VIP Party at McFadden's to benefit Camp O'Malley!
February 22nd, 2012
On Saturday, March 17, 2012, The 2nd Annual Irish On Ionia will close Ionia street from the blocks of Weston to Oakes and will consume city lot #3 across from McFadden's (58 Ionia S.W. Grand Rapids, MI). The event will include a stage with live Celtic bands, Celtic dancers, DJ's, drum & pipe players, beer tents, and an Irish inspired food pavilion.
From 4-7pm there will be a VIP Party on the 3rd Floor of McFadden's to benefit Camp O'Malley's summer Camp program for West Michigan Youth. Tickets are $15 and include an "All Access" pass to all Irish on Ionia festivities as well as the VIP Party which includes an Irish Buffet, Drink Specials, DJ, and dancing. Come and show your support!! It will be a fantastic time!!
The $15 VIP Tickets can be purchased ahead of time or at the event. More information about Camp O'Malley can be found at www.campomalley.org.
Irish on Ionia officially begins at 7am on Saturday, March 17th, 2012 at McFadden's for their annual "Keg's and Egg's Breakfast". The Irish on Ionia outdoor festival opens at 10am, with live bands, DJ's, food, and contests throughout the entire day.
Show your support for Camp O'Malley and tap into your green side!
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Congratulations Mayra Cardenas! Our 2011-2012 Youth of the Year!
February 21st, 2012
“I came into the Club just wanting a place to hang out and have fun with friends, but over a period of time it became much more than that … The Club has been there for me in the good times and in the bad times. Whether I needed advice of just someone to talk to, everyone there was always there for me.” –Mayra Cardenas, 2011-2012 Youth of the Year.
Each year we take time to recognize Club members who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, character, service to the Club and Community. These are young people who truly embody what it means to be a member of Boys & Girls Clubs. Three Candidates competed in the 2011 Youth of the Year competition: Mayra Cardenas a 17-year-old senior, Paris Madison a 16-year-old junior and Daniel Vargas a 17-year-old junior all have been Club members since 2008. Each Club member submitted applications, which contained 12 reference letters and two personal essays.
Candidates were then interviewed by the judges who rated them based on their written and verbal responses, poise and knowledge about the Club. The selected Candidate goes on to represent our organization at the state competition in April. The Youth of the Year is a very prestigious honor – this Club member becomes the face of our organization for one year. Boys & Girls Clubs of Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth’s Youth of the Year winner is Mayra Cardenas.
Fifth Third Bank was the lead sponsor and host of the event on Wednesday, February 1, 2012. There were 85 in attendance including Donors, Club members, the three Candidates, Staff and Community partners.
“Now it’s my turn to succeed and give them someone to be proud of in return.” –Mayra Cardenas
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2012 Camp O'Malley Summer Schedule Announced!
February 16th, 2012
2012 Camp O’Malley Summer Schedule
Staff Training
May 29-June1 & June 4-8
*Staff report the day (Sunday) before each session for a staff meeting. Meeting starts at 7pm.
Session Dates
Session 1 – MLK Leadership Academy Week
(8-11 year-olds) - June 11-14
This special session is set aside just for Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Academy students. Join us for the best of the best camp experience filled with swimming, sports, fishing, campfires, songs, rock climbing, biking and much more!
Session 2 – X-Treme Team Challenge
(11-14 year-olds) - June 18-22
Do you crave adventure, challenge and excitement? Tackle a different task with your team everyday including Mohawk walk, high ropes, zip line, canoeing, Nitro Crossing, and the climbing wall!
Session 3 – Ultimate Adventure Week
(8-11 year-olds) - June 25-29
Looking for a week of Adventure? Here it is! Conquer the wall, Capture-the-Flag, explore wilderness trails, defeat “Life Aquatic” in the pool, venture across the Nitro Crossing, and show off your skills at the Camp O’Malley Show!
Session 4 – Blah Buster Week
(11-14 year-olds) - July 2-6
Bored sitting on the couch just watching TV? Fend off those mid-summer blahs and make new friends! Spend the week playing games at the pool, Minute-to-Win-It activities, climbing the wall, biking, Nature Adventures and team-building!
Session 5 – High School Adventure Week
(14-17 year-olds) - July 9-13
This will be a week filled with all of your favorite Camp experiences! Spend the week tubing, canoeing, climbing the wall, doing the high ropes course, swimming, biking, teambuilding, and playing an extreme game of Capture-the-Flag! Come and chill with us, meet new people and have a blast!
Session 6 – Discovery Camp
(6-8 year-olds) - July 16-18
This camp is a great week for the first-time camper! Campers will get a taste of what camp is all about with this three day, two night experience! Enjoy swimming, arts & crafts, the climbing wall, games, songs, exploring nature, and fishing! Learn what Potato Round-up, Grannies’ Candies and the Talent Show are all about!
Session 7 – Girl Power Week
(8-14 year-old Girls) - July 23-27
“Girls just wanna have FUN!” Join this all-girls camp for arts and crafts, swimming, dance parties, late nights, talent shows, relaxing and all your other favorite camp activities!
Session 8 – Superhero Week
(8-11 year–old Boys) July 30-Aug.3
Kapow! Spend the week like a superhero would! Join forces with the staff to become the ultimate superhero! Climb walls, make your own comic book, catch a super villain, dress in disguises, act out your favorite superhero comic, swim, and capture-the-flag!
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"Like" Plante & Moran and help BGCA!
February 1st, 2012
Plante & Moran has been named one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” for the 14th year in a row and our firm is running a contest of sorts to promote and make a donation to the Boys & Girls Club of America in honor of this award.
For everyone who “likes” their Plante Moran Facebook page, the firm will donate $2 to the Boys & Girls Club of America (up to $10,000).
Help out our parent organization raise money to support the mission of Boys & Girls Club of America! Thank you!
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$10,000 Mentoring Grant
January 15th, 2012
With 2012 approaching, the office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has awarded our Seidman Club a $10,000 mentoring grant to ring in the New Year. Twenty young males will partner with volunteer mentors from local schools, churches, fraternities, the Civil Air Patrol, and the Grand Rapids Police Department. Joint mentoring relationships will offer Club members and caring adults the opportunity to discuss positive choices and academics. Fitting together like pieces of a puzzle, both factors contribute to the success of area youth. At Seidman, Unit Director Mike Remo hopes that through funding, 75% of participants will root themselves into making better choices and academically shine in the New Year.
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Our Buckets Make it to Haiti!
January 10th, 2012
Here are some pictures of the food that Boys & Girls Club members helped package with Kids Against Hunger (on October 1) actually in Haiti. They took our food bags out of their boxes and put them in plastic pales for shipping. It's what they do at Rays of Hope for Haiti.
"They saved many lives that day and there is no way to put a value on that. They are my heroes." -Chuck Bailey, Director of Kids Against Hunger
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What is your New Year's Resolution?
January 2nd, 2012
The New Year is in full swing now, and we all know what that means: New Year's Resolutions! We asked the Club members at Steil Boys & Girls Club about their goals for 2012. We hope to help every youth reach their goals! Read their great responses:
“My goal is to be in the swimming championship in January.” -Brenda Cortez
“To play soccer.” -Cameron
“My goal is to help my mom more because she works a lot.” -Aby Vargas
“My new year’s resolution is to do better in school. I plan to do this by working harder.” -Maria V.
“Take classes in college.” -Joel
“I want to make new friends.” -Alexandra
“My goal is to go to cheerleading.” -Arianna
“My goal is to get in better physical condition. Being healthy is good for you. Start riding my bike more.” -Anonymous
“My New Year’s Resolution is to lose weight.” -Raymond
“To do the best in school and do what I need to and nothing else. Also, listen to my teachers and parents.” -Kenneth
“To play in my back yard.” -Kamani
“I will play pool.” -Ian
“Make my school basketball team. It is important to me because it can be in my record for when I go to the NBA. I plan to reach my goal by playing for the school team.” -Jovon H.
“To do my homework.” -Jonathan
“My goal is to grow and get my room.” -Danny
“My goal is to catch my biggest fish.” -Kobe
“I want to be a cheerleader next summer because it’s fun.” -Georia
“I want to do cheerleading next summer, and I also want to do boxing too.” -Cindy Cortes
“I want to do nothing.” -Maria
“I want to cheerlead next summer.” -Arianna
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
December 22nd, 2011
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More Power to our Power Hour!
December 12th, 2011
In the Learning Center at the Steil and Seidman Clubs, our focal point is Power Hour. Power Hour is an extended educational enrichment program emphasizing outcomes to help ensure academic success. Power Hour is based on a point system. Points are awarded for work completed. If participants do not have homework, we provide standardized worksheets and books for them to participate.
Offering homework help and tutoring, the program is designed to raise the academic proficiency of Club members, as early as kindergarteners, with continuous support as members’ progress through seniors in high school. We encourage them to pursue a post-secondary education and develop a lifelong love of learning. We offer Power Hour during the school year Monday-Friday from 3:30 to 6 pm. Power Hour has been successful with the support of our dedicated staff, Calvin College Students and volunteers.
Since September, both the Steil and Seidman Clubs have had a record 2,120 visits to our Power Hour program by Club Members. “It’s exciting to see the kids each day at Power Hour work so hard on their homework with the tutors. It’s a busy place to be after-school!,” explained Bailey Dalton, Education Coordinator at the Seidman Club.
“I think Power Hour has really made a difference in the academic achievement of the kids that come consistently through the Learning Center. It’s so rewarding to see their report cards each quarter and see improvement. The kids also get excited about seeing their grades go up,” commented Jamie Prawdzik, Director of Arts & Education at the Steil Club.
In their own words: Here is what some Club kids have to say about Power Hour.
“My favorite thing to do is make picture projects and plays on the computer and then act them out!” - Ariana, age 10
“It was fun when we used math to make chocolate with Ms. Jamie”, - Valeria, age 13
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Paul I. Phillips Building reopens and offers us a new home
November 20th, 2011
We have been given the opportunity to be part of a plan to re-open the doors at the Paul I. Phillips Recreation Center through a partnership with the City of Grand Rapids. We are thrilled to share with you the anticipated creation of another neighborhood Boys and Girls Club at the Paul I. Phillips Recreation Center! We hope this Club will begin programming at this historic site before next summer.
This partnership with the City represents a tremendous opportunity to serve more kids; and it also presents a significant challenge that we are willing to accept on behalf of the kids that we will be able to serve. This opportunity brings a wonderful facility back into community use; and the challenge motivates our leadership and supporters to generate the funding to ensure meaningful programs for the youth in that area.
Read more in the MLive article here.
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