Happy Holidays from the Texas Alliance


Dear Friends,

Like you our team is in a season where most of our energy is being poured into our children and community and as exhausting as it can be, it's also humbling and exciting.

At Boys & Girls Clubs across Texas this is what services are year round. Clubs are essential to supporting and maintaining safety for youth, while also supporting the workforce and economic security in our Texas communities. This effort by Clubs across Texas is just one small piece of the social and emotional support they provide to youth and families to keep Texas' future safe and well.

Here at the Texas Alliance we would like to wish you and your loved ones prosperity, happiness, peace, and health in the coming new year. We look forward to reconnecting and visiting with each of you on our new journeys across Texas in 2022.
 
Thank you all for your work each day to support Texas' most vulnerable youth!
 
 
Mitzi Stoute Faniola
Executive Director
2021-2024 COVID Remediation & Recovery Grant
The Texas Legislature Awarded the Texas Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs $5 million dollars in COVID Recovery Funds from the US Department of Education through the Texas Education Agency to support remediation efforts.

After nearly two years of living with the pandemic, kids’ uneven access to school, disruptions to home life, exposure to economic stress, isolation and food instability have all combined to create a toll of unrealized learning, and reinforced fears and anxieties that have set back the futures of hundreds of thousands of children and youth in Texas – especially for children living in disadvantaged circumstances. 

The purpose of this grant program is to provide funding to implement COVID-19 remediation programs for Club youth due to the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on at-risk children in Texas.

These COVID-19 remediation programs will provide out-of-school time activities including academic support and remediation, human trafficking prevention, teen pregnancy prevention, social emotional learning and trauma informed care, career goal setting and career exploration, physical fitness and recreation, and healthy meals and snacks. Programs will be delivered by trained professionals and professional Club staff, and address existing conditions, as well as remediate conditions made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic, which could result in negative outcomes for children and youth.
AEP Foundation Awards Boys & Girls Clubs in Texas $500k Multi-Year Grant

The American Electric Power (AEP) Foundation has awarded a $500,000 multi-year Social Justice Grant to Boys & Girls Clubs in Texas to fund BGCA’s Youth for Unity program in 28 Boys & Girls Club organizations across the AEP Texas service territory for five years.

Now more than ever, it is important for Club staff to partner with youth to create a safe, supportive and inclusive environment. Within this nurturing environment, young people need transformative opportunities and experiences to practice social emotional development, specifically empathy for others.

Boys & Girls Clubs of America's Youth for Unity program provides youth and parents with the groundwork that will help them better understand diversity and combat prejudice, bigotry and discrimination. This program consists of a comprehensive, broad-based set of activities and conversation starters that build the capacity of local Clubs to help members appreciate themselves as unique and special individuals; understand our society’s diversity; recognize bias and unfairness; and take personal leadership in confronting bias.

View media announcement here
Boys & Girls Club of Vernon Shares the Meaning of Family
"I’ll never forget the day in May 2020 walking down the halls of the Club and hearing a random phone ringing. Normally, I would have just kept walking, but because this was early in the pandemic, I was the only one in the building and ran to answer it. A voice on the other line asked for Morgan Lindsey, our Director of Operations at the Club. I told them that she was not in the office but asked if I could take a message to which she responded that it was Child Protective Services and it was important regarding Levi.

From her very first day at the Club, Morgan fell in love with Levi and made sure that he had all of his needs met daily. She kept snacks in her office in a special place for him because he was always hungry. She kept medication to treat his bed bug bites. She kept clothes and socks because he would wear the same dirty ones daily. Morgan took Levi under her wing.

A year later, the world is shutting down due to Covid and she had no way to stay in touch with Levi and to ensure his basic needs were being met. The last known place of residence was a single hotel room where he and his 9 siblings shared a space with their parents. After an attempted home visit, it became clear that they were gone without a trace.

Fast forward to May 2020, the CPS worker reaches Morgan on her cell to explain that all of the siblings had been removed from their parents' care and were staying in the Children's Home. Over time, each sibling had gone on to foster homes except for Levi. When asked if he could think of anyone that CPS could call for him, Levi replied, “Mrs. Morgan at Boys & Girls Club”. That day, Morgan picked Levi up and he would never return.

With Cody and Morgan, Levi is thriving. He is seeing a life that he never knew was possible. He has a safe, clean place to lay his head every night. He has more to eat than he needs. He has homework help and support. He has undivided attention and never ending love.

On a beautiful Tuesday in October 2021, Levi officially became Levi Lindsey after his adoption was finalized. What a blessing to have had a front row seat watching His perfect plan come to fruition. Levi and his siblings were adopted into their forever loving homes AND one of my favorite people officially became a mom."

~Sarah Sullivan Hernandez, CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Vernon

Levi and Morgan have created an opportunity to provide personalized backpacks for kids in foster care so they can take their own belongings wherever they go. Inside they include a good pair of shoes, a book and a toy that is their very own to keep.

Levi and Morgan hope to grow this effort every year to assist with foster transitions and making them as graceful as possible. Morgan and Cody's love of Levi has inspired this and Levi is so proud to help other children like him.

If you are interested in helping please contact the Wilbarger County Child Welfare Board on how to donate to the project!
SAVE THE DATE: 2022 YOUTH OF THE YEAR CELEBRATION!
Boys & Girls Clubs in Texas is happy to announce the Save the Date for the 2022 Youth of the Year celebration. On Monday, March 15, 2021 youth from across Texas will compete virtually for Texas Youth of the Year and Texas Military Youth of the Year.

In partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Boys & Girls Clubs in Texas will host the 2022 State Summit and Legislative Day in person on March 21st & 22nd, where we will honor all of these outstanding youth in Texas.

Since 1947, Youth of the Year has been Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s premier recognition program, celebrating the extraordinary achievements of Club members. Each year, one exceptional young person from a Boys & Girls Club rises to the role of National Youth of the Year. The National Youth of the Year serves as both an exemplary ambassador for Boys & Girls Club youth and as a strong voice for all of our nation’s young people.

The journey to being named National Youth of the Year begins locally and progresses to state, regional and national levels, with an additional military phase for members of BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations.
Fostering Resiliency in a Post-Pandemic World
Congratulations to Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston on the recent release of a groundbreaking report, Fostering Resiliency in a Post-Pandemic World, which details findings on the impact of COVID-19 among youth in the Greater Houston area and recommends specific actions on resiliency programming. This was done in affiliation with their partners The Hackett Center for Mental Health, the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute and a specially-appointed Blue Ribbon Panel of subject matter experts.

Watch media announcement here!

This year join millions as they enjoy a digital experience with good ol' St. Nick by calling Santa’s Hotline at (605) 313-4000. .

Santa’s Hotline is a welcome resource to share in the holiday spirit with friends and family and experience Santa Claus digitally.

When you call Santa’s Hotline, you can leave a message with your wish list and let Santa know exactly what his elves should work on this year. Callers will be welcomed by Santa Claus himself! Call (605) 313-4000!
#GreatFutures
Our Mission:

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

Our Vision:

Provide a world-class Club Experience that assures success is within reach of every young person who enters our doors, with all members on track to graduate from high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character and citizenship, and living a healthy lifestyle.