The Club is open for guided meditation on Wednesdays from 7-8 p.m. We invite you to join us for these next three weeks as you prepare for the holiday season.  November 6^th, 13^th, and 20^th. Parking opens at 6:50 p.m. and closes by 7:05 p.m.

Mark Your Calendar:

November 19th! 

Thank you to NCL—National Charity League, Inc. The San Fernando Valley Chapter provided an amazing Halloween experience for our members! They made it fun and exciting, and we value our partnership. 

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!

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.

Our opportunities right now are permanent Part-time and Full-time!

• Part-Time Elementary Youth Development Professionals
• Part-Time Assistant Site Coordinator (Elementary)
• High School Youth Development Professionals
• Drivers (2-hour shift in the afternoons)

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

Stay Connected with our daily posts and activities!

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We offer the following after school site services; you can have your youth join us at one of the following locations:

Elementary Students

• Calabash Elementary (Woodland Hills)
• Blythe Elementary (Reseda) Open to students from any school
• Gary M. Thomas Clubhouse (Canoga Park) Walking and Transportation are available from several local schools.
• Justice Street Elementary (West Hills)
• Reseda Elementary (Reseda)
• Serrania Charter for Enriched Studies (Woodland Hills)
• Stanley Mosk Elementary (Winnetka)
• Woodland Hills Elementary Charter for Enriched Studies (Woodland Hills)

Middle School Students

• Teen Center (Canoga Park) 6th-8th grade, we provide transportation from several local schools to our site.

High School Students

• Canoga Park High School (Canoga Park)
• Chatsworth High School (Chatsworth)
• Cleveland Charter High School (Reseda)

To register your youth, click the button below.

If you have any questions, contact our membership coordinator, Bryan De Lazaro, via email at membership@bgcwv.org or phone (818) 915-2241.

Our office is open from 9am-6pm, Monday through Friday.

Check out this past month's highlights:

-Reseda Elementary-

We're excited to share the wonderful projects that the members of Reseda Elementary have created for the ‘Cultural Altar Challenge’. The members worked hard to finish their projects ahead of “Day of the Dead” that starts in November. 

The Altar challenge gave members an opportunity to learn from different cultures honoring and remembering loved ones, ancestors, as well as pets that have passed away. This contest was an opportunity to promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within our Club program while encouraging our youth to explore their creativity and cultural heritage.

For the month of October we also participated in the “Lights on Afterschool”’. Lights on Afterschool is a Nationwide Event in the United States that celebrates the importance of afterschool programs. It recognizes the efforts of Afterschool programs and the dedicated staff who provide enriching experiences outside regular school hours. We had a fun interactive Festival where we had games, goodies, and music. We want to thank all the parents who joined us at our festival and parent presentation.

-Calabash Elementary-

Lights On Advocacy Day

For the month of October, we had our members paint pumpkins for the fall season as Halloween approached. We had games, music, and raffle prizes for the members to join in on. Together they were able to collectively be free in creating their pumpkin while we talked about the opportunities the club provides to our members during the after-school program.

-Justice St. Elementary-

Lights on Afterschool Carnival

For our “Lights On Afterschool” event on October 24th, we were excited to host a carnival! Our Club and Council members dedicated the entire month to planning the event. A special 'Thank You' to our lead YDP, Angel, who made a cornhole set out of wood in his free time so our members could paint it beforehand to prepare for the carnival. We’re incredibly grateful for Coach Angel’s support and the joy this activity brought to our members, allowing them to bond with their coaches w creating lasting memories.

-Mosk Elementary-

Welcome to the “Mosk Monster Mash” at Stanley Mosk Elementary! Part of “Lights On Afterschool” Advocacy Day, a nationwide day to highlight the importance of afterschool programs in our communities. Mosk Monster Mash was a night for families to enjoy an evening of fall festivities, games, student art shows, and more. Several members even arrived in costume and won raffle prizes!

Lights On

-Woodland Hills-

Coach Abby's Library

Coach Abby, our dedicated education lead, has created a fantastic library for members at Woodland Hills Elementary. Thanks to her initiative, members can now explore a growing collection of over 100 books through a user-friendly online system she put together. This system allows members to check books in and out, making reading accessible during Power Hour—the first hour of our program dedicated to homework and reading.

Coach Abby has even taught some of our 4th and 5th graders to manage the library, helping their peers check books out and return them at the end of the day. The library has quickly become a favorite spot, with members excitedly asking if they can take books home to continue their reading adventures.

This is helping members get ready for the Cooper Literacy Reading Challenge! Members who read the most within the months get the opportunity to go to 'Barnes and Noble' in December to buy a new book.

Music

Every Tuesday here in the Teen Center we had the privilege of running a guitar class for our music program. The “Get Together Foundation” has done an amazing job at showing our Teens the ins and outs of being a guitarist. We have five members currently participating in the music program. These five members not only learned how to play songs they enjoy but also express their creativity and improve both motor skills and coordination.

Drivers  Ed

The Driver’s Ed program is an excellent initiative that equips the students with the skills and confidence they need to become responsible drivers, setting them up for success on and off the road.

The program encourages inclusivity and teamwork by providing a supportive space and it is a fantastic way for students to bond, make new friends, and gain valuable driving skills.

This program ensures that students not only pass their driving test but also understand the importance of being cautious and aware of other drivers. The Driver’s Ed program offered to students after school has been an outstanding opportunity for youth; any students looking to build their driving skills in a safe and supportive environment can participate.

Future Ready

The purpose of the Future Ready program is to prepare high school students for whatever career path or future they choose. About ten to twelve students consistently attend this structured program containing weekly activities on self-exploration, extended education opportunities, the world of work, and goal setting. Students can research and expand their knowledge regarding the professional world and leave the program with a sense of direction for their future. This past month, the students learned about the differences between community colleges and schools in the California State University system. They were given scenarios about youth trying to decide where to apply based on their GPAs. Future Ready is offered on Mondays and Wednesdays and runs until the end of the school year.

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!

Total Dollars Raised: $234,541.00

• Special Events: $18,924.00
• Foundation Grants: $5,125.00
• Government Grants: $205,349.00
• Individual Contributions: $3,043.00
• Corporate: $2,100.00

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 give 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

As an individual who values the work of Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley, you can make an immediate difference when you become a monthly donor. Monthly donors help provide high-quality programs that serve kids and youth across the West Valley during the most critical hours of the day, after school.

You can help us reach our goal this month!

• 20 monthly donors at $10 will provide one afternoon of services for one kid every month.
• 20 monthly donors at $25 can help subsidize one kid's transportation to the Clubhouse for one day every month. 
• 5 monthly donors at $42 provide supplies for one class offered to 20 kids every month. 
• 5 monthly donors at $84 provide a STEM kit for one class of 20 kids monthly. 
• 2 monthly donors at $100 provide two youths at the Gary M. Thomas Clubhouse with a full scholarship. 

We serve the kids daily because when you partner with us on our mission, because of you we can inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible adults. 

Curious about the latest updates from BGCWV?

Be sure to check our “Media & Stories” page on our website!

Explore exciting news, inspiring articles, and learn about our community impact over the years.

Updated regularly at bgcwv.org/media

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.

Stay Connected!

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.