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| Thursday, July 29, 2010 |
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In The News
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July 1, 2010--A TASTY WAY FOR OLD SPAGHETTI FACTORY PATRONS TO HELP THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SOUTH VALLEY!
The Old Spaghetti Factory renews their commitment to the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley and raise money for Club kids
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 third year in a row – 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. Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley has played an integral role in the community for over 43 years providing services to 40,000 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.
About Old Spaghetti Factory International The Old Spaghetti Factory first opened its doors 40 years ago in  April 26, 2010--BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SOUTH VALLEY YOUTH GAIN NEW SKILLS THROUGH THE DANCE4LIFE PROGRAM AT THE MIDVALE CLUB
Family, friends and community members are invited to the Dance4LIFE Concert on April 30th at the Midvale Boys & Girls Club The Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley has recently partnered with Miss Mount Olympus, Arial Larsen to institute the Dance4LIFE program at the Midvale Club. The program is designed to not only help children gain a new skill but it also provides them with some inspiration, a tool for healing, and an appreciation for the arts, which is invaluable for those who might not otherwise have the opportunity. Miss Larsen has been directing the Dance4LIFE program at the Midvale Club for over the past year. Club youth ages 10-14 years look forward to the time each week when they can learn new dance skills and be inspired. “The Dance4LIFE program helps increase children’s self esteem and improve their health in addition to giving them a new method for self expression,” said Miss Mount Olympus, Arial Larsen. In addition to teaching the Club youth to dance, Miss Larsen recently spoke to 40+ teens about her own inspiring story of overcoming obstacles, trials, and insecurities to become the person she is today. “I was amazed to hear about her adolescent years growing up in a single-parent home, taking care of herself, dealing with low self-esteem, and working hard to develop her talents,” said Brianna Toone, Midvale Teen Director. “Several of the teens in her dance program are currently in those same situations and I watched how motivating it was for them to realize that they had so much in common with someone they already admire and look up to.” Miss Larsen instituted the Dance4LIFE program three years ago at different Boys & Girls Clubs throughout the valley and other related organizations. She has recently combined forces with Promethean Spark, a non-profit organization that implements life skills through dance to impoverished youth worldwide. During a trip to Costa Rica, Miss Larsen was able to work with kids addicted to alcohol and drugs, and help them learn new life skills in order to turn their lives around. This organization’s mission is identical to her Dance4LIFE program; to implement the arts for healing, change and inspiration but at a deeper level. As a result, Ms. Larsen is now working to implement a satellite program in Utah where her goal is for it to be a part of the Boys & Girls Clubs. The Dance4LIFE program also helps develop a greater awareness in the community about the needs of Club youth as well as helps raise much needed funds for the Club. As a result, friends, family and community members are invited to attend the Midvale Club’s Dance4LIFE concert on Friday, April 30th at 5:30 pm at the Midvale Club located at 7631 Chapel Street (425 West). Although the concert is free, donations of $3 per person will be requested with proceeds going to the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley. Everyone is invited to come see this uplifting and entertaining concert where the Club kids will proudly share what they have learned.
 April 9, 2010--BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SOUTH VALLEY SELECTED AS SITE FOR NEW HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION INITIATIVE
Met Life Foundation Awards Grants for ‘Every Member, Every Year’ to a Few Select Boys & Girls Clubs Nationwide America is facing an uncertain future because we are losing a child every 26 seconds! Yes, every 26 seconds another young person drops out of high school – one of the highest rates of any industrialized country in the world. Most everyone agrees this startling statistic is a prescription for economic disaster, resulting in an epidemic of under-educated citizens who cannot possibly compete for the workforce of tomorrow. Recognizing these dire circumstances, Metropolitan Life Foundation is providing a grant of $10,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley to identify Best Practices in support of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s new high school graduation strategy, Every Member, Every Year. Central to this strategy is academic enrichment and school engagement, creating a learning-rich environment where every Club member is expected to move up every year - ultimately graduating high school and prepared for real-world success. Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Every Member, Every Year strategy is designed so that all Clubs, no matter their size, resources or demographics can partner with youth, parents, schools and other community agencies to implement at least one of the three approaches: Academic Enrichment and School Engagement; Targeted Dropout Prevention and Intensive Intervention; and Case Management. The Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley has been selected as one of 11 to receive funding for Every Member, Every Year. “We are delighted to receive this money because it will give us the necessary resources to make education a top priority for the children we serve,” said Michael Cox, Murray Club Director for the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley. “This kind of recognition will also help the general public view our Club as more than a ‘swim and gym’ operation.” The Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley’s Education & Career Development programs allow Club members to utilize tutors for Homework help, get access to and training with technology, develop workplace readiness, be placed in internships and job shadowing experiences, and to learn from selected guest speakers.
In addition to the typical Club programming, the Murray Club’s Teen Center is also implementing a new South Valley University (SVU) program designed to help youth facilitate the transition from Middle School to High School, and then from High School to College. The Teen Center is set up like a University where youth register for classes offered in semesters throughout the year with a choice of earning no degree, basic and advanced degrees. Advanced degrees include a component that requires them to teach their peers or younger members what they have learned, and possibly a real life internship. The program is designed to help teens understand the culture of higher education, while learning skills that apply to real-life careers. Using these experiences, teens will be more prepared to successfully apply for higher education. In addition to SVU courses, teens will also participate in school tours with the objective of creating comfort with their new school, and a positive attitude towards learning. Members entering seventh and tenth grades will go on junior high or high school tours with Club staff. High school juniors and seniors will participate in at least two college campus tours/events. The goal of the MetLife Foundation grant is to learn how local Boys & Girls Clubs are promoting the message, “Education is important for your future” to young people ages 6 to 18 and to quantify the impact of this messaging by taking a look at the high school graduation rates of Club members. Just last year, Boys & Girls Clubs of America released a 30-month longitudinal study, “Making Every Day Count: Boys & Girls Clubs’ Role in Promoting Positive Outcomes for Teens,” conducted by Public/Private Ventures which found that teens who regularly attend Clubs had better outcomes in academic success, healthy lifestyles and good character. More specifically:
April 1, 2010--The NATIONAL INCLUSION PROJECT PARTNERS With THE BOys & Girls ClubS of SOUTH VALLEY To CREATE Recreational Opportunities
The National Inclusion Project has partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley to implement Let’s ALL Play—Inclusion in Recreational Programs. The partnership will allow children with developmental disabilities to enjoy a successful summer camp experience in an inclusive setting at the Murray Club. As part of this initiative, the National Inclusion Project will provide a program model, training, expertise, and an award of $9,600. The National Inclusion Project has been actively developing its Let’s ALL Play Program since the program’s inception in 2004. In 2010, the Project is partnering with over 45 recreational programs in 23 states. Teaming with the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley is another exciting step toward their goal of full inclusion. “We feel that working with the Boys & Girls Club 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. 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 Project 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 National Inclusion Project to further open our Murray Club’s program to children with disabilities,” said Michael Cox, Murray Club 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.” About the National Inclusion Project: The National Inclusion Project, formerly the Bubel/Aiken Foundation, serves to bridge the gap that exists between young people with disabilities and the world around them. By providing curriculum, training and financial assistance, the Project partners with communities and programs in creating awareness and opportunities for full inclusion where barriers break and doors open. It is their goal to create an environment for children where inclusion is embraced. To learn more about the National Inclusion Project or ways to get involved visit their Web site at www.inclusionproject.org.
 March 26, 2010--BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SOUTH VALLEY TO PARTICIPATE IN IMAGEMAKERS NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST
Children at the Boys & Girls Club of Kearns will be participating in the ImageMakers National Photography Contest. On March 30 the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley is joining a nationwide search to identify talented young artists. The competition is part of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s (BGCA) ImageMakers National Photography Contest. The contest is part of a comprehensive initiative encouraging artistic skills, cultural enrichment and creativity in the medium of photography. As a participant in the ImageMakers National Photography Contest, the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley may submit members’ photography in four age divisions and five categories, including color process, black-and-white process, alternative process, digital and photo essay. Selected photos will compete at the regional level; regional winners will be judged nationally. Twenty national winners will be named and their photography displayed in the ImageMakers National Photography Contest traveling exhibition and at special BGCA events throughout the year. Winning photographers will receive an award and letter of congratulations from BGCA President “By introducing Club members to photography, we are giving them the priceless opportunity to express themselves in creative and unusual ways,” said Stephanie Linton, Kearns Program Director for the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley. For the past three months, Kearns Club members in third through sixth grades have been participating in the ImageMakers National Photography Program. As a result, they will be holding a Photography Art Show on March 30th where Club parents, families and friends can admire the children’s work. There will be three judges from the community and Club including Kearns Club parent, Jackie Jensen; Carrie Whitehead-Rogers from the Kearns Library; and Bob Dunn, the Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley. These judges will pick six photographs to be submitted to the regional contest and quite possibly forwarded to the national contest.
The Kearns Club is combining this event with their quarterly Parent Night, a night where parents can come and see what their children have been learning at the Club during the last three months. This particular event will also include several piano and recorder performances from the Club’s Music Lab classes with the first and second graders possibly performing as well. A video slideshow display created by the Club Members through their computer skills class will also be shown. Lastly, there will also be special recognitions given out to the children and their parents for their Club support and achievements. The Kearns Club is situated at Oquirrh Hills Elementary located at 5241 South 4280 West. It is one of four Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley’s Clubs which are also located in Murray, Midvale and at Heartland Elementary in West Jordan. The Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley has been serving youth since 1967. They provide programs for more than 11,000 boys and girls annually in the areas of character and leadership development, educational enhancement, career preparation, health and life skills, the arts and sports, fitness and recreation. If you have any questions about the Kearns Club’s ImageMakers National Photography Program or their Parent Night, please contact Stephanie Linton at 801-879-5575 or slinton@bgcsv.org.
 March 17, 2010--“Round-up” SPRING PURCHASES FOR BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SOUTH VALLEY
100 Percent of Donations Raised at JCPenney will Benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley Youth From March 24th – April 6th, 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 in their community. JCPenney has partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley to provide children in need 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 Easter 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 includes 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 more children to participate in positive afterschool environments nationwide. * Data from Afterschool Alliance 2009 report America After 3PM, commissioned by JCPenney Afterschool, is the most in-depth study of how America’s children spend their afternoons.
About JCPenney’s Commitment to Afterschool
As the leading corporate advocate for the afterschool issue, JCPenney works to increase opportunities offered by afterschool programs in order to empower our nation’s children with the tools they need to succeed in life. Through its legacy of supporting youth and charitable organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs 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 kids to participate in life-enriching programs that inspire them to be smart, strong and socially responsible. For more information, visit www.jcpenneyafterschool.org.
 February 25, 2010--Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley Honored Pamela Atkinson and The Road Home
Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley honored Pamela Atkinson and The Road Home at their 22nd Annual Living Legacy Awards on February 20th
On Saturday, February 20, 2010, Pamela Atkinson and The Road Home were honored by the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley at their 22nd Annual Living Legacy Awards Dinner and Auction held at the Downtown Marriott. The Living Legacy Awards are presented to those who have made a significant contribution in the lives of Utah children. Ms. Atkinson and The Road Home were recognized for being advocates for homeless and low-income families and for exploring ways to prevent homelessness. Pamela Atkinson and The Road Home work directly with homeless and low-income people and collaborate with a variety of nonprofit and governmental organizations as well as agencies who serve these populations. Their mission is to help people step out of homelessness and back into the community through emergency services, personalized case management and collaboration with additional resources. They also assist people in finding opportunities to volunteer in a variety of settings and in collecting bedding, clothing, food and other essentials for families who are making the transition from homelessness to having homes of their own. Pamela also explores ways to prevent homelessness and enjoys working with women who are single parents trying to get off welfare. She also advocates for children wherever and whenever there is a need. Pamela was instrumental in initiating the Lincoln Family Health Center, which operates in a low-income school, the IHC Neighborhood Clinic at the Sorenson Multicultural Center, and the Rose Park Family Health Center, another clinic in a low-income school. All of these clinics provide health care for students and their families. Her belief is that children who are ill experience difficulty in learning and through collaboration with the community and schools, such clinics can provide preventive and primary health care. The Annual Living Legacy Awards Dinner & Auction is the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley’s largest annual fund raising event, allowing caring individuals, business leaders and companies to provide much needed financial support for their award winning programs. Through the generous support of the event sponsors, American Express, Morgan Stanley, Wright Express Financial Services, Operations Kids, and Dr. Richard Segal, and the over 400 people in attendance, the Club was able to raise nearly $145,000. These much needed funds will allow them to continue to provide life saving programs for youth in the community.
In addition to honoring Ms. Atkinson and The Road Home that evening, the program also included musical performances by singer/songwriter Shauna Burns, Midvale Club teens, Steven Guzman and Antonn LaTour who performed their original Hip Hop piece, “Why I Love Club” and a small children’s choir from the Midvale Club. For more information about this amazing event, please contact Shelly Parker, Director of Special Events at 801.284.4250 or sparker@bgcsv.org.
About The Road Home The Road Home is a private non-profit organization providing assistance to people experiencing homelessness in Salt Lake County and along the Wasatch Front. Their mission is to help people step out of homelessness and back into the community through emergency services, personalized case management and collaboration with additional resources. The Road Home assists people through emergency shelters, case management, and housing. The Road Home began in 1923 as Travelers' Aid Society and was originally founded to provide assistance to stranded travelers, the agency has developed into the state's largest homeless shelter. They changed their name to The Road Home in 2001 to better reflect their focus on helping people to overcome homelessness. Since opening the Salt Lake Community Shelter in 1988, The Road Home has served thousands of people who are homeless and has provided an emergency shelter every winter, as well as a growing housing program. For more information visit www.theroadhome.org.   January 4, 2010--Murray High School and the Olive Garden Restaurant Give to Children at the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley
Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley Children Receive Much Needed Shoes, Coats and Other Gifts from the Murray Olive Garden and Murray High School
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.” Fundraisers and donations such as these help the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley children in need and their families. If you’re interested in helping children in your community continue to receive the Club’s life-saving programs, 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 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 Olive Garden is the leading restaurant in the Italian dining segment with 670 restaurants, more than 80,000 employees and $3.1 billion in annual sales. Olive Garden is a division of Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE:DRI), the world’s largest full-service owned and operated restaurant company. For more information, visit Olive Garden’s Web site at www.olivegarden.com.
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