Card consists of a wide variety of great deals including hundreds of dollars of free stuff and thousands of dollars of premium 2-for-1 offers. It conveniently fits in a wallet or purse and pays for itself in one to three uses on average. The card was created in 1993 at Rick’s College by a young “starving” married couple with two children who wanted to help raise money for great causes in the community. They sought to create a product that would save individuals and families money on things they normally spend money on, while giving them great ideas for new things to try. They also wanted to save merchants money by providing advertising that was more effective and less expensive than more traditional forms of advertising. The program has been targeted specifically at college age students, but everyone does, and is able to buy and benefit from the card whether or not they are a student. The card is now marketed directly on campus at: BYU-Idaho, Brigham Young University, University of Utah, Weber State University, Utah State University, University of Michigan, Michigan St. University, and will be coming this spring to Dixie College, Southern Utah University, Boise State and Sacramento State University. They are also sold by numerous local fundraising groups, schools and other charities in these same communities, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley. “Starving Student Card is very proud to support and partner with Boys and Girls Club of South Valley. We hope this will be a long term relationship with a product and program that will continue to improve and raise more and more funds over time for deserving youth in
“We’re also excited for this partnership and look forward to this becoming a long-term fundraising source for the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley. Purchasing a Starving Student Discount Card could actually help make a difference in the lives of countless kids,” says Toni Geddes, Director of Development for the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley. If you’re interested in supporting the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley and purchasing a Starving Student Discount Card, you can visit the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley website at www.bgcsv.org, contact Toni Geddes at 801.284.4248 or buy one directly at the Murray Club (
About Starving Students Discount Cards The Starving Students Discount Card was created in 1993 at Rick’s College by a young “starving” married couple with two children. They wanted to create a product that would save merchants money by providing advertising that was more effective and cost less money than more traditional forms of advertising, save individuals and families money on things they normally spend money on, while giving them great ideas for new things to try, and help raise money for great causes in the community. Since this time the couple have become experts in their niche of marketing and have gone on to help bring in millions of dollars in business for local merchants in Utah and Idaho, while at the same time raising hundred’s of thousands of dollars for scholarships and community causes, while at the same time saving customers millions of dollars as well. The program has been targeted specifically at college age students, but everyone does, and is able to buy and benefit from the product whether or not they are a student. They are also sold by numerous local fundraising groups, schools and other charities in these same communities. The business model has turned out to be extremely scalable and licenses are being sold across the
July 7, 2009--DO SOMETHING 101: SALT
Grammy® Winning Singer-Songwriter, Ciara, Teams Up with DoSomething.org and Staples in 2nd
DoSomething.organd Staples(Nasdaq: All school supplies and donations will be given locally to the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley, a non-profit organization that provides after-school and summer programs for children 3-18 years of age, including those children at risk. “We are very grateful to Staples and DoSomething.org. With their generous support, we will be able to continue providing lifesaving programs to the young people in our community,” said Bob Dunn, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley. "The Do Something 101 campaign is such a great cause. I can’t imagine going to school without pencils, notebooks and other basic supplies,” said Ciara. “Every little bit counts and, through Do Something 101, the more we can get these essential products to teens, the more we help kids stay in school and excel even further. I look forward to working with DoSomething.org and Staples to spread the word!" To help kick-off the campaign, Ciara is starring in a public service announcement (
“The feedback from teen volunteers and recipients during our inaugural school supply drive in 2008 was inspiring,” said Demos Parneros, president of About DoSomething.org:
DoSomething.org believes teenagers have the power to make a difference. We leverage communications technologies to enable teens to convert their ideas and energy into positive action. We inspire, empower and celebrate a generation of doers: teenagers who recognize the need to do something, believe in their ability to get it done, and then take action. Plug in at http://www.dosomething.org/.
About Staples: Staples, the world's largest office products company, is committed to making it easy for customers to buy a wide range of office products, including supplies, technology, furniture, and business services. With 2008 sales of $23 billion and 91,000 associates worldwide, Staples serves businesses of all sizes and consumers in 27 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia and
June 30, 2009--SMARTS PYRAMID® CHILDREN’S PUZZLE GAMES TO BENEFIT THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF
for kids at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Use Your Head Unlimited of Pleasant Grove, Utah, a national distributor for the Smarts Pyramid® puzzle line, has recently teamed up with Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley. Portions of sale proceeds from the innovative Smarts Pyramid® children’s puzzle games will benefit the important after-school programs the Clubs offer to children. The Smarts Pyramid® puzzle games require players to stack ten pairs of connected balls to form a pyramid without letting the same colors touch. They are available in major sports ball themes or smiley faces and are an excellent brain teaser for whole family in addition to promoting social interaction among kids when played with others. The co-creator of the Smarts Pyramid® puzzle line, Raymond Thompson, says, “This is a 3D brain-teaser for both sports and puzzle enthusiasts from 8 to 108 years of age, and requires no batteries.”
The Smarts Pyramid® puzzle games have received several awards including the Games Magazine ‘Top One Hundred Games,’ Parenting Media Award, and the Creative Child Magazine ‘Seal of Excellence’ and ‘Top Toy of Year 2004,’ in addition to receiving the ‘Best New Product’ from a PGA Fall Expo. “We’re excited for this partnership and look forward to this award winning product line becoming a long-term fundraising source for the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley,” says Toni Geddes, Director of Development for the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley. So whether they are purchased as a gift, to be sold in a retail store, as a fundraiser for a club or school, or as a promotional item for a company or sports team (with logo service), they will help make a difference in the lives of the countless kids served at the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley. If you’re interested in supporting the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley and purchasing a Smarts Pyramid puzzle game, you can visit the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley website at http://www.bgcsv.org/, or contact Raymond Thompson at smartspyramid@gmail.com. The puzzles will also be sold on August 22-29 at the Babe Ruth 13 Year Old Little League World Series taking place at Ken Price Ball Park which is located directly north of the Murray Club at 244 E. Myrtle (5065 South). About Smarts Pyramid® Puzzle Games Use Your Head Unlimited Inc., located in
June 30, 2009--Some 15 Million Kids Expected to Go Hungry This Summer, Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley Partners with Morgan Stanley to Launch “Million Meal Summer” Program
Program to Provide 24,000 Meals to Boys & Girls Club Members at both the Murray and Midvale Clubs In an effort to feed the millions of young people expected to miss meals or go hungry this summer, Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) announced today a partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley to provide 24,000 meals to children this summer. Through a donation from the Morgan Stanley Foundation to BGCA, the “Million Meal Summer” program will dispense more than one million wholesome, free meals and snacks to children this summer who typically receive subsidized meals during the school year. “This summer, nearly 15 million school children in this country will go without the lunchtime meals provided to them during the school year,” said John J. Mack, Chairman and CEO of Morgan Stanley. “The reason we are doing this is quite simple. Faced with the current economic challenges, many families are struggling to provide their children with healthy meals. It is part of our Firm’s culture to act when we learn that one out of six children in the Boys & Girls Clubs of “We are extremely grateful to the Morgan Stanley Foundation for their generous support that will ensure the young people we serve this summer will not go hungry,” said Bob Dunn, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley. “The economic downturn that has impacted the entire country has been deeply felt by our Clubs, and many summer food programs have been placed in jeopardy. Hopefully others will follow Morgan Stanley’s lead.”
During the school year, more than half of the 31 million children who participate in the National School Lunch Program are low-income. Last year, the Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program for Children (SFSP) provided nearly 130 million meals to 2.1 million children across the country. The program reimburses organizations for meals served, but often does not cover the infrastructure or programming costs organizations incur when operating a summer program for children. “The Summer Food Service Program is a vital nutrition resource during the months students are not in school,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “We know that there are many children who need nutritious food but don’t have access to a program in their area. We need more organizations to sponsor sites and sponsors need additional resources from the community in order to succeed in reaching children who need meals. Ongoing partnerships like this one are key to making sure our children have healthy meals during the school year, during the summer months, and all year long.” For more than 30 years, Morgan Stanley has invested in innovative pediatric care through the Firm’s signature Global Alliance for Children’s Health program. For more information on the Morgan Stanley Foundation and its programs, please visit www.morganstanley.com/globalcitizen. About Morgan Stanley Morgan Stanley is a leading global financial services firm providing a wide range of investment banking, securities, investment management and wealth management services. The Firm's employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions and individuals from more than 600 offices in 36 countries. For further information about Morgan Stanley, please visit http://www.morganstanley.com/
June 26, 2009--A TASTY WAY FOR OLD SPAGHETTI FACTORY PATRONS TO HELP THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF
The Old Spaghetti Factory renews their commitment to the In this economy, it is challenging for everyone to hand over that little bit of extra cash to help others, even if they see that need. OSF International, which owns and operates The Old Spaghetti Factory Restaurants, has seen this need and the desire that community members have to lend a hand to those who really need it. With a strong desire to support Club kids, they are working with Boys & Girls Clubs across the country – for the second year – to raise money for the important after-school programs that the Clubs offer to children. During the month of July, patrons at Old Spaghetti Factory will have the opportunity to donate to the Boys & Girls Clubs at the end of their meal. A portion of this will go directly to the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley and those patrons who contribute a minimum of $1 will receive a coupon for “Sicilian Garlic Cheese Bread” to use on their next visit.
About Old Spaghetti Factory International The Old Spaghetti Factory first opened its doors 40 years ago in The Dussin Group is the owner of all Old Spaghetti Factory trademarks.
Discover Financial Services will be presenting a $30,000 check to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake and Due to the ongoing economic downturn, both clubs are facing significant budget deficits as the need for families and children depending on the clubs grows. Significant reductions in government, corporate and foundation giving, forced the Discover employees helped raise nearly $8,000 through fundraisers held at their “We had heard that both the Greater Salt Lake and South Valley Clubs had been hit hard by the economic crisis and were experiencing increases in demand from kids and parents. Recognizing the importance of the Boys & Girls Clubs in our communities, Discover employees welcomed the opportunity to raise money for them and the Company is proud to make this donation,” said Steve Bayans, vice-president of Discover’s “I am truly impressed by the employees’ eagerness to step up and help children and families who rely on the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley for after-school and summer programs,” said Toni Geddes, Director of Development for the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley.
“The efforts of Discover Card and their employees are just incredible. This kind of support says a lot about how much our business community values the important work we’re doing with kids” says LeAnn Saldivar, President & CEO of the Greater Salt Lake Chapter.
During the last two months,
The Cameo College Student Council held a bake sale on April 11th with baked goods donated by Great Harvest of Taylorsville, The Store Too Bakery of Salt Lake City, So Cupcakes of Salt Lake City and the Little Caesars Pizza of Murray. According to Kimball, the bake sale raised over $725. Toni Geddes, Director of Development for the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley, accepted Cameo’s donation a few days later at an official check presentation held at the College. “I was immediately impressed by the warm atmosphere of the college and the students’ enthusiasm to step up and help children and families who rely on the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley for after-school and summer programs,” said Geddes.
Brenda Scharman, owner of Cameo College of Essential Beauty, said “We have such an amazing staff of students and employees. They are constantly looking for ways to help benefit the organizations in our community and make lives a little easier for those around them.” According to Scharman,
June 4, 2009--FORUM 29, A Live Art Charity Show to Help the Boys & Girls Clubs of
On Saturday, June 13th, the second annual FORUM 29 Live Art Charity Show will take place at 1175 South 700 West and will highlight a legendary collection of over 20 local graffiti/urban artists and out of state artists from ICR, MSK, and The Seventh Letter. The event starts at 6:00 pm and will include live art, music from local DJs/bands, an open b-boy floor, and a circus. Event sponsors will be giving away free product all night such as Vitamin Water, Riktor Peeps, and Ghettoslider clothing. FORUM 29 is a free event for all ages but donations for the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley will be accepted throughout the evening.
FORUM 29 is an all day art event in which some of the best artists from individual backgrounds come together to share their their collaborative and individual works with the community. The aim of the annual event is to give artisans, sponsors, and businesses alike an opportunity to express themselves while connecting with their community and raising funds for a non-profit organization, the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley. The event’s venue, funding, service, entertainment, and set up, are all made possible entirely through funding/donations from local and national sponsors.The funds raised at the FORUM 29 event will help the Boys & Girls Club of South Valley to provide vital Club programs to the children in the community. Due to the ongoing economic downturn, the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley has been facing a significant budget deficit as the need for families and children that depend on the clubs the most continues to grow. As a result of the significant reductions in government, corporate and foundation giving, the Clubs were actually forced to close their doors on Fridays during the month of April. “I am so impressed by the artists’ enthusiasm to step up and help children and families who rely on the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley for after-school and summer programs,” said Toni Geddes, Director of Development for the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley. Fundraisers such as these in addition to numerous individual and corporate donations have helped make it possible for the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley to reopen their doors on Fridays. However, the Club still needs help from the community in order to continue to provide life-saving programs to children in need and their families. If you’re interested in being a hero to a kid, you can make a donation at the FORUM 29 event, at any Zions Bank branch, online at www.bgcsv.org, or by contacting Toni Geddes at 801.284.4248 or tgeddes@bgcsv.org.
About FORUM 29 FORUM 29 aims to bring artists from unique settings together, most often graffiti and street artists, to create a unique blend of individual styles and a one of a kind environment for everyone to enjoy. Aside from its artistic aims, FORUM 29 works to raises funds and awareness for a charity organization. By offering this public service to non-profits, FORUM 29 is able to forge a greater connection within the community, uniting the creative spirit with that of the charity to provide a beneficial forum for all involved.
On Friday, May 8th, Bear River Mutual Insurance employees devoted their entire afternoon to cleaning up and improving the Boys & Girls Club of South Valley’s Murray Club. Approximately 25 Bear River employees began work around noon on Friday and a few hours later, an additional 30 volunteers joined in the cleanup effort—the vast majority being Bear River Insurance staff. The employees targeted the volleyball court, putting green, garden beds and courtyard areas of the Club. During the past few weeks,
Thanks to funds raised through a recent “Round-Up” program at the JCPenney at Valley Fair Mall, local children in need will continue to have access to afterschool programming at Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley, a JCPenney Afterschool Fund partner. From April 10th-19th, JCPenney customers were invited to “round-up” their JCPenney purchases to the nearest whole dollar and donate the difference to the JCPenney Afterschool Fund, a public charity that provides at-risk children access to life-enriching afterschool programs that inspire children to be smart, strong and socially responsible. “With the funds raised from the Valley Fair JCPenney recent “Round-Up” program, children can enjoy the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley’s afterschool programming, which includes programs that address educational achievement, career exploration, drug and alcohol avoidance, health and fitness, cultural enrichment, leadership development and community service.” says Toni Geddes, Director of Development at the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley. Studies show that 14.3 million children in the
The Bubel/Aiken Foundation recently awarded a $12,000 grant to the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley to implement Let’s ALL Play—Inclusion in Recreational Programs. The grant was made possible through funding from the Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Community Foundation and will allow children with special needs to enjoy a successful summer camp experience in an inclusive setting. The Bubel/Aiken Foundation (TBAF) has been actively developing its Let’s ALL Play Program since the program’s inception in 2004. Today, the Foundation supports over 35 recreational programs across the country. Providing this grant to Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley is another exciting step toward TBAF’s goal of full inclusion. “We feel that partnering with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Community Foundation to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley will help us further our mission to open doors in communities nationwide for children with disabilities to experience everything life has to offer,” says Jerry Aiken, Executive Director. Through the Let’s ALL Play Program, the Foundation supports recreational programs in their efforts to implement inclusive camps by providing a program model, funding, and training. Let's ALL Play helps bring an inclusive recreational experience to children with disabilities. It gives children with developmental disabilities the same experience as those without. Children with disabilities and their peers who are typically developing come together to participate in recreational activities such as swimming, arts and crafts, community service, physical fitness and more.
In 2008, the Foundation enlisted the services of The Center for Social Development and Education at the University of Massachusetts-Boston to assess the implementation of Let’s ALL Play. Overwhelming evidence showed that children with disabilities improved self-esteem, social skills, confidence to participate, and sport and motor skills. Campers of all abilities were equally likely to develop friendships with each other.
“We are very excited to work with The Bubel/Aiken Foundation to further open Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley program to children with special needs,” said Michael Cox, Murray Unit Director. “This will help enable us to give more children the chance to participate in activities they and their families may have never thought possible.” |
