Volume 15 | November 7, 2019
NOVEMBER 2019 NEWSLETTER
Give in Gratitude to Help Our Children Thrive!
This holiday season, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities is bringing together youth, families, staff, and community members to reflect on what we are grateful for and to  Give in Gratitude . Our organization is fortunate to have many wonderful supporters who make our programs possible and truly care about helping our kids succeed –  we are so grateful for you!

We ask that you  Give in Gratitude  in support of healthy, bright futures this holiday season.  Al & Kathy Lenzmeier  believe so strongly in BGCTC’s impact that they are generously offering a  $50,000  dollar-for-dollar match on contributions through  December 31st!

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities provides caring mentors and holistic programs to ensure each of our kids has the resources they need to succeed. Club youth are guided from kindergarten through high school by encouraging adults who focus on the unique needs and skills of each child and teen. Each year, our K-12 Pathways to Success programs impact thousands of youth in under-served communities and empower them to thrive.
Jayla , an eight-year-old member of our Southside Village Club, is just one example of how the Boys & Girls Clubs have helped a young person achieve a healthier lifestyle:

When Jayla first started coming to our Southside Village Club two years ago, she was attending River Bend Education Center—a level 4 school that serves students with emotional, behavioral, and/or mental health needs. Jayla would frequently break down over small issues and lash out at her peers. The Boys & Girls Club was the only after-school location Jayla’s parents could find that could accommodate her needs.

At Southside, Jayla has been involved with STEM Mentoring, daily workstations, circle time, the SMART Girls leadership group, and the STARS reading program. These programs have helped her to cope with frustration and build positive relationships. Jayla, with the support of Club staff and volunteers, is becoming a healthier version of herself every day. She is proud and grateful to say that she has many friends at the Club and in school—in fact, she has shown so much improvement that she will be attending a different school next year. Jayla’s parents are grateful for the Club as well. Without a welcoming invitation from Southside Village Club staff, they wouldn’t have known where else to turn to support their daughter.

As you think about the impact of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities this holiday season and reflect on your own relationship with our organization and mission, please join us by  Giving in Gratitude . Your donation has the potential to transform young lives for generations to come.

Remember, thanks to Al & Kathy Lenzmeier, donations received by December 31st will be matched dollar-for-dollar for the first $50,000 in donations, so your gift will go twice as far for the kids!

Thank you for your continued support of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities. Happy Holidays!
Kids Can Give!

Are you looking for a way to make a difference this holiday season? Participate in our annual Kids Can Give holiday gift drive!

For over 25 years, the Boys & Girls Clubs and our community partners have been collecting donated gifts during the holiday season to distribute to the thousands of kids we serve each year. Through Kids Can Give , each Club member has the opportunity to shop at the holiday “store” set up at their local Boys & Girls Club in December, where they can buy donated gifts for $2-$5 to bring home to their families. Donations from the kids will support a youth-driven holiday celebration at each Club.
 
It is an incredible experience for all involved to see the excitement in our kids as they think of their loved ones and shop for special holiday gifts! Gifts are wrapped on-site with the help of staff and volunteers and are sent home with the kids just in time for the holidays.

Please consider donating to the Kids Can Give program to help a child fulfill their holiday wish! You can help by collecting gifts at your place of business, or by volunteering at our Club holiday stores in December to help distribute gifts to families. 100% of gifts donated will be given to our Club members and their families! Financial donations are also accepted and will be used to purchase additional gifts and wrapping paper.

For more information on volunteering with Kids Can Give , please contact Molly Hemes at mhemes@bgc-tc.org or 651-200-4102.
Skate the Star Returns to the Mall of America
The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities will be the beneficiaries of Mall of America’s Skate the Star again this winter! Last year, over 26,000 people skated the oval ice rink at the Mall’s North entrance, helping to raise over $86,000 for the Clubs. Skate the Star provides a unique setting for all levels of skaters to create holiday memories with one of winter’s most popular pastimes!

This year’s Skate the Star will run from December 14 through February 2. Skaters will once again have the option to bring their own skates or rent a pair for a $5 donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs. Volunteers are needed to help with skate rentals and merchandise sales.

For more information, please contact Tim Schober at tschober@bgc-tc.org or 651-200-4108.
Club Teens Speak Up at Leadership Rhodes Youth Forum
Xavier Rhodes  of the  Minnesota Vikings  visited our Jerry Gamble Club on October 29 to conduct the first Leadership Rhodes event, a youth forum that explored how teens can be leaders of change and work to improve their communities. Alongside teen Club members from Southside Village, Little Earth Jerry Gamble, Olson Middle School, and Patrick Henry High School, Xavier spoke about the impact of gun violence, gang and drug violence, poverty, and other important issues impacting Twin Cities neighborhoods, including the many communities we serve.

Thank you to Xavier for providing our Club teens with an awesome opportunity to engage in these critical conversations. We are looking forward to another forum for our St. Paul Clubs in November!
Art, Fashion, and a Worthy Cause

Local high-fashion jeweler  Stephanie Lake Design  has selected Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities as the sole beneficiary for their upcoming boutique showcase hosted by  MartinPatrick 3 Cambria Fhima’s Minneapolis , and  Big Watt Coffee . Stephanie and Cory Lake are second-generation supporters of the Clubs and are currently spearheading a major health and wellness initiative focused on improving nutrition, combating food deserts and swamps, and stemming the rise of preventable, chronic disease for all of our kids.

We are excited and very grateful for the generosity of this unique event. Find more information and RSVP on Facebook!
Pack Gives Back

We are very excited to announce that Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities has been named one of the  Minnesota Timberwolves ' Pack Gives Back 3-year grant recipients! We look forward to using this grant to continue providing our youth with the education, opportunities, and positive support they deserve.

Learn more about our new relationship with Pack Gives Back here !
Thanks for Supporting Our 58th Annual Benefit For The Kids!

Thank you for supporting our annual  Benefit For The Kids!  As always, it was a pleasure to see our guests enjoying this wonderful event, and we had a great time celebrating the achievements and highlights of 2019 alongside our supporters.

With your help, we raised  $650,000  to benefit our Clubs, our programs, and the youth we serve. We're also very grateful for the generous $75,000 match put forth by Al & Kathy Lenzmeier during the program. THANK YOU - your support helps us build better futures and provide opportunities for Club kids and teens of the Twin Cities!
Join Our Team

Are you looking for a career where you can make a big difference in the lives of kids and our communities? Our Clubs are in need of Education Specialists, Teen Specialists, program staff, facility staff, and more! Check out our current job listings to see how YOU can get involved!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Give to the Max Day

Thursday, November 14

Give to the Max Day was created in 2009, and that initial spark touched off an outpouring of generosity — $14 million in 24 hours. Since then, Give to the Max Day has become an annual tradition. Every year thousands of organizations and individuals generate donations and excitement for Minnesota causes that are working to improve the quality of life for all Minnesotans.

Early Giving is available from November 1 to November 13. In honor of this generous holiday, please consider making a donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities so that we can continue to provide critical support, education, and growth opportunities to our communities' youth!
SAVE THE DATE
Spring Thaw

Saturday, March 7, 2020
Quincy Hall

Join us at the 8th Annual Spring Thaw on Saturday, March 7, 2020 at Quincy Hall in Northeast Minneapolis! Spring Thaw is hosted by BGC-TC’s Associate Board and is a fun and affordable gala for young professionals in the Twin Cities. The event includes an auction, games, youth performances, a DJ, and so much more.

Tickets will be available soon! For more event information, please visit our website .

For questions regarding sponsorship, please contact Director of Special Events Amy Kuehn at akuehn@bgc-tc.org or 651-200-4107.
You Can Change a Child's Life

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