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It is Kiss-A-Pig Season! Throughout the Summer, our dedicated candidates will be fundraising and hosting events for the privilege of kissing the pig!
How the Campaign Works:
Each candidate seeks donations that buy votes. The candidates with the greatest number of votes is named
Most
Valuable
Puckerer at the Maryland State BBQ Bash. Each dollar donated equals one vote; the more generous the donation, the more votes for the candidate.
Final Kiss-A-Pig Event!
This is where you get to see the pig-kissing happen!
Friday, August 14, 2015
Maryland State BBQ Bash in Bel Air
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Get in on the challenge! The course includes some pavement, mostly trail. Many segments are very technical with significant uphill and downhill sections.
Saturday August 22nd
Registration: 7:00-7:45am
5K: 8:00 a.m.
1 Mile Trail Walk: 8:30 a.m.
LOCATION
Camp Hidden Valley
4722 Mellow Road
White Hall, MD 21161
COST
Early -Birds by July 25
$25
Regular Registrations
$30
Register early to be guaranteed a shirt
FEE INCLUDES:
-Breakfast after race
-Post-race refreshments
-Technical t-shirt
PACKET PICKUP & LATE REGISTRATION:
Fri Aug 21st, 4:00pm-6:00pm
Bel Air Boys & Girls Club
525 W. MacPhail Road
Bel Air, MD 21014
Register early to be guaranteed a shirt
(Hidden Valley)
*PROCEEDS BENEFIT OUR CLUBS & CAMP HIDDEN VALLEY
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Did you know that Teddy Bear Sean is named after a real Club kid named Sean? They got together recently over at the Bel Air Club, and Kid Sean showed Teddy Bear Sean all of his favorite Club activities and bravely shared his story with us. Sean's story is an inspiration to us all and the services we strive to provide every young person who walks into a Boys & Girls Club.
Pig Kissers have been putting on events all over the county throughout the summer. A sure sign that it's Kiss-A-Pig season, so be on the look out for fun-filled community fundraisers to support our kids. Check out the Kiss-A-Pig
Facebook Page for more details and up-to-date event info. And don't forget to be on the look out for our pig kissers at the Maryland State BBQ Bash on Friday, August 14th.
Read on to discover more about our Clubs and check out all of our highlights below to learn more about what we are doing to encourage, inspire, and support #GreatFutures.
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Non-Profit Names New Mascot After Local Youth
Joining the ranks of the Orioles Bird, Poe the Raven, and Ferrous the Ironbird, Teddy Bear Sean is the new mascot for Boys & Girls Clubs of Harford County. The mascot was born from the Clubs' 25th Anniversary celebration and annual Steak & Burger/Youth of the Year Award Dinner in March where patrons committing to a $1,000 annual youth sponsorship were awarded the bears for their donation. Unlike the other local mascots, however, Teddy Bear Sean's namesake is an actual person- a 13-year-old Club member to be exact.
Currently attending Bel Air Middle School, Sean Hooper has been a Club member for eight years. He participates in many of the Club's established programs as well as activities like board games, pool, and soccer. "I like coming to the Club to make new friends," says Sean. "That includes the staff who have helped me with my schoolwork and with handling stressful situations."
Sean struggles with self-esteem and bullying which created problems for him at a young age. The staff always made sure that Sean knew he was protected and safe at the club. Picking on Sean was not allowed. "The staff really helped me be more mature and deal with stress," says Sean. "They
 helped me become healthier. They ask me how I'm doing and how my day was, and they would actually listen and care." In addition to being empathetic listeners, Club staff encouraged Sean to try yoga, improve his social and coping skills, and taught him to be a leader and a good friend.
"We never had to ask Sean to step up as a leader," says staffer, Derek Dewitt. "It just seemed to be a part of his natural progression within his Club career. I have known Sean for the better part of his life and have never once seen him have a bad day. That is to say that he is quite possible the most positive person I've met. His positivity is contagious and rubs off on everyone he meets. We often site how lucky kids are to have had the Club in their lives and this remains true for Sean. But I think that in his case the Clubs have been lucky to have Sean." "If I wasn't a Club member, my life would be a lot harder," says Sean. "I probably would not get good grades, I wouldn't know how to play pool, and I might not have the strong desire to help people like I do."
Sean has truly developed a passion for helping others, especially other Club members. This passion was never more evident than when Sean completed an assignment in 3rd grade where he was asked what he would do if he raised a million dollars. Sean's answer was simple-he'd donate it to the Boys & Girls Clubs! "I'd like to replace all the pieces of the board games, get kids iPads, and fund more field trips," explains Sean.
"The Clubs have greatly impacted my life. They've given me the knowledge to be a good citizen, a good leader, and good friend. I want to be a Club ambassador, Youth of the Year, and eventually work for the Clubs, so I can let more people know about the Clubs and help other kids have the experiences and be happy like me."
The public can help Sean on his mission to spread the word about the great things happening at the Clubs and his goal to raise 1 million dollars. Sponsor a Club kid for just $84 dollars a month and receive your very own Teddy Bear Sean.
Contact 410-272-0010 ext.13 to become a sponsor or for more information about the Clubs.
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BGCHC Named Recipient of
Make More Happen Award!
Safeco Insurance is a company known for helping people protect the lives they've built, but they are also known for their nurturing community involvement and supporting their independent agents by encouraging them to make a positive difference in their communities. Safeco recognizes and celebrates those who make a positive difference with a Make More Happen Award. The award increases the impact of agents who volunteer with a donation to the qualifying nonprofit organizations they support.
Wilson Oliver Agency, Inc., owner, Jerry Lacey, believes in making a difference as do his employees. Lacey has been a volunteer and board member with Boys & Girls Clubs of Harford County for over 20 years, and as a Safeco Insurance agent, sought to nominate our organization for the Make More Happen Award.
We are a proud recipient of this award and all that it embodies. We strive to make more happen in our community everyday, and none of that could be possible without the support of companies like Safeco and Wilson Oliver Agency, who are dedicated to the communities they serve.
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Horst Family
Dedicates Reading Center to Bel Air Club
Earlier this month we celebrated the dedication of Laura's Reading Room with The Horst Family, friends, staff, and our young readers. In loving memory of an exceptional young lady, the room will be used to encourage literacy skills at a young age in our Club kids in Bel Air. Special thanks to Patricia & Albert Horst and to Art with a Heart for the incredible mural, which will be sure to inspire the imaginations of our young ones.
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We have a new STEM blog direct from the youth we serve and the young leaders that inspire them. Take a sneak peak and Click Continue to read more.
We're waiting and waiting. Then we realize our solar panel is facing the wrong direction! Tension is high....some emergency engineering....and now....we are ready to race again!
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Summer Meals for Hungry Kids
When school is out, children are still hungry. Did you know that The Summer Table Program provides children, ages 2-18, with breakfast and lunch for FREE! Our Aberdeen, Havre de Grace, and Edgewood Clubs are serving meals at 8:00am and 11:00am. You do NOT need to be enrolled in summer camp to eat!
Click
HERE for more information.
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CASTING CALL
Feeling Scary? Volunteers needed...
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We're Building a Community Garden
COMING SOON! The Aberdeen Harvest of Hope Garden- a new community garden project in Aberdeen. Located within a food desert- an area that lacks access to healthy affordable foods- the field behind our Aberdeen Club site will be transformed into a flourishing community garden and outdoor learning lab, providing community members with access to land and affordable fresh healthy produce. The garden will consist of individual/ family plots utilized for the purpose of food production, teaching gardens, and an outdoor learning for our Club members. The mission of Aberdeen Harvest of Hope is to increase access to local and affordable healthy food choices in the community. In the long-term, we expect improved health outcomes and increased community engagement. Our plans call for construction of the garden in Fall 2015 to be open in early Spring 2016, and we can use your support.
There are many ways to get involved, from volunteering in the garden to Eagle Scout project opportunities. For more information contact our AmeriCorps VISTA, Anne Otih, [email protected] or 410.272.0010x15
GARDEN WISH LIST ITEMS
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| To See Our Full Club Wish List CLICK HERE |
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