Volume 01 | September 4, 2018
SEPTEMBER 2018 NEWSLETTER
Today is our first day of fall programming at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities. As we prepare to welcome the first students to walk through our doors, take a look back at some of the most exciting events and program updates from this summer!
News & Notes
Twins Bring Hope Week to Southside Village

June 19 was full of excitement! First, our Southside Village Boys & Girls Club got a surprise visit from the Minnesota Twins' Brian Dozier, Eduardo Escobar, Bobby Wilson, and Ryan LaMarre as part of Twins Hope Week. They played games with the kids, served up a delicious lunch, and posed for plenty of selfies.

Later that day, we were presented with a $5,000 check from Cub Foods as part of their 50 Acts of Cub Kindness campaign. Thank you to everyone who nominated us for this honor! 
Coach Bryant Recognized by Lewis Sports Foundation

Our Jerry Gamble Club received a surprise visit from former Minnesota Viking Leo Lewis on Friday, June 28. Lewis announced that Coach John Bryant had been selected for the Leo E. Lewis Jr. Memorial Award, which is awarded annually to individuals working in sports leadership positions in the Twin Cities metro. Coach Bryant has been with the Boys & Girls Clubs for almost 30 years. Branch Director Marcus Zackery nominated Coach Bryant for the award and received it on his behalf at the Leo Lewis Celebrity Golf Tournament on July 17. Congratulations, Coach!
Special Events
June 5: Kids in the City was a success with more than $100,000 raised for the Clubs! The event was packed with over 300 guests in attendance at Fulton Brewing, and 80 FOX Sports North (FSN) All-Stars attending the Twins-White Sox game. The FSN film crew surprised the All-Stars with cake and balloons at their own pre-party with Buffalo Wild Wings. 
July 16: Our 27th annual Knicker Open took place on a beautiful summer day at Minnesota Valley Country Club in Bloomington. Twenty-two teams participated and raised $46,000 for the Clubs. The event kicked off with a performance by our Al Lenzmeier West Side Notes for Notes group followed by a speech from our Youth of the Year, Heaven Cunningham. The players participated in games such as golf pong, competing head to head against our Little Earth Club kids. We are excited for some potential big changes to this event in 2019--stay tuned!
August 19: Grand Slam Dinner After Brian Dozier was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Twins pitcher Kyle Gibson and wife Elizabeth stepped up to the plate to host Grand Slam Dinner 2018! Guests enjoyed a cocktail reception, four-course meal served by Minnesota Twins, and exciting auctions at the Capital Grille. By the end of the night, we had raised more than $75,000 for the Clubs!
Upcoming Events
WHAT: K-3 Program Area Unveiling
WHEN;Thursday, September 6, 5-7 p.m.
WHERE: Jerry Gamble Boys & Girls Club

Join us for an open house to celebrate the unveiling of our new K-3 Program Area, sponsored by the Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club!
WHAT: 57th Annual For the Kids! Benefit
WHEN: Friday, October 12, 6 p.m.
WHERE: U.S. Bank Stadium

The 57th annual For the Kids! Benefit will include red carpet photography, fun games, silent and live auctions, and live music. As event guests enjoy dinner, they will hear from Club youth, see incredible performances, and learn how the Clubs are changing young lives on a daily basis.

Literacy Program
This summer, we had the privilege of partnering with Minneapolis Public Schools to host two culturally relevant book drives at our Southside Village and Jerry Gamble locations. Members had the opportunity to shop and each take home one book.
On June 29, K-3rd grade members of our literacy program braved one of the hottest days of this summer to celebrate their achievements at Como Town! 250 participants, including parent volunteers, had the chance to picnic in the park and go on rides at Como Town. Como Town donated ride wristbands for our guests!
Voyageur
It was a busy summer at Voyageur Environmental Center! More than 400 campers made their way out to Mound, Minnesota for overnight and day camps. Here are some highlights from our counselors:

"Kids being homesick and wanting to go home on day one are begging to stay by the time Friday rolls around."

“Camp has been a whole new experience for me. It has allowed me to grow personally and connect with kids on another level. I love to see the kids step out of their comfort zones and have fun with each other."

"All the kids who were reluctant to go camping told me that they loved the experience afterwards.”

You can change a child's life.

With your support, we can continue to provide life-changing academic programming to youth across the Twin Cities.
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities | 651-726-2582 | info@bgc-tc.org | boysandgirls.org