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BGCCF Update | April 24, 2020
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"THE CLUB IS LIKE FAMILY"
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There's the family we're born with, and the family we choose. For Mary Gill of Lake County, Service Director Cheryl O'Rourke and BGCCF staff have been the family of choice that has supported her and her grandchildren in their times of need.
It's been a tough year for the single grandmother, who has cared for Club members Adrianna (13) and Ashton (14) since infancy. Although Mary has worked at Dollar Tree for 15 years, as a recent survivor of open heart surgery, she's considered "high risk" for COVID-19, and has been unable to work since mid March. She made her hardship known to Ms. Cheryl, who directed Mary to our Family Relief Fund, which took care of her electric bill and has provided the family with groceries.
Despite her challenges--the family now subsists on Ashton's SSI stipend and Mary's tax refund from last year, which she dutifully saved--she doesn't feel discouraged. "I'm so fortunate because I have you guys to turn to," she says.
"With people like Ms. Cheryl and the Big Man upstairs, we're gonna make it."
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BE A CLUB HERO: LIKE JASON CHEPENIK
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“My dad, Barney, who started our firm, has always instilled in me the importance of community service,” says Jason Chepenik, Managing Partner of Chepenik Financial. “But I don’t remember a time when the need to lift up the suffering has been more apparent.”
Jason’s firm has sponsored a number of special events for our Club members over the years, but he felt called to make a special contribution to BGCCF when the COVID Pandemic began. “There’s a very thin strata of folks in Central Florida who are still living well. But dig one inch below the surface, and you find a huge population in need, grappling with homelessness, hunger, poverty. We can’t forget about these people—we’re all inter-connected. What does it mean for me to do well if I’ve forgotten these other members of my community?”
Jason made a gift of $5,000 to our CLUB HEROES campaign to help provide for the special needs of the families we serve during the COVID-19 Crisis. With his generous gift, the organization has provided bags of weekend groceries and helped with emergency household expenses experienced by Club families. To date, contributors have funded $305,000 toward our $750,000 campaign goal.
Like his father before him, Jason deflects all gratitude for his contribution. “The pleasure is all mine. If my community is not well, none of us are.”
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Blue Doors Closed, Hearts Wide Open
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OUR RESPONSE TO COVID-19
(Rolling Totals as of 4/24/2020)
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16,750
Individuals Served
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6,000
Snack Packs
Delivered
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44
Cyber Clubhouse
Program Days
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4,489
Cyber Clubhouse
Page Visits
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5 Clubs
Now offering "Cyber Clubhouse Live!"
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Click on the links below for more information and resources on how you can support Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida.
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Even with our Blue doors Closed, we make it easy for our Club members to continue connecting with the staff and programming they love! Our Club Staff is proud to offer three specific outlets for our members - and others - to access our creative and uplifting programming:
CYBER CLUBHOUSE
In our Cyber Clubhouse, children find a new daily schedule of educational activities and fun videos. Monday, Mr. Nicco challenged Club members to beat him in the "Push Up Challenge" and Ms. Connie demonstrated how to make the best paper airplane out of a straw and paper.
Learn More >>
CYBER CLUBHOUSE LIVE
In Cyber Clubhouse Live, our staff interact with Club members in real time, offering homework help, motivational messages, arts projects and supportive conversation.
BLUE DOOR TV
Our Blue Door TV, produced in concert with Orange TV, is a variety show in the tradition of PBS' classic "Zoom." Celebrity guest readers share their favorite children's books, and we share our favorite Cyber Clubhouse videos from throughout the week. Check out the most recent episode, in which Ms. Madison makes a strawberry smoothie, Ms. Ellie teaches the American Sign Language alphabet, and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings reads "Pete the Cat."
Watch Here >>
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BGCCF WELCOMES THREE NEW BOARD MEMBERS
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We are delighted to announce three outstanding additions to our Board of Directors! Steve Forte, Vice President of JetBlue University, oversees the company's award-winning training programs, leading teams in Orlando, Salt Lake City and New York. Ray DiSanza retired in 2017 from the Charles Schwab Corp., Inc after 19 years with the firm. He is a former Senior Vice President of Operations, and the Location Leader of the operations center in Orlando. Kelli Addison is an Associate with Schenkelshultz Architecture and is part of the design team of the Jacqueline Bradley & Clarence Otis Family Branch. Welcome, Steve, Ray and Kelli!
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Deepest gratitude to the following generous donors who have already joined our Club Heroes campaign. You are ensuring that our organization, and our families, stay strong through this crisis, and that we will emerge with renewed purpose to create great futures for our Club members!
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Phillip & Jennifer Anderson
Anonymous
Atlantic Culvert Company, Inc.
The Cocoa Rotary Foundation, Inc.
Ray & Lydia DiSanza
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Brian Baker
Chepenik Financial
The Duke Energy Foundation
Mark & Maureen Filburn – Providence Construction, LLC
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GolfNow
Kevin & Denise Habicht
Office Depot
N. Christine Sylvester
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Steve & Patty Appel
David & Lyn Berelsman
Tom & Ann Brooks
Wes & Paula Brumback
Keith & Lila Buescher
John & Dede Caron
Derrick Chandler
James & Allison Clark
Les & Jill Eiserman
Equity Partners, Inc.
Jim & Jennifer Etscorn
FAME Group, Inc.
Robert & Mary Frantz
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Graff Holdings
Kelly Family Cuidiu Foundation
Paul & Stacey Manos
Nextera Energy Foundation, Inc
OUC- The Reliable One
Renaissance Charitable Foundation
The Rotary Club of Lake Mary
Scan Design
Shutts & Bowen LLP
Sidhu Family Foundation Inc.
SIMS Crane & Equipment Co.
The Villages Theater Company
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Steven & Jean Allender
Allender & Allender, P.A.
Jennifer Ashton
Camelot Properties Referral Group, LLC
Nancy Conicella
Phillip C. DeLong
Duke Energy Florida, LLC
Dr. Steven & Suzanne Dukes
Kevin R. Hill & Nicholas F. Farinella
Lamont & Lynda Garber
Allison Krueger
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Les Choux Company
Drew & Paula Madsen
Nathan & Ashley Male
Cheryl Mall
William & Rebecca Manuel
Mike & Marybeth Morsberger
Christopher Pirolo
William & Ann Schooley
Star Distribution Systems
Wilhelm Construction
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Charla Albury
Christyne Albury
Linda Allen
Brasfield & Gorrie LLC
Robert & Caroline Buster
Chad & Elizabeth Cain
CCH Marketing & Events, Inc.
Amber Clore
D1 Orlando
Clara Ewing
Stephen Forte
James & Jean Gallagher
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David Hicks
Russ Hill
Sue Hoeksema
International Title and Escrow Co, LLC
Sarah Johnston
Garrett & Laura Jones
Diane & John Mahony
Mechanical Dynamics & Analysis
Charles & Shanda Redding
Steven & Jennifer Sabga
Fiona Shannon
Phillip Smith
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About Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida
The mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. At our 36 Clubs, we provide a safe and nurturing Club experience every day after school, and all summer long, for more than 16,000 children.
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