March 2023
GREAT FUTURES START HERE
Black History Month Art Contest Inspires Club Kids

At the beginning of January, club members were offered the opportunity to enter the annual Black History Month Art Contest sponsored by UScellular and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Club members were encouraged to create original pieces of artwork representing influential Black STEM icons. These could include historical figures, world leaders, scientists and educators who have made vital contributions to the world of science, technology, engineering and math.

Two Jefferson County Club members instantly became interested in participating and started their research the same day. Over the next few days, 8-year -old Deyana and 11-year old Kaiden they gathered as much information as they could about the famous individual they chose. They were both eager to share what they had learned with their peers and staff.
Both entries were submitted and were selected to be among the ten finalists for the Boys & Girls Club of the Eastern Panhandle. They were chosen based on creativity, quality, interpretation, clarity of theme and overall impression.

Their artwork was displayed online for voting during the month of February, and the top three vote getters will be announced on March 20. UScellular’s Network of Black Associates resource group is funding this year’s prizes, which include $250 for first place, $150 for second and $100 for third.

Whether or not they place in the top three, both Deyana and Kaiden are winners because they experienced the joy of learning and sharing that knowledge with others.
We Are Searching For Our Next Champion for Youth
The Stefani Pierson Champion for Youth celebration is scheduled for Thursday, May 18, 2023 at the Holiday Inn in Martinsburg, and we are currently searching for our next champion.

This year, we are asking members of the public to nominate someone from Berkeley, Jefferson or Morgan County who has dedicated their time and energy to meeting the needs of, helping, or inspiring young people in our community.

If you know someone who deserves to be recognized, please consider nominating someone: 2023 Stefani Pierson Champion for Youth Nomination Form.
Invest in Us!
The Unity Campaign, powered by United Way of the Eastern Panhandle, is offering an opportunity to make the most of your donation to the Boys & Girls Club of the Eastern Panhandle. There are no administrative fees, so 100% of your donation goes to the Boys & Girls Club, and a portion of your gift will be matched through an incentive fund.
 
The Boys & Girls Club of the Eastern Panhandle relies on Unity Campaign donations to provide quality services to the kids who need us most. Please consider making a donation on or before March 15, 2023. Donations can be made in three ways:
 
 
Text to Give: Text Unity57 to 71777
 
Write a check: Checks must be made out to the United Way of the Eastern Panhandle. Write Unity Campaign – Boys & Girls Club in the memo line.
 
Thank you so much for supporting kids in our community and for giving them a reason to smile every day!
Charles Town Kiwanis Partners to Form K-Kids
The Boys & Girls Club of the Eastern Panhandle staff love partnering with community organizations to provide new opportunities for our members.

In December, volunteers with the Charles Town Kiwanis Club started K-Kids at our Jefferson County Club. K-Kids is the largest service organization for elementary school students in the country. Our local volunteers have been coming to the Club twice a month to do projects wtih the kids.

Since one of the five priority areas for the Boys & Girls Club is helping youth build character and leadership, this partnership is a perfect fit. Thank you CharlesTown Kiwanis!
Sponsorship Opportunities
The Boys & Girls Club depends on sponsorships to fill our funding gap. We have numerous sponsorship opportunties that allow businesses to show how much they care about our children's future. Please review and share those opportunities to help us keep smiles on kids faces!
Replace Amazon Smiles with Round Ups
With the end of the Amazon Smiles programs, please remember there is another easy way to give to the Boys & Girls Club: round up!
 
A "Round-Up" is the term to describe the spare change captured by automatically rounding up your transactions to the next dollar when making a purchase with your bank card. Your bank account probably won't even notice the difference - but our club will!
 
Just use the QR code to link to our "Round Up" sign up or go to: https://bgcepwv.harnessgiving.org/campaigns/8859
Find Us on Social Media

The Boys & Girls Club of the Eastern Panhandle relies on donors to help us keep our doors open.

Our Mission: To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

For more information, contact our administrative offices at 304-263-1832 or visit our website at https://www.bgcepwv.net/.