Geovanny Ragsdale, President/CEO, shares a monthly message. | | |
Books to consider reading this fall from our CEO.
- No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference
- The Leader in Me
- The 16 Undeniable Laws of Communication
- Good Energy
- Do Nothing
- The Observer's Chair
- The Let Them Theory
- What If You Are The Answer?
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Stay Connected with our daily posts and activities!
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| | We have transitioned to MyClubHub for our member management system. Are you a parent of a member or looking into our programs for the upcoming Thanksgiving Break and Winter Break? Click below to learn more and join our member community at one of our 13 sites across the West Valley. | | If you have gently used costumes for children and teens that you wish to donate, bring them to the Gary M. Thomas Clubhouse at 7245 Remmet Avenue, Monday - Friday between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., by Friday, October 24, 2025. Help us support those of greatest need at our Club to enjoy their participation in upcoming events at their school and community. You can contact Julia Rondan at j.rondan@bgcwv.org or call 818.610.1054. | |
Did you know...2-in-3 students nationwide don't read at the required level?
Our programs at BGCWV keep kids on track.
Club Kids report getting mostly A's and B's.
Your sponsorship and participation at this year's Coomper Literacy Event on November 13th will support our reading and writing programs.
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A special shout-out to our caring community members for their generous In-Kind support this summer! Your time and thoughtfulness in selecting items and activities that support our operations, programs, and services make a meaningful difference!
- Supervisor Lindsey Horvarth
- Jack Gelnak/Premier Wealth Advisors, Inc.
- Betty Paravato
- Jerry and Barbara Henderson
- Bonni Adams
- Maricruz Jimenez
- Gelb Group - A Family of Companies
Please visit our website to view our "Wish List" https://bgcwv.org/ways-to-give/ and other ways YOU can make a difference.
For In-Kind donations and arrangements, contact:
Julia Rondan, Development Associate, j.rondan@bgwv.org
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We are grateful for our generous and caring community of donors.
Your support makes a meaningful difference for over 3,000 members, and we thank you!
August Dollars Received: $136,731.00 of our $375,000 monthly income goal.
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Individual & Affiliate Contributions: $1,001.00
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Foundation Grants: $4,000.00
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Corporate Giving: $3,161.00
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Government Grants: $128,569.00
Visit our Ways to Give webpage to view the many opportunities that support our programs, services, and operations.
We appreciate donors who donate online, as it supports our programs more seamlessly.
Consider becoming a volunteer and giving your time and talent to the next generation of leaders at one of our Club locations.
Contact: Kelly Ventimiglia, Chief Philanthropy Officer, k.ventimiglia@bgcwv.org
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Volunteers are needed Monday through Friday to support our members!
Are you interested in a meaningful experience where you can share your knowledge, time, and experience with our club members? Join our volunteer program today!
Currently, we need retired teachers to volunteer and support the training of our newest staff who work directly with the kids.
Our fall programs are running through December 12th. The Club has opportunities for volunteer support from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
For more information, contact us via email at Volunteer@BGCWV.ORG or visit bgcwv.org/volunteer.
If you are interested in a volunteer group project, let us know so we can share special projects needed during other hours of the day.
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Our opportunities right now are permanent, Part-time, and Full-time!
All permanent part-time staff receive Paid Time Off (PTO) accrual, get paid for our nine approved holidays, and have access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) after 90 days with the organization.
Join our team and make a life-long difference in the lives of the youth we serve!
To view the job descriptions and qualifications, visit bgcwv.org/careers
| | Check out this past month's highlights: | | Fun Friday – Sunglasses Craft | | During one of our Fun Fridays, our 1st–5th-grade members got creative and colorful! They designed their own sunglasses and decorated them with beads to add a personal flair. It was a fun, hands-on activity that allowed everyone to show off their artistic side while creating a wearable masterpiece. The energy and excitement in the room were contagious as members proudly shared their unique creations with friends! | | Taking Care of the Earth Month | | |
This September, our members participated in “Taking Care of the Earth Month,” a special theme dedicated to learning about the importance of caring for our planet. Each group created posters that reflected how they want to protect and nurture the Earth.
With creativity and imagination, our members expressed a variety of ideas—from keeping our oceans clean to protecting wildlife, reducing waste, and reminding us all to keep our planet beautiful. Every grade level brought a unique perspective, showing how diverse and thoughtful their visions were.
We are so proud of the creativity, teamwork, and heart our members showed in this project. Their voices remind us that caring for the Earth starts with small actions that add up to big change. Thank you for continuing to support our members as they grow into thoughtful, responsible leaders for our community and our world.
Together, we can make a difference.
| | -Gary M. Thomas Clubhouse- | | |
This month at the Club, our kids are loving the Triple Play Basketball Program! With 23 members signed up, the gym has been full of energy as they practice dribbling, shooting, and teamwork.
The goal of the program is to help kids stay active while learning how to play basketball the right way—with a focus on sportsmanship, teamwork, and confidence. The month of September concluded with fun scrimmages to show off the skills they’ve learned.
What makes this program special is the growth we’re seeing—not just in athletic ability, but in leadership and support among teammates on the court.
| | Triple Play – Basketball Program | | |
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Our staff created a fun program with the purpose of helping kids practice addition and subtraction using math monsters. The target audience was first-grade students, and 10 members participated.
During Power Hour, members expressed having a hard time understanding their homework, so they worked together as a group. After finishing their homework, they decorated their monsters and added items that could be used for counting. They were able to continue practicing addition and subtraction using their creations.
| | | -Justice Street Elementary- | | |
At Justice Street Elementary, this month’s program highlight is Triple Play. Members have been having a blast playing baseball with Coach Angel and competing in a handball tournament with Coach Heaven. It’s always exciting to see the coaches jump in and play alongside the kids, creating a highly engaging and fun atmosphere.
Members are enjoying the program so much that when it’s time to go home, many ask their parents to stay longer—and sometimes even put up a playful fight because they’re not ready for the fun to end. The laughter, energy, and teamwork shining through these activities show how meaningful and special Triple Play has become for our members this month.
| | Art Club - Building Skeleton | |
It’s finally fall! At our Mosk Club location, members who joined the Art Club for a Fun Friday activity were able to create their own skeleton characters using scissors, construction paper, and markers. Some members even turned theirs into puppets!
This festive activity allowed members to develop fine motor skills and creativity. The target audience was grades 1–5, giving students the opportunity to socialize across age groups and learn techniques from one another.
| | Character & Leadership: Future Ready | | |
Future Ready: Building Tomorrow’s Leaders Today!
At Boys & Girls Club, we believe every young person has the power to lead, inspire, and make a difference.
Through our Character & Leadership Core Program: Future Ready, members at our Reseda site are gaining the skills and confidence to succeed in school, careers, and life.
What members are learning:
* Leadership and teamwork
* Goal setting and decision making
* Communication and problem-solving
* Giving back through community service
Our fifth graders demonstrated interest in applying for leadership roles, submitting an application, and participating in an interview for the position.
Our youth are not just preparing for the future, they’re shaping it!
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During Power Hour this month, members focused on creating Group Agreements together. Each group worked as a team to decide on rules and expectations that help everyone feel safe, respected, and ready to learn.
By building their own agreements, members were able to talk through why these rules matter and how they can take responsibility for their shared spaces. This activity encouraged teamwork and helped them understand the importance of making positive choices and supporting one another.
Members showed great leadership and respect as they created agreements that reflect their voices and values!
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We have had the privilege of welcoming The Get Together Foundation to lead musical analysis sessions for our members. They learned how to break down a piece of music and listen for the different parts and instruments that make up a song.
This experience has helped members pay attention to small details and develop careful listening skills. We’d like to highlight their strong engagement and motivation to learn and excel in musical analysis.
| | Music Program in partnership with The Get Together Foundation | | |
The Advocates for Healthy Choices (AFHC) Club is dedicated to raising awareness about the health risks associated with smoking and vaping. The club’s purpose is to encourage peers to make informed decisions through schoolwide campaigns that emphasize the dangers of tobacco and vape use.
In September, elections were held to choose new e-board members. The club also held general meetings to plan for upcoming activities.
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Cleveland High School’s Keystone program has started off strong with 13 students. They elected their council and began planning their national project featuring the theme Anti-Bullying. Students have been discussing how to incorporate our middle school site into their initiatives.
Keystone is a special program that equips students with essential leadership skills to prepare them for the future while educating them on real-world advocacy. The program encourages youth to use their creativity for impact while working together as a team to accomplish shared goals.
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The Child Care Resource Center (CCRC) is looking to enroll new families in the San Fernando Valley area
The CCRC can help you pay for childcare for all hours of the days, nights, weekends, or even just a few hours a week. Visit ccrcca.org/apply to view the requirements and to get your application started.
| | Our Corporate Champion program recognizes businesses that support the Club with a year-long contribution that impacts the lives of more than 2,500 young people. Contact us to become a Corporate Champion today! To learn more, click here. | | We would like to thank the Civic Organizations and Foundations who partner with us. Their support provides with manpower at special events and delivers unique programs to the members at no cost to BGCWV. | | Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley| www.bgcwv.org |(818) 610-1054 | | Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit in the City of Los Angeles, the State of California, and the IRS. Our EIN is 95-4419365. To support the work we do in 2023 you can call 818.610.1054 ext. 2001 or give directly at www.bgcwv.org/donate every gift helps to ensure kids and youth have a safe place to reach their full potential. | | | | |
