Geovanny Ragsdale, President/CEO, shares a monthly message. | | |
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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. | | |
We’re so grateful to our friends at the
Rotary Club of Woodland Hills for their generous donation of a Buddy Bench to the Gary M. Thomas Clubhouse at Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley!
The Buddy Bench is a special place for kids to sit when they’re looking for a friend—and for others to step up and be that friend. It’s a simple but powerful way to encourage kindness, inclusion, and connection among our Club members.
Christy, Rotary Club President, shared:
“The Rotary Club of Woodland Hills is proud to donate a Buddy Bench to Boys & Girls Club as part of our ongoing commitment to supporting youth, kindness, and inclusion... Together, we’re building happier, kinder communities—one friendship at a time.”
The Rotary Club has partnered with us on several meaningful projects over the years, and we’re thrilled to continue growing our connection through moments like this, which strengthen our anti-bullying programs.
Thank you, Rotary Club of Woodland Hills, for your generosity, your heart for youth, and your continued support of our mission!
📸 Check out photos from the bench unveiling below!
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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!
September Dollars Received: $253,357.00
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Individual & Affiliate Contributions: $1,709.00
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Foundation Grants: $4,000.00
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Corporate Giving: $2,697.00
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Government Grants: $244,731.00
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Special Events: $220.00
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: | | |
Our Lights On Afterschool event was a huge success! Families joined us for a fun-filled evening where we modeled one of our Club programs for parents to experience firsthand. Everyone enjoyed pizza, snacks, and juice before participating in a paint and movie party, just like our members do!
We transitioned through activities as we would during a regular Club day, giving families a true glimpse into the fun and structure of our programs. Parents and kids painted pumpkins, enjoyed popcorn and popsicles, and watched It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! together.
It was a wonderful evening of creativity, connection, and community—thank you to all who joined and helped make it special!
| | Lights Outs After School Celebration on at Blythe! | | |
Our TK/K members got into the Halloween spirit this week by creating their very own festive decorations and ornaments! From friendly ghosts to colorful pumpkins, our young artists worked together to bring spooky charm all around our campus. Their creativity and teamwork helped make our space feel full of fall magic and community spirit. Great job, TK/K! | | | -Gary M. Thomas Clubhouse- | | This October, our members have been letting their creativity shine through fun and festive arts and crafts! From colorful fall leaves to spooky Halloween designs, our art tables have been full of imagination and laughter. Arts and crafts help our youth express themselves, build confidence, and explore new skills—all while having a great time with friends! | | Sugar Skull
Decorating Contest | | The purpose of this event was to collaborate with the PTO to celebrate the Monster Mash while also celebrating Lights On Afterschool—an event that recognizes afterschool programs that keep the lights on when the school day is over. The Haynes Boys & Girls Club partnered with the Haynes PTO to serve about 200 people. During this event, we were able to demonstrate student work, celebrate with families, strengthen relationships with them, and create new partnership opportunities with the school PTO. A highlight of the night was Hailey and Jack winning a bike after participating in the Monster Mash activities! | | -Justice Street Elementary- | | |
At Justice Street this month, we hosted our Lights On Afterschool celebration on October 23rd with a fun “Kick or Treat” kickball tournament, where parents faced off against our members. We had a great turnout, with about 35–40 parents joining us, and everyone had a wonderful time. Our Sports Coordinator, Isiah, also came out to help host the event and kept the energy high throughout the day.
Members helped decorate the space, and we kept things lively with music, pizza, and candy. The parents played competitively, which made the games even more exciting for the kids. Many parents and members personally thanked the staff and coaches for organizing such an enjoyable event. Overall, it was a successful day filled with fun, teamwork, and community spirit.
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Fridays at Boys & Girls Club are all about creativity and exploration! 📸
Members have the opportunity to join different clubs.
Photography is a hit on Fridays which it’s led by Coach Esmeralda, where members are learning to see the world through a new lens.
Through photography, our youth build creativity, observation, and communication skills. discovering beauty in details, patterns, and moments they might otherwise miss. They’re also developing valuable life skills like patience, focus, timing, and decision-making.
Every snapshot tells a story and our members are learning to tell theirs!
| | ¡Viernes de diversión! ¡Los viernes en el Boys & Girls Club son todo creatividad y exploración! 📸 Los miembros tienen la oportunidad de unirse a diferentes clubes. La fotografía es un éxito en los viernes, dirigida por la entrenadora Esmeralda, donde los miembros aprenden a ver el mundo desde una nueva perspectiva. A través de la fotografía, nuestros jóvenes desarrollan su creatividad, observación y habilidades de comunicación, descubriendo la belleza en los detalles, patrones y momentos que de otro modo podrían perderse. También desarrollan valiosas habilidades para la vida como la paciencia, la concentración, la sincronización y la toma de decisiones. Cada instantánea cuenta una historia y nuestros miembros aprenden a contar la suya. | | October at Serrania has been full of creativity, teamwork, and celebration! Our site now serves over 120 active members, and this month they’ve enjoyed a variety of exciting activities; from Halloween crafts and the Cooper Reading Challenge to Flag Football, Arts & Crafts, Movie Club, Gaming Club, and a Kickball Tournament during our Tuesday and Friday club days. Members also showed off their artistic talents in our Día de los Muertos Mask Contest, with beautifully decorated masks being judged today 10/29! Throughout the month, students have continued to build friendships, explore new interests, and express their creativity in a safe and supportive environment. | | |
Our 3rd–5th grade members are participating in a Sugar Skull Decorating Contest in celebration of Día de los Muertos! The contest is being led by our new Art Coordinator—and former Woodland Hills Coach—Jordan. Over the past few weeks, members have been learning about the traditions and cultural significance of Día de los Muertos while designing their own creative sugar skulls. They’re excited to showcase their final creations as the competition wraps up this week! | | | |
As Halloween was just around the corner, our teens at the Teen Center have been given the opportunity to participate in our Trunk or Treat event on October 30th. The event provided a safe and fun Trick-or-Treat opportunity for our members, Trunk Decorating, costume contests, spooky music, family-friendly activities, prizes, and more. Our teens were actively engaged in this event, showcasing their creativity through trunk decorating. | | Trunk or Treat Preparation Day | | This month at Canoga Park High School, students had the opportunity to join our TAC program, which focuses on college and career awareness. They’ve been exploring different Cal State campuses, learning about college pathways, and enjoying some ice cream while connecting with their peers. Each session typically has around 10 to 15 students who participate. The program has encouraged students to think about their futures, build confidence, and get excited about the journey beyond high school. | | | This month, we hosted our annual Lights On event, a special celebration highlighting the variety of programs we offer after school. The event provided an opportunity for members, families, and staff to come together and see all the exciting activities available to students. To make the day even more memorable, we featured a caricature artist, a fun photo booth, and delicious Subway sandwiches for everyone to enjoy. The atmosphere was filled with laughter and smiles as members participated in activities, connected with friends, and created lasting memories. Overall, Lights On was a wonderful success and a great reminder of the positive impact our after-school programs have on our community. | | |
Cleveland High School has kicked off its life skills program with Driver's Ed. Cleveland High School is hosting two sessions with 20 students each for a total of 40 students learning the rules of the road.
These sessions include everything from how to read road signs to the history of cars to the physiological and psychological aspects of driving.
Boys and Girls Club at Cleveland High School is preparing students for post-graduation success and is committed to providing opportunities, such as driver's Ed, making it accessible for all students.
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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. | | | | |
