39th Annual CSUN Powwow

November 30 at 10:30 am to 8:00 pm

• Native American Music & Dance
• Arts & Craft Vendors
• Children’s Activities Area
• Frybread
• Gourd Dancing @ 10:30 am



Free Parking in B3 Structure only

Enter campus at Reseda and Prairie

All dancers and drums are welcome!

3rd Annual

Christmas Village

December 14-16 from 5 to 8:00 p.m.

Experience a nostalgic Main Street, stroll through tunnels of light that immerse you in the story of Christmas, enjoy different nightly live music, find unique and handcrafted gifts in their boutiques, have fun with your kids, and more!

Admission is free; food, beverages, and gifts will be available for purchase.

Metro San Fernando Valley Area Projects Update

Metro is currently planning housing near Canoga and Balboa Stations in the San Fernando Valley and is seeking input from the community on the architectural design, services, community spaces, and other project considerations.  

Learn more about the future housing plans at 2 upcoming meetings on December 9th and December 12th.

Canoga Station Survey: Bit.Ly/CanogaSurvey  

Balboa Station Survey: Bit.Ly/BalboaSurvey 

Grateful to welcome BBSI Westlake Village as our newest $10,000 Corporate Champion at BGCWV.

BBSI is a Payroll, Workers' Comp, HR, and Business Consulting Service. 

They have been a long-time vendor and supporter of our work. Thank you BBSI for investing in our youth.

Thank you Temple Ramat Zion of Northridge for your continued support of our Health & Wellness program, ensuring our Gary M. Thomas Clubhouse & Teen Center members have nutritious snacks each day after school!

We appreciate your partnership. Together we are making a meaningful impact for community youth.

We thank our Corporate Champion Partner for selecting us as the recipient of this delicious food. Our members were pleasantly surprised to be fed during their after-school programming, which reminded them that showing up can have great surprises and opportunities to reconnect with their friends and coaches.

Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers updated its catering system this month. BGCWV Chatsworth High School, Cleveland High School, and the Teen Center in Canoga Park received delicious food gifted from their test kitchen day, which allowed them to test their systems.

We are grateful for our generous and caring community of donors.

Your support makes a meaningful difference for over 3,000 members, and we thank you!

Total Dollars Raised: $301,008

• Special Events: $6540
• Foundation Grants: $20,000
• Government Grants: $255,925
• Individual Contributions: $3543
• Corporate: $15,000

Visit our Ways to Give webpage to view the many opportunities that support our programs, services, and operations.

We appreciate donors who donate online as it supports our programs more seamlessly.

Consider becoming a volunteer and give your time and talent to the next generation of leaders at one of our Club locations.

Contact: Kelly Ventimiglia, Chief Philanthropy Officer k.ventimiglia@bgcwv.org

Tuesday, December 3, 2024, is officially Giving Tuesday. Today we invite you to plan ahead. How will you participate? Don't let it be an afterthought...after Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday--Giving can be your priority. You can join our 5-5-5 giving challenge today!

How far can your impact go?

This year we have a $10,000 matching challenge from one of our generous donors.

We invite you to give $5 and invite five (5) of your friends to join you in giving $5 each and asking them to invite five (5) of their friends. You might think $5 isn't much; with our 5-5-5 challenge on Giving Tuesday, you can sponsor two youths for a day at one of our day camps. Of course, you can always give more than $5 to help us reach our goal faster.

Volunteers are needed Monday through Friday to support our members!

Are you interested in a meaningful experience where you can share your knowledge, time, and experience with our club members? Join our volunteer program today!

Our fall programs are running through December 12th. The Club has opportunities for volunteer support from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information, contact us via email at Volunteer@BGCWV.ORG or visit bgcwv.org/volunteer.

If you are interested in a volunteer group project, let us know so we can share special projects needed during other hours of the day.

Our opportunities right now are permanent Part-time and Full-time!

• Part-Time Elementary Youth Development Professionals
• Part-Time Assistant Site Coordinator (Elementary)
• Part-Time High School Youth Development Professionals
• Drivers (2-hour shift in the afternoons)

All permanent part-time staff receive Paid Time Off (PTO) accrual, get paid for our nine approved holidays, and have access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) after 90 days with the organization.

Join our team and make a life-long difference in the lives of the youth we serve!

To view the job descriptions and qualifications, visit bgcwv.org/careers

Stay Connected with our daily posts and activities!

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Check out this past month's highlights:

-Reseda Elementary-

As Thanksgiving approaches, we all cherish the traditions that make this holiday special. At Reseda Elementary, we celebrated the spirit of fun and gratitude with our school, friends, and community.

Our members crafted friendship bracelets and paper flowers to gift to new friends. They also acted kindly for their school by raking fall leaves and picking up trash.

To spread even more joy, they wrote heartfelt cards for senior citizens in our community.

All of us at Reseda Elementary wish you a Thanksgiving filled with joy and laughter!

-Blythe Elementary-

Fall Fair

Our Fall Fair event was open to all our members and featured exciting activities such as fall-themed art projects, a STEM slime activity, and a movie accompanied by tasty treats. We also hosted a pizza party and provided fun gifts and treats for our members to take home. The goal of the event was to foster teamwork and community building while celebrating the fall season. We're already looking forward to our upcoming Winter Fair and can't wait to showcase our art gallery!

-Calabash Elementary-

Holiday Cards for Thanksgiving

This month, our members participated in a special initiative to support senior citizens who are unable to see their families or loved ones during the Thanksgiving holiday. This effort aimed to foster empathy, compassion, and a sense of community. Additionally, it allowed members to showcase their creativity through art and writing.

While completing this activity, the members felt a deep sense of gratitude, realizing that everyone—regardless of their circumstances—deserves to feel remembered, valued, and cared for, especially during the holidays.

This Thanksgiving Card project for senior citizens in assisted living facilities was done in partnership with the Rotary Club of Woodland Hills.

-Justice St. Elementary-

At Justice Street Elementary, one of our members' favorite programs is Club Council.

In this program, students embrace leadership roles and take pride in helping others. Recently, they created Thanksgiving cards for senior citizens, spreading joy and gratitude. Activities like these foster kindness, empathy, and the importance of giving back.

This is also a part of our Cooper Literacy Program that helps to strengthen our members' reading and writing abilities.

Club & Council

-Serrania Elementary-

At the Boys & Girls Club after-school program at Serrania, a group of enthusiastic kindergarteners recently participated in a creative art activity. They colored and glued leaves to an outline of a porcupine, exploring nature through art. The program's art activities are designed to provide a safe and engaging environment for youth in the community, helping them develop new skills while fostering creativity and teamwork. A special aspect of this program is its emphasis on hands-on, nature-based activities, which encourage kids to connect with their environment while enhancing their artistic abilities.

Art Programming

Boys & Girls Club members recently created fall holiday cards to brighten the day for seniors in our community.

Some members added colorful drawings, while others wrote heartfelt messages.

We’re so proud of our Stanley Mosk Boys & Girls Club members for spreading kindness and showing their care for others!

Club Service

Youth of the Month

We’re thrilled to announce that five incredible kids from Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley at Woodland Hills Elementary have been recognized as our very first Youth of the Month award winners! 🌟 This award celebrates members who go above and beyond, demonstrating outstanding leadership, kindness, and sportsmanship within their pods.

Congratulations to:

🌟 Willa C. (2nd grade)

🌟 Antonino H. (3rd grade)

🌟 Jasmine Z. (4th grade)

🌟 Charley D. (5th grade)

Each winner received a certificate celebrating their achievement and a special gift certificate to Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers in Northridge.

We also introduced a Most Improved Award, recognizing a member who has shown remarkable growth since the start of the school year. This month's honoree has demonstrated how hard work and a positive attitude can truly make a difference!

The kids were all smiles and full of excitement during the recognition ceremony, and we’re so proud to celebrate their efforts. This is just the beginning of what we hope will become a lasting tradition at Woodland Hills Elementray School! 

The purpose of this program is to target children seven (7) years and up and provide the community with a fun and non-threatening environment where the children can express and develop an interest in artistry and music education. 

This program includes instrument lessons, music theory, sing-alongs, and more.

The Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles have collaborated with the Teen Center this month to create our very own sisterhood of Girl Scout troops. They engage in activities such as performing arts, money management, space science, and community service. Members are able to experience the strong bond of sisterhood while also developing leadership skills and building confidence that will serve them throughout their lives. The ultimate goal of this program is to shape these members into productive, caring, and responsible adults, helping them reach their full potential.

Girl Scouts  

November is a pivotal month for high school seniors across the state as they tackle their CSU and UC college applications. At Canoga Park High School, dedicated volunteers and staff are stepping up to support students through this important process. Their guidance ensures that students have the resources and encouragement they need to pursue higher education and achieve their dreams.

In the art program, we are part of a Film Making Immersion program where students have the opportunity to learn how to write, film, and edit content for multimedia platforms. Currently, students are in an Ad Marketing unit, focusing on creating 30-to 60-second commercials for cable television.

Film

Keystone Carnaval

Keystone is a year-round leadership program that focuses on leadership and volunteering. The program serves around 10 to 15 students weekly and participates in outreach activities such as “Letters to the Elderly” for the holidays this year.

This month, we hosted the Keystone: We Own Tuesdays Carnaval, which included serving a meal of Raising Cane’s chicken fingers, chips, and a drink, along with recreational activities like cornhole and axe-throwing.

Coach Crystal can be seen distributing the highly anticipated food to the hungry students patiently waiting in line. The event was designed to promote both the Club and the Keystone program to students outside of the program. We had over 60 students attend and enjoy the event, making it a successful occasion. Many newcomers expressed interest in joining the club and becoming part of this enriching experience.

Curious about the latest updates from BGCWV?

Be sure to check our “Media & Stories” page on our website!

Explore exciting news, inspiring articles, and learn about our community impact over the years.

Updated regularly at bgcwv.org/media

Our Corporate Champion program recognizes businesses that support the Club with a year-long contribution that impacts the lives of more than 2,500 young people. Contact us to become a Corporate Champion today! To learn more, click here.

We would like to thank the Civic Organizations and Foundations who partner with us. Their support provides with manpower at special events and delivers unique programs to the members at no cost to BGCWV.

Stay Connected!

Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley| www.bgcwv.org |(818) 610-1054

Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit in the City of Los Angeles, the State of California, and the IRS. Our EIN is 95-4419365. To support the work we do in 2023 you can call 818.610.1054 ext. 2001 or give directly at www.bgcwv.org/donate every gift helps to ensure kids and youth have a safe place to reach their full potential.