On April 25th several BGCEC Staff and members met with Vice President Cheney at the NWFL Fairgrounds. Pictured in first photo are Labresha Paschall, VP Cheney and Devyn Wooley. In second picture on the back row with VP Cheney are BGCEC Staff Members Bear Henley, Renate McDowell and Rita Cummins. On the front row are Labresha Paschall and Devyn Wooley.

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast announce it’s annual Youth Award Winners

Monday, February 11, 2008 – The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast presented the Club youth of Okaloosa County their yearly awards at the Awards Dinner held on February 1, 2007 at Wright Baptist Church in Fort Walton Beach. The Walton County youth were given their awards at the Boys & Girls Club of South Walton in Santa Rosa Beach on February 7, 2007. Each year Club youth are nominated by staff members for Club awards. The four winners of the individual Club Youth of the Year competitions are able to compete in the state Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year competition in March.

The Okaloosa County Teen Center winners were as follows:

• Youth of the Year; Ashlee Larry
  (Choctawhatchee High School student)
• Girl of the Year; Tavazha Cooper
• Boy of the Year; Anthony Hawthorne
• Sportsman of the Year; Brittany Brown
• Good Citizen of the Year; Brianna Campbell, Greg Wallace
• Memorial Award winner; Miles Jones
• Top Ten Members of the Year; Demetric Barker, Jordan Blackburn, Francheska Bowman, Demond Chew, Bryson Cross, Trystan Eakes, Joe Haas, Jazmine Gonzales, Angel Soanes and Antwaan Simmons.

The Okaloosa County, Denton Blvd. Club winners were:

• Youth of the Year; Amber Neault
  (Wright Elementary School student)
• Girl of the Year; Skylar Berry
• Boy of the Year; Marqus Demons
• Sportsman of the Year; Trent Eakes
• Good Citizen of the Year; Jaquan Smith, Greg Wallace
• Memorial; Shimon King
•  Top Ten Members of the Year; Chloe Brown, Danielle Whiting, Savanah Powell, Savannah Lowry, Sharnice Boyd, David Rochell, Matthew Zukosky, Christopher Zukosky, Charterion Moore and Jeremiah Tyler.

The Meigs SMART Center award winners were:

• Youth of the Year; Jamal Bias
  (Meigs Middle School student)
• Girl of the Year; Morgan Walker
• Boy of the Year; Brian Barnes
• Good Citizen of the Year; Wesley Powers
• Spirit Award: Kendra Smith-Parks
• Top Five Members of the Year; Marena White, Caitlyn Tarabon, Dylan Boekenoogan, Kayla Reichenbach and Thomas Reeves.

The South Walton Club award winners were:

• Youth of the Year; Carter Czarzasty (10 year old from Butler Elementary School)
• Girl of the Year; Lee Ann Stransky
• Boy of the Year; Kirk Hunter
• Sportsman of the Year; Valentina Denda
• Good Citizen of the Year; Joseph Sanders
• STRIVE Award Winners; Sam Kelly, Catie Updyke and John David Porter
• High Achiever Award Winners; Kaitlyn Arnette, Bianca Porter, Jordan Stamm, Skyler Regan and Hailey Peters.

For more information about the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast, please call 862-1616.
 

Kiwanians Updated On The DFS Teen Center

The DeFuniak Springs Kiwanis Club got an update on another club, the planned Boys & Girls Club DeFuniak Springs Teen Center. Boys & Girls Club of the Emerald Coast President and Chief Professional Officer Crawford “Bear” Henley and DeFuniak club director Bobbie Smith gave the Kiwanians the update.

Before talking about the new DeFuniak Springs facility, Henley gave a short update on the south Walton club. He says the Army Corp of Engineers wants the club to put half their land into conservation easement. Henley says they disagreed, especially with how the land will be used. They have been trying to bring a club to south Walton for almost eight years.

Henley recounted of a time he visited a group of teenage mothers who said a teen center would have helped them stay out of the situation they were in. He said the Boys & Girls Club is finally getting into DeFuniak Springs. Henley also talked about the need for community support, explaining they do not have an adult population paying fees to operate the facility. The new Teen Center will be built in the old armory building, a facility owned by the city and managed by the county.

Bobbie Smith comes from Columbus Ohio and spent 19 years in the military. He studied psychology, has a background in chemical dependency counseling, is an ordained minister and worked with adjudicated teens.

Smith told the Kiwanians a Boys & Girls Club in DeFuniak Springs is a reality. When can the kids come? Smith says the Teen Center will open during the first week of March. They are planning an open house on Saturday, March 1. The club will have space inside and outside for recreation and activities. The teen Center is open to ages 12 through 18, though some 11-year-olds can come if they are in middle school.

Smith says the Teen Center will have a variety of activities like cultural, field trips, roller skating, life skills, etiquette, dances and most important, homework help. Smith says the primary emphasis is on homework help. He says they can’t make the students turn the homework in, but they have found that by students simply completing their homework, they will make at least a C grade.

Smith says the center will be able to support 60 to 100 kids on a regular basis, but expects special events like dances and summer programs to work with over 100 youth. The club is closed for 6 national holidays, but will be open in the summer and during some school holidays. The hours will be from 2:30pm to 6:00pm Monday through Friday with some Friday and Saturday times for special events like roller skating.

Walton County is currently working to upgrade the facility. Air conditioning is being installed. The units were traded for the no longer used prisoner tents. The county is also installing a multiuse floor and is upgrading the electrical system. The building will be used for more than just the Boys & Girls Club with some other county recreation needs operating out of the old armory.

Smith says they also have had donations of basketball goals, carpet, computers and office furniture. Perhaps one of the biggest needs are donations. The Boys & Girls Club has a policy of not turning away any child due to finances. There is a $25 a year registration and a $10 a month activity fee. Donations can be made to help build and furnish the club and to provide scholarships.

The DeFuniak Springs Kiwanis Club presented Henley with a certificate of appreciation and a check for $400.

Emerald Coast Youth Wins National
Club Tech Digital Arts Festival

Fort Walton Beach, Fla. (Jan. 2, 2008) –Over 219 music making regional entries were entered into the 2007-2008 Club Tech Digital Arts Festival by youth from all across the world. The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast is pleased to announce that Brian Barnes’s entry, Good to be a Member of the B&GCA, captured the top honor for his age group. Barnes’s mission was to create a digital art piece falling under the theme “Our Changing World,” and musically capture the ways today’s youth are positively changing the world. Brian is a Boys & Girls Club member at our Meigs Middle School SMART Center.

After winning on the local level, Barnes competed with tech savvy youth from all across the Southeast region and then moved forward to the national competition. Because of his hard work, talent and technical abilities he will travel to Minneapolis this summer for an adventure filled with sightseeing, job shadowing at Best Buy’s corporate headquarters and other opportunities to gain real life applications of the technology skills learned through the competition.

“To succeed in today’s technology-driven world, digital literacy skills are key and almost always expected,” said Roxanne Spillett, president and CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “Through the Club Tech Digital Arts Festivals we’re bridging the digital divide and giving all kids of various ages and backgrounds the opportunity to explore technology in ways they never imagined possible.”

The Festivals are a part of the Club Tech program, a partnership between Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Microsoft and Best Buy Children’s Foundation to equip millions of youth like Barnes with the advanced technology skills needed to succeed in school and the workplace.

The National Festival was judged by a panel of distinguished industry judges that praised Barnes’s piece. Grammy-nominated singer, writer and actor Mario commented that Barnes' piece was a "skillful composition conveying…unity without words." Radio Disney's Kelly Edwards, director of music, stated that she really enjoyed the song's nice rhythm.

Through Club Tech’s Digital Arts program, members are introduced to the world of digital movie making, photo illustration, graphic design, music production and Web design. The program offers members like Barnes who are interested in music production discover the world of digital-music making, from the basics to the most advanced. Club members learn how to write sheet music and compose tunes through the use of music tracks, sound effects and filters. Loops, music theory and sequencing round out the techniques taught to the Club’s aspiring music producers.

Local Youth Merge Art and Technology to Win Regional Club Tech Digital Arts Festival

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast member to compete for national title

Thursday, December 20, 2007 – FORT WALTON BEACH, FL (Dec. 18, 2007) –Twelve year old Meigs Middle School student and Boys & Girls Club kid Brian Barnes, was challenged with creating a digital art piece he felt reflected the changing world before him, for the sixth annual Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s, Club Tech Digital Arts Festivals. His entry, entitled Good to be a Member of the B&GCA, not only musically captured this theme, but it brought home the top honor for the Southeast region in the 10-12 age groups. Now, on behalf of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast, Barnes will vie for the national title and an expenses-paid trip to Minneapolis to gain hands-on tech experience.

The Festivals, a dynamic component of the national Club Tech program, celebrate the creativity and technical abilities of Fort Walton Beach-area Boys & Girls Club members like Barnes. Bear Henley, CPO and President of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast had this to say, “We are proud that Brian and the staff at our Meigs SMART Center did such a great job representing us in this competition.” “We look forward to seeing what he does next!”

“The Club Tech Digital Arts Festival allows our members to experiment with the art of creating music to find the hidden musician or composer within themselves,” Dan Rauzi, senior director, Youth and Technology Programs, Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Members like Barnes who are interested in music production discover the world of digital-music making, from the basics to the most advanced. Club members learn how to write sheet music and compose tunes through the use of music tracks, sound effects, filters, and much more.

Boys & Girls Club Kicks Off With Breakfast Club

If you were presented with a business opportunity where your investment would generate a return to you and the community and help people at the same time, would you be interested? Calling it a business decision, Boys & Girls Club of the Emerald Coast Chief Professional Officer and President, Bear Henley told a group at a recent Breakfast Club, they would pay if programs to help youth do not succeed. Henley was joined by the planned new north Walton Club’s Unit Director Bobbie Smith, Development Director Peggy Mahone and Board Chairman-elect Chris Poate as they presented the plan to open a Teen Center in DeFuniak Springs next month.

Henley showed a video where people like Colin Powell, Denzille Washington and Bill Cosby say the Boys & Girls Clubs have helped them. The video also showed youth in our area who the club helps. Henley says a survey of club participants and alumni show that 57% believe the Boys & Girls Clubs saved their life. He says 91% of the alumni say are satisfied with their lives. The survey also shows only 8% did not graduate high school compared to 16% in the regular population not graduating. Twenty-eight percent of Club members say they would have dropped out of high school. Henley also said the survey shows the mentoring staff had the greatest impact on character.

Henley says our area has an underutilized and under accessed workforce. The Boys & Girls Clubs provide programs, training, homework completion, leadership training, diversity and cultural immersion, computer and money skills, career launch and job shadowing and models and teaches positive cooperative relationships.

The plan is to use the DeFuniak Springs City owned and Walton County managed old armory building. The facility is expected to be able to support 75 participants full time and over 100 in the summer. Henley also talked about expanding the club to off-site locations in Paxton, in neighborhoods and to school sites through the SMART Centers. Walton Superintendent Carlene Anderson has already agreed to assist with transportation to the after school programs. There is a one time registration fee and a small monthly fee, but the club never turns a child away for financial reasons. The Club seeks community members who will help with sponsorships. A youth can be sponsored for $250 a year.

The breakfast was sponsored by Clary-Glenn Funeral Homes and Ramey & Bytell Attorneys at Law. Henley said the clubs only send a minimal amount to the national office, that most of the funds stay in the local area and the local facilities each help to raise funds. He told the group it will take an investment by the residents and business community to make the club work. He explained money, volunteers and materials are needed to help build the north Walton Teen Center.

Miss America, Lauren Nelson visits youth at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast – Denton Blvd. Club

Thanks to Cox Communications Miss America, Lauren Nelson recently visited the children of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast - Denton Blvd. Club in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Miss Nelson travels 20,000 miles per month speaking to kids about reaching their goals. She’s also been busy promoting her platform of internet safety. While visiting with the Club kids, Miss Nelson shared a three step safety chant with the children that will keep them safe in many areas of their lives. Many of the children asked about how to be safer in the game chat zones that they use at home when online. Other children asked about her time as Miss America, what it took to become Miss America, what she would be doing after her reign was over and they wanted to know if she was married! All the children received an autographed photo of Miss America and several took pictures and got hugs from her. Later that evening Miss Nelson attended the BGCEC Serving and Swinging for the Kids event. Thank you to Cox Communications and Miss America, Lauren Nelson for visiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast.

Pictured with Miss America is past BGCEC Youth of the Year and current US Marine, Robert Bustamante at the Serving and Swinging for the Kids event.

Tennis, Golf & Wine Tasting Benefit
the Boys & Girls Clubs Oct. 25-27
Special Guest: Miss America!!

Friday, October 19, 2007 – The annual golf and tennis tournaments benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast will be held Oct. 25 and 27, and this year they are accompanied by a new evening benefit called Tastes of the Emerald Coast.

Chefs from some of the area’s best restaurants – including Clark & Blake Brennan’s Royal B Restaurant, Pranzo Italian Restaurant, and Emerald Grande – are teaming up to create a unique food and wine tasting event, and all the proceeds support the Boys & Girls Clubs, a positive place for local youth.
The Tastes of the Emerald Coast will be Thursday, Oct. 25 in the ballroom of Emerald Grande on the Destin Harbor, and Miss America 2007 Lauren Nelson will make a special guest appearance. Nelson plans to speak about internet safety on Thursday afternoon at the Boys & Girls Clubs.
Guests at the Tastes of the Emerald Coast also will enjoy a silent auction, cash bar and entertainment for the evening from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person, and all proceeds benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast.

The event coincides with golf and tennis tournaments that also benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs. The golf tournament begins Thursday at the Regatta Bay Golf & Country Club, and the tennis tournaments starts Saturday at Seascape Resort.

Boys and Girls Club to open in DFS armory
October 10, 2007
By Kevin Chilcutt
As reported on WZEP 1460 AM

DEFUNIAK SPRINGS -- They said the plan was to bring a Boys and Girls Club to north Walton and now that plan is close to being a reality. Bear Henley with the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast presented a request to Board of County Commissioners at its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday night, to use the old armory building as an after school site for a north Walton Boys & Girls Club.

Henley told a story of a visit to DeFuniak Springs to speak to some students. When he arrived the students were a group of girls who were expecting. They showed him a small paper building. He asked what it was and they told him it was a teen center. The students said they believe if they had a teen center they would not have gotten pregnant.

Henley said money being spent for other uses could be used to work with young people and help them stay away from crime, bad choices and give training. One of the first things they would do is start with homework help. Henley said when they turn in homework the young people find they will make at least a C on their report cards and then they find they can make an A or B on their tests. He said this can help keep them off the streets and prevent crime. The cost is a small registration fee and a monthly fee, but Henley said no child is ever turned away.

Henley also noted there will need to be community support. The Walton Recreation Board has given its approval. County Administrator Ronnie Bell said if the commissioners approve the request to use the old armory building, they hope to have the program running by early next year. Superintendent Carlene Anderson has also expressed her support for the plan.

The city owned facility is managed by the county with air conditioning coming soon. Walton Parks and recreation will also locate to the building. The motion to approve passed unanimously.

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast Receives Grant from Target for the Day for Kids 2008

Friday, September 28, 2007 – The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast today announced a partnership with Target in recognition of its efforts in serving the youth and families in Okaloosa and Walton Counties through their Day for Kids. The funds received will be used to support the Boys & Girls Club Day for Kids held on September 20, 2008. “After the phenomenal success of this year’s event, these funds will be put to use to expand the amount of activities and food provided at the event next year. We had record attendance of over 2100 people. Families participated in arts and crafts, learned about organizations and groups which serve our youth, played sports, ate lunch, and had an all around great time at no cost,” Michelle Wright, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast, Director of Operations.
This grant is part of ongoing efforts by Target to strengthen families and communities throughout the country. Since opening its doors, Target has given 5% of its income to organizations that support education, the arts, and safe families and communities. Today that translates to $3 million every week.
“At Target, we are making a real difference every day through our grant-making program,” said Laysha Ward, vice president, community relations. “We’re proud to partner with the local Boys & Girls Clubs as part of our ongoing commitment to give back to the communities where our guests and team members live and work.”

Day for Kids

The Boys & Girls Club Day for Kids held on September 15th at the Emerald Coast Conference Center from 10:30 – 1:30pm was a phenomenal success. We had 2117 people attending the event, including 1324 youth and 100 volunteers. We had 21 organizations, groups and businesses serving the youth of our community during the event. Click here to read more.

New Charity Number 27143

The Boys & Girls Club is one of the local charities for the United Way of Okaloosa and Walton Counties. If you are interested in designating your United Way funds to directly support the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast, please use our specific charity number of 27143. Thank you in advance for supporting our many programs in this additional way. Call us at 850.862.1616 for more information.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast
Implementing Homework Assistance Program
Power Hour / Project Learn

Thursday, September 13, 2007 –
The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast will implement its Power Hour/Project Learn program at all of its service sites in Okaloosa and Walton Counties – Fort Walton Beach Teen Center, Fort Walton Beach Denton Blvd./ Elementary School (temporarily held at Wright Baptist Church), Meigs Middle School SMART Center and the South Walton Elementary School.

This homework assistance program is based on the premise that youngsters need to view their homework as an opportunity to learn to work independently and successfully completing a project on time, which enables them to feel positive about their accomplishment.

The Clubs welcome any adults or older students who would be free to volunteer any time between 3 and 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Potential volunteers must fill out an application to begin the volunteer process. With more than 175 Club members participating in this program on any given day, the organization is in need of volunteers to offer young people the opportunity for more one-on-one help.

This is an interactive, after-school homework assistance program for children ages 6 to 18. Unlike assignments done in class, work is conducted in a fun after-school environment using “Homework Helpers” – adults or older students who supervise completion of the homework.

In addition, these Club staff and volunteers offer many activities to stimulate Club members’ interest in learning. One such program is the Smart Way Reading program we are running in the elementary school programs. This program is a comprehensive program for beginning and remedial readers that has a simple step by step procedure that is easy to use and apply. Volunteers and program staff work one-on-one or in small groups to focus the learning where the child’s specific needs lie. These programs offer tips for establishing essential communication with teachers and parents. The long-term goal is to instill in youth a lifelong love of learning.

To become a “Homework Helper,” call Rita Cummins at 850.862.1332 or visit our website at www.bgcec.com/volunteer.htm to complete a volunteer application. All volunteers must pass a criminal background check and take part in a mandatory orientation.

Boys & Girls Clubs Day for Kids

• Emerald Coast Conference Center on Okaloosa Island
• 10:30 am until 1:30 pm on Saturday, September 15, 2007
• Entire event is free for kids -- including lunch!

There’s a “day” for just about everyone; Mothers’, Fathers’, Grandparents’ and groundhogs, but there’s one important group that isn’t recognized: Our kids!

Boys & Girls Clubs around the country have created Boys & Girls Clubs Day for Kids, an annual event celebrating the value of meaningful time between parents and children. Millions of parents and kids will participate in some 2,000 events at Boys & Girls Clubs and other locations nationwide.

Our local event will be held at the Emerald Coast Conference Center on Okaloosa Island from 10:30 am until 1:30 pm on Saturday, September 15, 2007. The entire event is free of charge including lunch from several local restaurants such as Taco Bell, McDonalds, Buffalo’s Reef, Helenback Pizza and several others. Tentatively scheduled events include Home Depot’s kid’s project table, Nike Factory Store sports clinic, Indian Temple Mound Museum Hands on History table, Zakari the balloon artist, Imagine Faces face painting, many arts and crafts booths, carnival activities and games. The Boys & Girls Club Day for Kids local partners have provided all the food, drinks, snacks, projects and prizes. They include Wal-mart, Target, kinnection.com, Cox Communications, Cumulus Broadcasting, The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast, Eglin Youth Services and Hurlburt Youth Services.

Boys & Girls Club Day for Kids will provide an opportunity for adults to take a break, celebrate and renew their commitment to their children. In the end, it’s not so much what you do that matters, but that you simply spend some meaningful time with your kids, not just on one day, but throughout the year. Please feel free to contact us at (850) 862-1616 for more information about the local Boys & Girls Club Day for Kids event.

17th Annual NWF Daily News Junior Aces Tennis Classic benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast

The 17th Annual NWF Daily News Junior Aces Tennis Classic benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast was a wonderful success! We had athletes from all over the state competing in this USTA sanctioned event. 13 year old Lauren May claimed the girls singles title, while Charley Force claimed the boys title. Niceville High School claimed the High School title, trophy, and $500 for their tennis program, and Ruckel Middle School claimed the Middle School title, trophy, and $300 for their athletic program. Fun was had by all. We had great competitors, a great location at Bluewater Bay Tennis Center, and great volunteers.

This event, as well as all of our other events, could not have been possible without the assistance of the sponsors, players, and volunteers. We would like to send a BIG THANK YOU to all of them for their support. A special thank you goes to our volunteers, Chris Poate (AG Edwards), Gerry Chalker (Regions Bank), the staff at Bluewater Bay Tennis Center, and the administrative staff of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast. Way to go team! Please take a moment to review our partners and contributors. See you next year!

Thank You Sponsors and Contributors!

• NWF Daily News
• Dougherty & Chavez Architects
• Crye-Leike Coastal Realty
• Legendary, Inc.
• Poate/Bonjean Financial Group at A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.
• Quality Imports – BMW
• Target – Destin

Contributing Sponsors

• Porters BBQ
• Coca-Cola
• Bellsouth – The Real Yellow Pages
• Olive Garden-Destin
• Regions Bank

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast
Receive the Regal Free Family Film Festival Grant

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast was selected as one of 100 Boys & Girls Clubs to participate in the Regal Free Family Film Festival. This grant allowed 108 local Boys & Girls Club youth to be transported to the Sun Plaza Cinemas, attend a family film, plus have a “kids meal” combo pack.

“Regal Entertainment Group is committed to providing entertainment for the whole family, and the Free Family Film Festival is a terrific way to do so. This is a great activity for kids and parents to enjoy at no cost,” stated Dick Westerling, Regal Entertainment Group Senior Vice President of Marketing and Advertising. “We are also proud to partner with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, through the Regal Foundation. For BGCA we not only provide free movies, but also provide funding for transportation to come to the show.”

For additional information about any of the local Club programs or special events please visit our website www.bgcec.com or www.regalcinemas.com for more information about this grant or their other partnership opportunities.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast are running the Mississippi State University's Health Rocks! Curriculum free through November

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast is organizing a training program to help Okaloosa and Walton County youth prepare for making healthy choices. This training will teach skills such as critical thinking and communication as well as ways to avoid peer pressure.

Health Rocks! is a curriculum-base life skills development program for youth. Participants learn life skills such as decision-making, identifying risks and stress management. The program places a special emphasis on youth becoming responsible members of their community. It includes components that bring youth and adults together in developing community strategies that help 8 – 12 year olds make healthy choices.

Research indicates that youth who have positive social skills and competencies are more resilient to negative pressures. The program works to bring youth and adults as partners in developing strategies that prepare youth to make wise choices.

Adults and youth interested in attending the training may contact the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast for the closet participating site at 850-862-1616. For additional information about any of the Club programs or special events please contact Major Gifts Director, Jeff McDonald at 850.862.1616.

Boys & Girls Clubs Receive Build-A-Bear Workshop Bear Hugs Foundation Grant!

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast was recently selected to receive a grant to support two fantastic programs. These programs are used to address the needs of elementary school, at-risk readers and low-functioning math students at our after-school Club site. The grant will be used to pay an educational staff person for eight hours per week, to run these two fantastic programs. The reading program we will be using is called Smart Way Reading. It is a comprehensive program for beginning and remedial readers, which has a simple step by step procedure that is easy to use and apply. Contained within the lessons are books with letter and sound relationships, the basic and customary reading words, over 200 of the most common spelling patterns and systematic comprehension and reading fluency strategies. Additionally, there is a full battery of pre and post lesson assessments, so we know where each student begins as well as the level of mastery achieved. Each student receives their own Smart Way Reading workbook and the staff member will track each student in an individual reading file. The math program we are using is called Get Ahead Math. This program is done on the computer, with a staff member available for guided practice and positive reinforcement. This is designed to empower the youth to tackle new math challenges. This program sets challenging but attainable goals with on-screen rewards that make learning fun and fulfilling. Get Ahead Math has practice worksheets, quizzes and tests which are self grading. The results will be kept in the student’s individual file. These programs are much needed aspects of our daily educational program, and they have measurable goals and objectives. We have the full support of the parents of the students who will be participating. Thank you to the Build-A-Bear Workshop Bear Hugs Foundation and our local store in Destin for the support throughout the year.

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast
Receive Nike Grant!!

Nike factory Store is another fantastic partner of the Boys & Girls Clubs. Nike is very interested in helping kids get active and stay fit. We recently received a grant from Nike to support our Club Athletic programs. Not only has Nike helped us financially, but we always see their smiling faces at events like the “Day for Kids” in September. Nike is a wonderful supporter of the Club and a great influence on our kids. A BIG Boys & Girls Club THANK YOU goes out to the staff and management of the Nike factory Store in Silver Sand Factory Outlets. Thank you so much Nike for keeping our kids moving and active after school and during the summer.

Cox Communications makes three year commitment to scholarship kids to attend the Boys & Girls Clubs!!

Cox Communications has made an incredible commitment to the kids of our community. They have committed to scholarship two children, one boy and one girl, to attend the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast each year for 3 years. We are very grateful to have them in our family of loyal supporters. If you do not already know, all of our kids are scholar-shipped to some extent, and we depend exclusively on the community to operate. Not only do the kids have the support of our local Cox, but they are a national sponsor as well! Please join us in thanking Cox Communications for their commitment to the kids of our community!

17th Annual NWF Daily News Junior Aces Tennis Classic benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast

The 17th Annual NWF Daily News Junior Aces Tennis Classic benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast was a wonderful success! We had athletes from all over the state competing in this USTA sanctioned event. 13 year old Lauren May claimed the girls singles title, while Charley Force claimed the boys title. Niceville High School claimed the High School title, trophy, and $500 for their tennis program, and Ruckel Middle School claimed the Middle School title, trophy, and $300 for their athletic program. Fun was had by all. We had great competitors, a great location at Bluewater Bay Tennis Center, and great volunteers.

Click here for additional information.

2007 Spring|Summer Newsletter

BGCEC receives Health Rocks Grant, Club Kids name newsletter, Fort Walton Beach Mayor Mike Anderson signed a proclamation designating March 25-31, 2007 Boys & Girls Club week! The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast welcome back Bernard “Ice” Heyward to our organization, The Child Obesity Prevention Program is going great, The Teen Center was recently selected as the first Okaloosa and Walton County site for FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Vex Challenge Project, Go Girl Go is a unique education program that is designed to educate girls about being physically active and avoiding health-risk behaviors, Taco Bell Family of our area, Destin Commons, and Nike Factory Store were selected as our Positive Partners, Youth of the Month for May is Mr. Jasze Williams, our Volunteer of the Month is Miss Courtney Bennett, Staff Member of the Month is Ms. Rita Cummins, Board Member of the Month is Joy Todd with Destin-ation.com.
Read full Spring|Summer Newsletter... click here.

NWF Daily News 28th Annual Marvin DeBolt Junior Golf Classic, Presented by Peter Brown Construction,
Wednesday, July 11 and Thursday, July 12

Wednesday, May 23, 2007 – The Northwest Florida Daily News 28th Annual Marvin DeBolt Junior Golf Classic, presented by Peter Brown Construction, will be held Wednesday, July 11 and Thursday, July 12 at the Fort Walton Beach Golf Club. All proceeds from this Junior Golf Classic will benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast. This event will provide green fees, food, refreshments and trophies for the winners in all divisions. Cost is $80 for ages 12-18 and $60 for youth ages 8-11. Youth ages 12 and up will be playing 18 holes each day. The 8-11 division will be playing 9 holes each day.
Click here for details.

Destin to Hold Youth Football Conditioning Camp

Destin’s 2nd Annual Youth Conditioning Camp will be held on Friday, July 27, 2007 at Destin Elementary School. Over 900 young people will be participating in Fall Football leagues and we want to help them get ready. Our program is dedicated to providing our young participants an opportunity to learn the many values inherent in the sport of football, especially when conducted under desirable leadership in a wholesome environment. Our program offers the youth in our community the opportunity to have fun, learn the sport and the meaning of true sportsmanship. 
Click here for details.

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast Foundation
Gives out 5 College Scholarships

Tuesday, May 22, 2007 – The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast Foundation in partnership with Mr. Earl Hamilton, a past Club member, gave out 5 College Scholarships to Club Teens. On Tuesday May 8th, Bear Henley; President and CPO and Bernard Heyward; Teen Center Unit Director gave out scholarships to these Boys & Girls Club students: Josh Cragin, Courtney Dollson, Jerrell Grant, Jamal Harris and Courtney Jones. Each student is a graduating senior from Choctawhatchee High School and planning on attending a variety of schools in the southeast.

FIRST Vex Challenge Project

The Boys & Girls Club Teen Center was recently selected as the first Okaloosa and Walton Counties site for the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Vex Challenge Project. The Workforce Development Board of Okaloosa and Walton Counties selected us to participate with our teens between the ages of 12 – 14. This will create an opportunity for our teens to pursue high tech careers related to engineering and technology. Vex allows young people to create robots that can do incredible things while learning about science and technology. The Teen Center will begin their “Vex Robot” Team in the Fall with the support of local volunteers and under the guidance of Program Director Gilbert Glaster to teach the youth proper engineering techniques that will be used to create their robot.

Grant Received -- Health Rocks! program

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast was selected to be one of the demonstration sites for the Health Rocks! program through the Mississippi State university.  We received a $2,000 grant to run this fantastic program, which is a curriculum-based life skills development program for youth ages 8 to 12, sponsored by the national 4-H Council.  It helps youth learn skills such as decision-making, critical thinking, and stress management, but places a special emphasis on tobacco-use prevention.  The program also includes components that bring youth and adults together as partners in developing community strategies that prepare young people to make health lifestyle choices.

The $2,000 dollars will pay for the program staff to run these programs at our four participating sites.  The grant also includes the entire curriculum and materials to run the program with 200 youth.  Our team of Rita Cummins and 2 teen team members will be traveling to Little Rock, Arkansas in July to complete the 3-day training.  Upon their return, they will teach the sites to run the program over the summer and into the fall.  Their transportation and hotel will be paid by the Mississippi State University as part of the grant.

College Scholarships Awarded to Club Graduating Seniors

For almost a decade, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast have honored Club graduating seniors with college scholarships. Through a generous donation by former Club kid, Earl Hamilton; the BGCEC has been able to increase their scholarship program. The 2007 Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast Foundation College Scholarship winners are

• Josh Cragin (Club member for 8 years)
• Courtney Dollson (Club member for 7 years)
• Jerrell Grant (Club member for 7 years)
• Jamal Harris (Club member for 4 years)
• Courtney Jones (Club member for 4 years)

Many congratulations to these Choctawhatchee High School Seniors from the Boys & Girls Club Board Members and Staff!

Date Change for the Breakfast Club!

Mark your calendars to join us Thursday, August 9, 2007, at 7:30 am at the NEW Emerald Grande on Destin Harbor, for the 4th annual Breakfast Club for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast. Get to know your Boys & Girls Clubs at this high energy must see event!

Come early for a complimentary full breakfast buffet. Seating is limited. Please RSVP to Jeff McDonald at 850-862-1616

olunteer Workday at the Boys & Girls Club on Saturday, April 14th, 2007

Please help us fix up the Clubs for the kids! Please call Michelle Wright at 850. 862.1616 for more information about this event, to volunteer, or to make a donation.

Wednesday, April 4, 2007 – We need volunteers! The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast are having a volunteer workday at the two Boys & Girls Club Sites in Fort Walton Beach, on Saturday, April 14, 2007, from 8:30 am – 1:00 pm. Join us at 8:30 am at Wright Baptist Church at 795 Beal Parkway NW, for a fun day of supporting the youth of our community. Lunch will be provided for all volunteers. We will be painting, repairing walls, stripping floors, putting together playground equipment, planting flowers and moving mulch at both the Teen Center on Denton Boulevard, and our temporary facility at Wright Baptist Church. Ace Hardware on Racetrack Road, Dodge’s Chicken Store on Eglin Parkway and the management and employees of the Target Stores of Destin and Mary Esther have already stepped up to help out, but we still need volunteers and additional food and beverages.

Our local Taco Bell family made a wonderful donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast recently. Taco Bell has been a supporter of the Boys & Girls Clubs for many years. We are very grateful to have them in our family of loyal supporters. Not only do the kids have the support of our local Taco Bells, but Taco Bell Corporate is a national sponsor of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Please join us in thanking the Taco Bell family!

We’re Making History at The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast!

The groundbreaking for our new Boys & Girls Club on Denton Boulevard in Fort Walton Beach will be Thursday, April 12, 2007, at 3:00 pm!

Friday, March 30, 2007 – The Boys & Girls Clubs of The Emerald Coast will be having a very special groundbreaking on Thursday, April 12th at 3:00 pm, at 923 Denton Boulevard in Fort Walton Beach. We have torn down the 40 year old building that served the youth of Fort Walton Beach for over 40 years, and are replacing it with a state of the art 27,000 square foot, environmentally friendly Club. Please join our Board of Directors, Foundation Board, Staff and your local government on this history making day!

We make a difference in the lives of hundreds of kids. Come celebrate with us! PLEASE RSVP TO JEFF MCDONALD OR PATTY FISH, 850-862-1616.

Fort Walton Beach Mayor Proclaims March 25 – 31, 2007 Boys & Girls Clubs Week!!

Wednesday, March 28, 2007 – Last night at the Fort Walton Beach City Council meeting Fort Walton Beach Mayor Mike Anderson signed a proclamation designating March 25-31, 2007 Boys & Girls Club week! He commended our efforts and called on all citizens to join him in recognizing and commending the Boys & Girls Club organizations for providing comprehensive, effective services to the young people in our community. The City Council meeting will be televised tonight, March 28, 2007 at 7:00 pm on our local channel 6.

Summer Programs May 21 – August 17
Register now for Summer programs.
Click here for details.

• Sunrise Club Program, 6:30AM – 8:30AM
• Summer Club Program, 9:00AM – 6:00PM

Boys & Girls Clubs of Denton Blvd. has temporarily moved to Wright Baptist Church
January 2007

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Denton Blvd. in Fort Walton Beach has temporarily moved to Wright Baptist Church while the new Denton building is under construction.  The Boys & Girls Clubs elementary school program will be running it’s after school and summer program in the church’s classroom area, outside play area and auditorium. The program will not change its purpose or scheduled activities. The Club is putting in a new playground and soccer field at the Church and will be fencing off this new play area. Wright Baptist Church offered the Club the use of this undeveloped area of their property to help create a fun recreational space for the program youth. The Teen Center will still remain at its location on Denton Blvd. and will continue to serve the teens of Okaloosa County daily.

Wright Baptist Church
To contact Wright Baptist Church about their services or mission opportunities call 850.862.4123.
795 Beal Parkway NW, Fort Walton Beach
http://www.wrightbaptist.org

South Walton Update
January 2007

The Boys & Girls Clubs of South Walton re-opened its’ doors on November 15th with great excitement! The Club is located on its’ new property off Hwy. 331 right behind the library. For more information on our Club and what we offer in programs contact us at 622-0602. Plans for the new BGC of South Walton are in the works. With the change in location comes a change in plans. We are very happy with our new location! Keep your eye on us for big changes in the coming years.