A Letter from the CEO...
Greetings Boys & Girls Club family!
I hope this message finds you and your loved ones healthy and well.
We were blessed this past Summer to have the ability to open the “blue” doors of the Boys & Girls Club to the youth in our community. Our team and our governing Board of Directors invested a great amount of time and energy into preparing a plan to reopen, making sure that the safety of our members, our staff, our families and our community remain our number one priority. Thank you for the collaborative efforts of our national Boys & Girls Clubs of America, other Clubs and local organizations, the McLean County Health Department, the CDC, our insurance provider and a multitude of other partners, that supported the development of this plan.
The laughter, joy and energy of our members and our staff is what brings life to the Club. The Boys & Girls Club is not only a safe place for kids to be between school and home, it is a place where kids can have fun and build positive, supportive relationships, while participating in opportunities and experiences allowing them to explore their goals and dreams. It is a place where they can build their confidence to believe that they too, have the ability to one day become whatever it is they dream to be.
However, Boys & Girls Club’s across our Movement have seen three very alarming trends amongst teens throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
· Teen pregnancies are on the rise.
· An increase in teen and young adult suicide rates are a very frightening reality.
· Unhealthy habits are causing an increase in adolescent medical issues, of which include obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart problems.
Our programs and the collaborative partnerships we have established throughout our community are all designed to support the diverse needs of our youth and their families. Although difficult to foresee the future impact of this pandemic, we are prepared to continue to provide quality, impactful programs to support the growing needs of the future leaders of our community.
Your commitment to our Club and the youth in our community is the fuel that allows us the opportunity to provide these life changing programs. It is our vision to provide every young person, an equitable opportunity for a great future. Over the past several years, we have grown to serve more than 1,100 youth annually. With this growth, we have outgrown the capacity of our existing leased facility which has caused many of our kids, who need us most, to be placed on a waiting list.
We have partnered with CCS Fundraising, a consulting firm, to conduct a feasibility study to explore the future vision for the Boys & Girls Club to build a new Clubhouse at Sunnyside Park in Bloomington. Over the next several weeks, we will ask our community for your guidance and advice, as we explore this vision.
The Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal is committed to do “Whatever It Takes to Build Great Futures,” for our kids and our community. THANK YOU for your helping hand in keeping our community strong!
I CARE,
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Camp Limberlost was founded in 1931 by the Bloomington Pantagraph. Starting in 1940, the Kiwanis Club of Bloomington assumed full responsibility and complete sponsorship of the camp. The camp is for children ages 8 through 11 and offers a flexible, nutritious, and enjoyable camping experience while emphasizing positive social interaction with peers and adults through involvement in a variety of programs and activities. The goal of the camp is to provide a safe fun environment where the campers will learn to respect one another and their counselors through a variety of activities and games focused on relationship building through values of honesty, trust, integrity, truthfulness, and communication.
Due to COVID, the Kiwanis Club of Bloomington was unable to provide a traditional camp experience and approached us with an idea that would allow them to continue this program in a non-traditional way.
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The last week of our summer program for our 4th and 5th graders was unlike any other week. Our team, the folks from the Kiwanis Club and Alan McBride, the Camp Director at Timber Pointe (where the camp is traditionally held), put our heads together to determine a way we could bring the Camp Limberlost experience to the Boys & Girls Club. The results from this collaborative partnership provided a week long experience our youth will not soon forget.
Our kids participated in standard camping traditions including kayaking, archery, camp songs, roasting s’mores and so much more. We did all of these things in or around the Club. “How did we bring kayaking to the Club,” you may ask? The answer: you take 3 kayaks, 3 furniture dollies, ratchet straps and plungers and we converted our gym into a lake for our own white water experience. We had guest speakers, both in person and virtually, who encouraged our youth to explore nature, teach them about the animals that live around us and we even had a virtual visit from Miller Park Zoo. It was an amazing collaboration that we would like to recreate every year with the help of our Camp Limberlost friends!
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The Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal had a very safe and successful summer and it filled our hearts having the kids back in the building! We served a total of 90 members throughout the summer providing our traditional summer program in a non-traditional way. Our success provided us with the confidence to move forward into the school year providing supervised support for Remote Learning.
We stepped outside our traditional Club programming to try to meet the needs of our families and our kids, in support of the schools plan for Remote Learning. We quickly realized that we did not have the human resources nor the financial resources, to safely support the many challenges that came with this new approach. After evaluating the first two weeks of this program, we quickly rebounded and worked together with our families to developed a plan that would support our kids during this unprecedented time.
We are preparing to open the Club doors again to provide the programs that we know best through our afterschool setting, focusing on childhood and adolescent learning and development outside of school.
We are excited to welcome our members back to the Club. On September 28, we are moving back to our roots and serving kids during the after school time for all three of our Club sites. The Clubhouse will be home to our K – 5 members as well as our Club members from BJHS, while Teen CLUB will remain at First Christian Church. We will continue to operate within the state, CDC and IDPH guidelines keeping the structure to small groups allowing for a total of 108 members, which is a little less than half of our normal capacity.
After learning from our experience over the first two weeks of the school year, we were concerned that we were letting our youth and families down. After calling and speaking with our Club families, we were reassured that this is the best direction for us to proceed. Parents, grandparents and guardians were grateful for the opportunity for their children to be with other youth in the fun, safe, supportive and positive environment they love. We are excited to get back to what we do best, empowering all young people, especially those who need us most to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens!
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Resource Development Highlights |
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2020 GREAT FUTURES ANNUAL APPEAL |
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Future Boys & Girls Club Staff |
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Despite our shorted appeal period, our 2020 Great Futures Annual Appeal was a huge success thanks to all of our supporters. We truly live in the most generous community that deeply cares about the success of our kids.
In an effort to continue supporting our youth, we are honored by those who provide recurring monthly gifts. Will you help us by joining Club '92?
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- Does your employer have a matching gift program? If so, you can double your gift!
- Does your employer provide grants for your volunteer service? If so, your employer can provide a financial gift to the club!
- Does your employer have a workplace giving opportunity through payroll? If so, you can gift to the club PRE-TAX!
- For more information, check with your employer!
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GOLF OUTING
RAISES OVER $22,000!
August 14, 2020
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The18th Annual Golf Outing raised over $22,000 for Boys & Girls Club programming.
A big thank you to our title sponsor, Tentac Enterprises, and the numerous sponsors, golfers committee and volunteers who helped make it such a success!
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DATE CHANGE!
JUNE 12th, 2021
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Mark your calendar for June 12th, 2021 for our second annual Over The Edge (#FearlessForKids) event in partnership with the Child Protection Network! So far we have raised over $25,000! Continue to help us to achieve our goal of $75,000!
19 teams and 69 Edgers are signed up so far to be #FearlessForKids!
Sponsorships and Edger spots are still available! Please reach out to our Development Director, Kimberly Wright, at kwright@bgcbn.org or (309) 829-3034 or click the link below to register!
Look out for our social media posts each week for updates!
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When is this Event Taking Place?
December 2nd, 2020
Where?
Considering the circumstances of COVID, this year, our Be Great Breakfast will be unique from previous years. Although unique, the goal remains the same - supporting our youth!
This year we will be asking our Table Captain's to host 10, or more, guests in their desired location and time, whether that be their home, office or local restaurant. Are you ready to host an unforgettable event?
What is it?
Our Be Great Breakfast is a major fundraiser for the Club. The money raised at this event goes directly to funding our programs.
If you are willing to serve in a leadership role as a Table Captain, please let us know by clicking here:
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If you would like to sponsor our biggest fundraiser of the year, please click here:
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The Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal was established in 1992, hence the name Club ‘92. This prestigious club is for donors who want to contribute monthly recurring gifts online or through our Resource Development office to benefit kids' lives at the club. |
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Our Current club 92 Members: |
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Al & Barbara Nathan
Andrew L Finks
Annetta Marie Blair
Anthony Rozanski
Ashley Walter
Austin James Myers
Barry & Lisa Reilly
Ben Matthews
Betsy Myers
Bill & Jan Lawrence
Blake & Jeseka Mier
Brandy Finney
Brian & Sarah Day
Briana Turcotte
Cheryl Magnuson & Sahan Kuruppuaratchi
Chris Deering
Christopher Clemens
Colin & Cheryl Logue
Dale & Laura Avery
Danielle Miller-Schuster and Andrew Schuster
Darren & Angela Brant
David Duffey & Sandra Rose
Dean Carr
Deb King Ochs
Deborah Boston
Dodie & Jaci Dunson
Donna Boelen
Douglas & Teresa Minter
Edmund & Rebecca Miller
Evelyn Rose Young
Father David & Amy Halt
Griffin Design - Tracy Feger
Jacob Perganson
Jason & Jeannie Higdon
Jay & Jane Rich
Jay & Pamela Reece
Jeff & Melinda Leverton
Jennifer Cave
Jennifer Hall
Jerry & Carole Ringer
Jessica McDermott
Jill & Rob Jones
Jim & Lisa Spachman
Jo-Anna Ramsay
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Joel Ramseyer
John & Karen Schmidt
Jon & Tracy Farney
Jonathen & Edith Voegele
Josh D Foster
Kathie & Alan Chapman
Kathleen Boudeman-Nicholas & Mark Nicholas
Katie Grojean
Keith & Falicia Cornille
Kelvin Schill
Kenneth Tolson
Kimberly Wright
Kris Kline
Krupal Swami
Leah Daigle
Levi Bauer
Lintfighters of Central IL LLC - Tom & Jamie Sennett
Matt Miller
Matt Riehle
Matthew & Stacy Spurgin
Mercedes & William Davison
Michael & Rachael Mosley
Michelle Ashendorf
Mike Flaherty
Mike O' Grady
Neil Alcorn
Neil M Gridley
Omar Khokhar
Paul S. Hursey, Jr.
Reid Butts
Rex & Valerie Schaeffer
Rob & Jill Jones
Ross & Amber Amend
Sayed Abbed & Suad Abu-Shahla
Scott & Molly Ann Davis
Shelleigh & Kevin Birlingmair
Sonya Stremming
Steve & Sue Seibring
Steven & Erin Kennedy
Terri Cannon
Terry & Dele Ogunleye
Tony & Steph Morstatter
Travis & Kate Williams
Wade & Jeanne Koehler
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Thank you for your support of our Club! |
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Do you shop on Amazon? If so, Amazon will donate .5% of EVERY Amazon purchase you make to the Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal! Just log in to your amazon account and visit our organization link: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/37-1308723 to select the club as your charity of choice. Thank you!
#EveryDollarCounts
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Would you please invite us to come and share our mission? |
We would love to share our mission with your company, group, or organization.
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