Greetings!
We hope this newsletter finds you well and that you enjoy the update of what has been going on around the Clubs. Even though we are still not at full capacity (per CDC guidelines) we continue to change kids' lives thanks to your generosity and support.
While we are not able to have the Angels Dinner this year, we knew we still had to fundraise for the summer camp program. Our Angels campaign is going strong, and I’d like to thank those who have contributed towards that effort. Summer is just around the corner, but it is not too late to make a gift! If you need proof of Why Wings Matter, please watch the short video featuring BGC alumna Raliyah Dawson.
Raliyah was our 2016 County Youth of the Year and went on to win the 2016 Southeast Regionals Youth of the Year and attend the national competition in Washington DC. Since attending the Boys & Girls Club in Vero, she has graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University and is now a registered nurse. In the video, Raliyah talks about the impact her Boys & Girls Club made in her life. Stories like Raliyah's uplift us and illustrate Why Wings Matter.
With Gratitude,
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Elizabeth Thomason
Executive Director
Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County
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Featuring Boys & Girls Clubs of IRC Alumna & 2016 Southeast Regionals Youth of the Year, Raliyah Dawson. |
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CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS YEAR'S COUNTY YOUTH OF THE YEAR WINNERS! |
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Ashanti
Youth of the Year
2021 County Winner
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Lizeth
Junior Youth of the Year
2021 County Winner
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Congratulations to Ashanti, our Youth of the Year County Winner and Lizeth, our Junior Youth of the Year County Winner! We would also like to congratulate all of our participants this year! Everyone worked so hard and did an awesome job. This year's Youth of the Year ceremony, due to the pandemic, was conducted virtually via Zoom and streamed LIVE into our Boys & Girls Clubs Facebook page. If you missed the virtual event, you can catch the replay on our YouTube channel by Clicking Here>>.
Our Junior Youth of the Year Winner, Lizeth is from our Fellsmere Club. She is in 7th grade at Sebastian River Middle School, and is a member of the AB Honor Roll. She has been a Fellsmere Club member since the 1st grade and is always willing to help out around the club. Lizeth is Fellsmere’s Torch Club President, and is always committed to her fellow Club members and their interests. She plays a special instrument called the euphonium and dreams of becoming a veterinarian.
Our Youth of the Year Winner, Ashanti is from our Vero Club and is a senior who is doubling up on career programs in biotechnology and health science. She participated in our program last year, representing the Vero Beach club then too! She is taking challenging courses and is awaiting her college acceptance letters for the fall, where she will pursue a degree to help her on her path toward becoming a nurse practitioner.
For more coverage, Click Here>> to read the recent Youth of the Year article in Vero Beach 32963.
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Jeremiah, 2nd grade
Fellsmere Club
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Tiana, 10th grade
Vero Club
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Destiny, 6th grade
Sebastian Club
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Congratulations to Jeremiah, Destiny and Tiana for being chosen as February's Athletes of the Month! Athletes of the Month are selected based on sportsmanship, effort and skill. Jeremiah (2nd grade) was chosen for his awesome sportsmanship, determination and continuous growth in soccer; Tiana (10th grade), for her outstanding sportsmanship during volleyball and for always making sure that everyone was having fun; and Destiny (6th grade), for her athletic excellence and constant involvement in all sports.
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Congratulations Team Judele
2021 Season Dodgeball Champs!
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Our kids wrapped up six weeks of a competitive, emotion-filled dodgeball season in Vero. There were three teams: Team Hannah, Team Justus and Team Judele. Each team fought very hard and the games were very close leading up to the finals. Team Judele was the first team to qualify for the Finals, having the most wins between the three teams.
This brought us to the Semi-Finals where Team Hannah and Team Justus competed with the win going to Team Hannah.
This led us to the Finals between Team Judele and Team Hannah. The game was very close and fun to watch. The victory championship went to Team Judele who won 2 to 1! Congratulations to Ms. Judele's team!
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Next Up - Volleyball!
Vero Club is looking forward to their first volleyball season starting this month!
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Days: Wednesdays & Fridays
Time: 5:00 - 5:45 p.m.
Place: Gymnasium
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SPREADING THE LOVE AROUND THE CLUBS ON VALENTINE'S DAY! |
Valentine's Day was full of fun at all the Clubs. The kids made special Valentines for their friends and family, played games and ate some delicious Valentine treats. |
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SEBASTIAN CLUB CELEBRATES MARDI GRAS WITH A PARADE |
Mardi Gras may have been canceled this year, but not at our Sebastian Club. The kids enjoyed a fun day of crafts, games, good food and a parade! |
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NICKELODEON SHARES
COLOR POSITIVITY
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Recently all three of our Clubs received a box from Nickelodeon to participate in their Color Positivity project. The kids were given vision boards, crayons and other art supplies and asked to express "what is the world you want to see."
Our kids had fun getting creative on this project. Some vision boards expressed peace, no more Covid, friends, family and love. It was a very cool & creative project for our kids!
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To watch Nickelodeon's project recap video, click on the play button. The Fellsmere Club is featured around the 2.09 and 2.13 mark and the Sebastian Club around the 2.14 and 3.07 mark.
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READBowl Florida State Champions! |
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Kudos to Miss Kate's Quiet Readers Team at the Vero Club for being announced as one of the 2021 READBowl Florida State Champions! Great job for participating in the READBowl and enjoy receiving a classroom library of 10 books.
READBowl is Read with Malcolm’s free global reading competition designed to inspire kids to read. PK-8 classrooms around the globe compete to read for the most minutes.
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TEENS OF THE MONTH
January & February 2021
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Kayla (Freshman)
January Teen of the Month
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Malik (Senior)
February Teen of the Month
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Congratulations to Kayla (Freshman) for being chosen as Teen of the Month for January. Kayla was chosen for being involved in the Destination's Color Wars activities, keeping up with homework assignments without having to be prompted by staff, participating in community service events, and for being courageously open during group discussions.
Congratulations to Malik (Senior) for being chosen as Teen of the Month for February. Malik was chosen for always arriving to the club with a positive and friendly attitude towards staff and peers. He also helps to maintain a safe and clean environment, and his willingness sets a great example for others.
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Congratulations to our Winners!
We would like to thank everyone who voted and showed your support to our talented artists this year! Typically, we hold an exhibit at the Club and have local community artists serve as judges. This year however, due to the pandemic, our contest was held online. There were eight categories showcased with the ages ranging from 6 to 18 years old.
The WINNERS for each Category/Age Group are pictured below.
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Collage
Sunflower
Ages 10-12
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Collage
Colorful Cupcakes
Ages 13-15
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Mixed Media
Chicks Looking for Momma
Ages 6-9
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Mixed Media
Raging Sea at Sunset
Ages 10-12
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Mixed Media
Colorful Roaring Sea
Ages 13-15
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Monochromatic
God's Animals
Ages 6-9
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Monochromatic
The Howling
Ages 10-12
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Monochromatic
Thoughts
Ages 13-15
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Monochromatic
Moonlight
Ages 16-18
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Multi-Colored Drawing
Herbs
Ages 6-9
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Multi-Colored Drawing
This is Me
Ages 10-12
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Multi-Colored Drawing
Yummy Cherries
Ages 13-15
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Multi-Colored Drawing
Army Man in Clothespins
Ages 16-18
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Acrylic
My Starry Night
Ages 6-9
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Acrylic
Powerlines
Ages 10-12
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Pastel
City Dessert
Ages 6-9
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Pastel
Oil Fields
Ages 10-12
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Water Color
The Tree
Ages 10-12
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Water Color
Fruit
Ages 13-15
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Water Color
Miss Mouse
Ages 16-18
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Congratulations to Melanie for winning 1st and 2nd place for having the most votes overall. Melanie is a Senior in high school and a very talented artist. She plans to seek a degree in computer animation when she heads to college in the fall. |
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1st Place Most Votes Overall - Miss Mouse
2nd Place Most Votes Overall - Army Man in Clothespins
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FELLSMERE
- Swimming continues on Monday, Wednesday & Fridays at the North County Pool
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March 17th Leprechaun's around the club games.
- Spring Break Activities - March 22nd - 26th
SEBASTIAN
- Basketball is back! On the court on Thursdays
- Swimming continues on Monday, Wednesday & Fridays at the North County Pool
- March 17th - Leprechaun Games for St. Patrick's Day
- Spring Break Activities - March 22nd - 26th
- 1st week of April - Easter Egg Hunt
VERO
- Volleyball through the end of March with a 'beach' volleyball tournament at Riverside Park on March 24th.
- Basketball is back! On the court on Monday & Thursdays
- Swimming continues on Tuesday & Thursdays at the Gifford Youth Aquatic Center
- March 17th - St. Patrick's Day
- Spring Break Activities - March 22nd - 26th
- Teen Virtual Cooking Class - March 17, 2021
- Teen Career Workshop - March 22 - 25, 2021
- Teen Field Trip to the Rapids - March 26, 2021
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We appreciate your support!
The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens.
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Your support helps fund after school programs and educational services to the youth of Indian River County. When each child steps foot into the Boys & Girls Club, they are in a safe and positive environment where they are given the resources to realize their full potential. Every donation helps us build a stronger community together. |
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