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In the News
Carolina Correa, of the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket, is the
2009-2010 Boys & Girls Clubs of America National Youth of the Year!
A seven-year member of the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket, Carolina Correa is the first Hispanic female and Rhode Islander as well as the 63rd youth to receive the title of National Youth of the Year. She will serve a one-year term as the national teen spokesperson for the 4.5 million youth served annually by the more than 4,300 Boys & Girls Clubs. The BGCA competition and award began in 1947, supported by Reader’s Digest Foundation.
Carolina successfully advanced through Club, state, regional and national rounds of Youth of the Year competition during which she received several scholarships.
The Colombian-born, multilingual Latina came to the U.S. at 12, tackling her education and part-time jobs to help her family. Carolina has dedicated many hours to community service projects, including tutoring immigrants preparing to take the U.S. citizenship exam. Taking advanced placement courses at Shea, she graduated in the top three percent of her class. An aspiring child psychologist, she is now studying at Assumption College.
At the Pawtucket Club, Carolina learned English, met new friends and found her niche in the aquatics program. She was named most valuable swimmer three times and created a program to teach swimming basics to inner city youth. Also, she is a member of the Pawtucket Teen Hall of Fame and the National Honor Society of High School scholars.
All of us at the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket are proud of Carolina almost beyond words. She shines as a stellar example of the goals we work toward with every kid, every day.
Congratulations, Carolina. Your light will help lead others along the path to a successful life.
News Releases
Key Soldiers' Song Captures Club's Second National Honor
from the Boys & Girls Clubs of America in Past Year
The hits keep on coming for the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket. For the second time in the last year, youth from the Club have won national honors from the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Marlin DaCruz and the Key Soldiers, a seven-member hip-hop band with rhythm and blues influences, recently won the top national award for best Music Production during BGCA's 8th Annual Club Tech Digital Arts Festivals. The band, whose members all hail from Pawtucket and range in age from 13 to 15, wrote, arranged, performed, recorded and mixed all aspects of the original, winning tune, "Big Dreaming."
The national recognition for the Key Soldiers and the Pawtucket Boys & Girls Club comes when Carolina Correa, of Pawtucket, is still serving as the BGCA 2009-2010 National Youth of the Year. There are approximately 4,300 Clubs nationally with 4.5 million members.
For the 8th Annual Club Tech Digital Arts Festivals, Boys & Girls Club members across the country were encouraged to follow in the footsteps of notable Boys & Girls Club alumni such as Denzel Washington, Mario Lopez and Usher, and be creative in depicting the greatness within their Club. Members were encouraged to engage in unique forms of artistic expression to create a digital piece of art in one of four categories. The Key Soldiers' original hip-hop song was entered in the Music Production category. The musical teens creatively captured the BGCA theme, and "Big Dreaming" brought home the #1 national honor in their age group. Band member Marlin DaCruz and Club Music Director Ben Hughes traveled to Atlanta to accept the award as well as enjoy several days of educational and career exploration experiences.
BGCA's Digital Arts Festivals are a dynamic component of the national Club Tech program, a partnership between Boys & Girls Clubs of America, founding sponsor Microsoft and Comcast with the goal to provide youth with the skills needed to thrive in a technology-driven world.
In contests held locally, regionally and nationally, the Digital Arts Festivals celebrate the creativity and technical abilities of area Boys & Girls Club members. Members are encouraged to combine these elements to generate a digital masterpiece in one of four categories—photo illustration, music production, filmmaking and graphic design. Members created artwork that reflected this year's theme "Be Creative." From magazine ads and bumper stickers or billboards, to clay animations or public service announcements and digital music, the artwork was judged based on age, artistic merit and demonstrated technological skills of the members.
Club Tech was created by Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Microsoft in 2000 to technologically enable Clubs worldwide, transforming Clubs from "swim and gym" to "point and click." Partnering with long-time supporter Comcast and Microsoft, BGCA provides technology program access to youth served through Club membership and community outreach nationally. Kids of all ages and circumstances now have access to the same resources and skills to help them discover their world, expand creativity, perform better in school, and, later, take their technology know-how into the workplace.
Playing together for more than two years, the seven musicians that make up the Key Soldiers are: Marlin DaCruz, keyboard; Melvin DaCruz, bass; Ryan Gomes, guitar; Anthony "Cheeks" Silva, drums; Edmond "EJ" Juana, singer/vocalist; Eddie Lima, rapper/vocalist; Nathan Lopes, rapper/vocalist. The group once opened for Jeffery Osborne at Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet.
Club Music Director Ben Hughes, of Providence, mentors the young musicians and songwriters. He also teaches at the Jewish Community Day School in Providence. A graduate of Colby College, Hughes has played piano since age 5 and has traveled as far as India to share his musical talents.
Pawtucket Club CEO James Hoyt said, "We couldn't be more proud of these kids. People associated with the Club know the Key Soldiers from their exciting performances at Club events or simply from hearing the sounds of their practices and jam sessions drift out of the Music Room. This prestigious award shows that the Club encourages and nurtures our members' artistic talents as well as their educational and athletic skills. Nearly everybody associated with the Club already has 'Big Dreaming' on their iPods."
Regional Competition Will Be Held in New York City in July
Ruth Saah, who was selected this April as the Youth of the Year from the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket, last night won the statewide competition, officially becoming Rhode Island's 2010 Boys and Girls Clubs' Youth of the Year. The annual awards ceremony was held at the Radisson Airport Hotel in Warwick.
Saah's selection marks the fifth time in the past six years that a youth from the Pawtucket Club has won the statewide title.
Saah, 19, is a graduating senior at the Jacqueline M. Walsh School for the Performing and Visual Arts, who came to the United States 10 years ago. Having lost her parents at a young age during civil war in Liberia, Ruth and other family members, including her grandparents, fled the country. They made their way to the safety of a refugee camp in Ghana, and eventually Saah and her family came to the United States. She now lives in Pawtucket with her grandparents and has been a member of the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket for five years.
Her community volunteerism includes helping younger Club members with their musical pursuits. She also gives her time to the Children's Church program in Providence.
At the JMW School, Saah has thrived as a talented soloist. Her musical talents include voice, lyric writing and playing various instruments including the viola. She is a member of the National Honor Society and the Rhode Island Honor Society. She will attend URI and pursue a degree in political science.
"Ruth is certainly very deserving as our state's Youth of the Year. She has overcome some tremendous personal obstacles in her young life to be where she is today. She's a talented singer and musician, a good student and exhibits deep love and appreciation for her grandparents, who have done a wonderful job raising her," said Pawtucket Club CEO James Hoyt. "Furthermore, her devotion to helping others in the community speaks volumes about Ruth's values and sincerity."
Being named the state's Youth of the Year is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can receive in Rhode Island. The title recognizes outstanding contributions to a member's family, school, community and Club as well as overcoming personal challenges. Rhode Island has seven Boys & Girls Clubs, and each candidate vying for the award went before a panel of judges for interviews and informational sessions.
Since its inception in 1947, Boys & Girls Clubs of America's Youth of the Year program celebrates youth who have overcome enormous odds and demonstrated exceptional character and accomplishments. These deserving young people are recognized for service to their Club and community, academic performance and contributions to their family.
Beginning in the local Club and continuing through the state, regional and national levels, Boys & Girls Club youth are honored each year for their efforts in making their Clubs and communities more positive places for everyone. Each regional winner receives a total of $22,000 in college scholarships from founding sponsor Reader's Digest Foundation and Tupperware Brands, Corp. The national winner receives an additional $15,000 scholarship from Reader's Digest Foundation and up to $50,000 from The Rick and Susan Goings Foundation. He or she also is installed by the President of the United States during an Oval Office ceremony.
The Pawtucket Club's 2009 Youth of the Year, Carolina Correa, achieved unprecedented success as the first Rhode Island Youth of the Year to win the regional competition. More remarkably, she went on to become the first Latina to win the Boys & Girls Clubs' of America's National Youth of the Year among some 4.5 million youth from more than 4,300 Clubs.
As representative and spokesperson for BGCA, Correa and former winners of the National Youth of the Year serve a one-year term traveling across the country to address various groups on important youth issues and the role Boys & Girls Clubs play in changing young lives.
The Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket has been serving the community through recreational and educational programs since 1900. Today, the Club has more than 4,000 members.
The Times and PawSox Lending Support Again in 2010
A local rite of spring is area businesses and individual donors teaming together in support of the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket during the annual Homers for Kids campaign. The summer-long corporate fundraising campaign begins April 29.
Homers for Kids is a corporate solicitation effort that has remained essential to the Club's annual fundraising over the last 16 years. The funds raised through Homers benefit Pawtucket's children and teens by assisting the Club's educational and recreational programs.
The Pawtucket Red Sox and The Times are, once again, supporting partners of Homers for Kids. The Times publishes periodic advertisements, recognizing contributors and highlighting the progress of the campaign during the summer. The PawSox supply event support at McCoy Stadium as well as offering related promotions.
Co-chairing the 2010 Homers for Kids campaign committee is Donald Baker, vice president and branch manager at Sovereign Bank, and M. Gidget Grivers, assistant vice president and branch manager at Navigant Credit Union. The committee is comprised of sponsors, local business people and Club leaders. This year's campaign goal is $80,000.
According to Baker and Grivers, the Club depends on the Homers campaign funds every year. The support serves as a foundation for providing high-quality, youth-development programs for all Club members. The committee members and Club leaders deeply appreciate that the PawSox and The Times are continuing their long-time involvement, which helps deserving kids.
A kick-off ceremony for Homers for Kids will be held at McCoy Stadium before the game on Thursday, April 29, when the PawSox host the Indianapolis Indians.
Since 1900, the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket has been serving the community through recreational and educational programs. Today, the Club has 4,000 members. Charitable donations through Homers for Kids are welcome to further the Club's mission of enhancing the lives of local youths and families and providing hope for the future.
Children, 6-12, Will Enjoy Healthy Activities, Daily Meals
During the upcoming school vacation, April 19-23, the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket is offering "Exploration Vacation" for families looking for top-notch recreational and educational programs for their children. The five days of fun and interesting activities at the Elson Clubhouse are designed for ages 6-12. Registration is now open.
The week's events will include: a tour of Newport and some of the grand mansions along famous Bellevue Avenue; a visit to the Roger Williams Park Zoo to meet strange and fascinating creatures from around the world; a nature scavenger hunt at the Club that will be full of discoveries; and a nature walk at Slater Park to learn more about the local environment and its flora and fauna. A picnic lunch will be supplied during the Slater Park visit.
Additionally during the vacation, the Club will give kids the opportunity to participate in a dance contest and compete in numerous tournaments in the games room.
From Monday–Friday, April 19-23, drop off at the Club, One Moeller Place, is 7 a.m. and pick up is 6 p.m. It is required that children be picked up on time and signed out at the Club's front desk. A $10 fee per half hour is charged for children dropped off early or picked up late.
The Club provides children with two meals – lunch and dinner. The fee for the week's activities and events is $125 per child. Kids Konnection members will be billed at the regular weekly rate. Department of Human Services assistance is accepted.
All registered children must be, or become, Club members. The annual fee is only $30 and offers a wide selection of programs, events and activities throughout the year.
Each day, children should bring gym clothes - shorts, sweatpants, t-shirts, sneakers – as well as swimming clothes – a bathing suit and towel. The child's name should be placed on all items that are brought to the Club. Toys, CD players, MP3 players, jewelry, cell phones, handheld games or other valuables should not be brought to the Club. The Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
Reasonable Cost for Accredited Camps; Scholarships Available Also
The Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket is offering three entertaining, interactive summer camps for children and teens, ages 6-18. The Club is now accepting registrations for each day camp, which provides an affordable and rewarding summertime experience for local youth.
Camp Sun 'n' Fun operates from the Alfred Elson Jr. Clubhouse, One Moeller Place, Pawtucket, from June 28 through August 20 for children 6-12. The camp offers four, two-week sessions and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Children enjoy arts and crafts, field games, swimming, soccer, skateboarding, music, nature trail, photography, rock-climbing wall, outdoor basketball, kayaking and more. The fee per two-week session is $170 per child with discounts for siblings. Extended care is offered, 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., at $80 per child, per session. Sibling discounts do not apply for extended care.
Camp Ramsbottom, off Route 44 in Rehoboth, Massachusetts, is for boys and girls, 6-13, and also runs from June 28 through August 20 in two-week sessions. The camp experience provides each child with fun, adventure and learning in an ideal, New England country setting. A diverse gathering of children interacts in a spirit of fellowship and sportsmanship, developing self-esteem and positive character traits.
Activities include archery, art, basketball, crafts, drama, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, petting zoo, soccer, swimming, tennis and more. Bus service to Camp Ramsbottom is provided from convenient locations in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, with camper drop off between 8 and 8:45 a.m. and pick up between 4:10 and 4:45 p.m. daily. New bus routes in Attleboro and Norton have been added. Extended care is available from 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. at an additional cost of $80 per child, per session.
The fee for a two-week, day camp session is $260. An open house will be held at Camp Ramsbottom on Sunday, June 27, from noon until 4 p.m. The camp is also hosting "Sneak Peek Saturdays" from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in May and June. In addition to registering at Camp Ramsbottom and the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket, families wishing to enroll their children may do so by visiting www.bgcpawt.org.
For teenagers, 13-18, the Pawtucket Club offers Teen Explorers, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Six one-week sessions will run between July 6 and August 13. Headquartered at the Elson Clubhouse, Teen Explorers exposes participants to athletics, art, computer skills, music, swimming, fitness, boating, games, as well as field trips. Teens will travel to the Basketball Hall of Fame, Colt State Park, Laser Gate, state beaches, miniature golf, the movies and more. Many of the field trips are free and included in the summer session fee of $85 per week.
All three camps have earned accreditation from the American Camp Association, which for more than a century, has been a leading authority in child development, working nationally to preserve, promote, and improve the camp experience.
Camp Sun 'n' Fun, Camp Ramsbottom and Teen Explorers attendees must be members of the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket. An annual membership fee is only $30 per child and provides an array of year-round benefits and programs. Some scholarship funds are also available for the summer day camps. Contact the Club for more details regarding scholarships.
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF PAWTCUKET
TO HOST HOLIDAY PARTY FOR KIDS
200 Club Youths Plus Family Members to Attend
WHAT: The Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket will host the annual Holiday Party for its members.
WHO: Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket's youths, their families, and staff.
WHEN: Monday, December 22, 2008
Approximately 5:00 p.m. is when Santa Claus will arrive.
WHERE: Elson Clubhouse
One Moeller Place
NOTES: All in attendance will be treated to holiday dinner, and every member will receive a present.
Contributing supporters include Toys for Tots and Tee Off for Toys.
The mission of the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket is to inspire and enable young people, especially those most in need, to realize their full potential as healthy, productive, responsible and caring citizens.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PAWTUCKET TO HONOR VETERANS
AT PLAQUE RE-DEDICATION CEREMONY
WHAT: A ceremony to rededicate a bronze plaque, honoring World War II veterans that were members of the then Pawtucket Boys Club and made the ultimate sacrifice. The plaque was originally on the Club's former downtown headquarters and was recently installed on the Elson Clubhouse.
WHEN: Sunday, November 9, 2008, noon
WHERE: The Club's Elson Branch at One Moeller Place, Pawtucket.
WHO: Members of the Pawtucket Veterans Council, including Council President Captain James F. Hollis, retired U.S. Marine Corps, and keynote speaker George T. Panichas, a WWII combat veteran, who was a Boys Club member at the age of 12.
MORE: The ceremony also will include brief remarks by Club CEO James R. Hoyt, the Pledge of Allegiance led by Club youth members, a dedication prayer, and the unveiling of the plaque at its new location.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PAWTUCKET CELEBRATES ACCOMPLISHMENTS AT 108TH ANNUAL MEETING
Stop & Shop Foundation Donates $50,000 Gift
PAWTUCKET, RI, NOVEMBER 20, 2008 - Supporters and friends of the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket attended its annual meeting today, marking the organization's 108th year of service in the city. The breakfast meeting was held at Pawtucket Country Club.
In his remarks, Club CEO James R. Hoyt, Jr., related the principles that guide the Club's programs and mission. Hoyt praised the efforts of staff, directors, trustees and community supporters who, together, provide hope and opportunity to Pawtucket's youth with the most need. He elaborated on the Club's service to pre-teens and teens through guidance, mentoring, and a youth development strategy that includes diversified and interesting experiences for members year-round. According to Hoyt, the end result of the Club's commitment to building character in Club members is caring, responsible adults with a sense of community involvement.
"I wouldn't be able to stand before you and tell you the positive influence we have on our kids without the dedicated assistance of our capable Club staff, nor would we be able to do what we do as a team every day without the support of everyone here today," Hoyt added.
Faith Weiner, Stop & Shop Director of Public Affairs, drew applause when she announced that the Stop & Shop Foundation was awarding $50,000 to the Club for pre-teen health initiatives and after-school programming.
Mayor James E. Doyle extended greetings from the City of Pawtucket and noted the Club's traditional role in assisting local youth through its array of recreational and educational programming.
Also at the meeting, the following officers of the board of directors were appointed: William A. Catelli, Jr., President; Raymond E. Wynne, Jr., 1st vice president; Kristin E. Lyons, 2nd vice president; Thomas J. Westgate, CPA, CVA, treasurer; and Brian E. Rawnsley, secretary. Catelli succeeds Augusto Rojas, Jr., who served as board president for the past three years.
Elected as a new member of the Board of Directors was Mark Melikian, alum and trustee. He has served as a member of the Governance Committee, providing stewardship to the Club. Melikian is a sales representative at Leviton Manufacturing in Warwick and graduated from the University of Rhode Island.
A number of Ramsbottom Society members, directors, trustees and staff received the Club's Service to Youth awards for their longevity of service and commitment. They are: Philip A. Ayoub and Raymond Scully, 40 years; Mike Pappas, 25 years; Allen H. Chatterton III and Frank A. DiPiro, 20 years; Raymond F. Gorman, Jr., Michael E. Hogan, Peter J. Kanelakos, and Susan L. Reed, 15 years; James J. Belliveau, James E. Doyle and Arthur J. Kaufman, 10 years; William A Catelli, Jr., Elizabeth M. Dennigan, John T. Hofmann, Dennis P. Mello, Kevin W. Nelson, and Arthur D. Warner, 5 years.
The Pawtucket Club recognized its 2008 Youth of the Year, Yasmine Lima, who also won honors as the state's Youth of the Year and now attends the University of Rhode Island in pursuit of a career in veterinary medicine.
The Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket has been serving the community through recreational and educational programs since 1900. Today, the Club has more than 4,000 members. Charitable donations further the Club's mission of enhancing the lives of local youth and families and providing hope for the future.
STOP & SHOP AND THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF RHODE ISLAND PARTNER TO FIGHT HUNGER AT THANKSGIVING
Joint effort will deliver 1,200 turkeys with fixings to families in need statewide
WHO: The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company and Rhode Island's Boys & Girls Clubs
WHEN: Saturday, November 22, 2008
1:00 p.m. until approximately 2:00 p.m.
WHERE: Super Stop & Shop
368-398 Cottage St.
Pawtucket, RI 02861
WHAT: Stop & Shop will donate 1,200 turkeys with fixings for distribution to Rhode Island families in need this holiday season. On hand to receive the turkeys will be staff and volunteers from Boys and Girls Clubs in Cumberland, Lincoln, Providence, Newport, Pawtucket, Warwick, East Providence and Woonsocket. Teens from the Keystone Club will be on hand to volunteer. Keystone youths learn leadership development and are involved in various community service projects in Rhode Island.
Each year, Stop & Shop partners with community groups to support those who need help during the holidays.
The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs is to inspire and enable the young people, especially those most in need, to realize their full potential as healthy, productive, responsible and caring citizens.
AT BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PAWTUCKET,
OCTOBER IS MEMBERSHIP MONTH
Open House Will Be Held October 22
PAWTUCKET, RI, OCTOBER 20, 2008 - An open house on Wednesday, October 22, 3-6 p.m., will highlight membership month at the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket. During October, memberships for children, 6-12, and teen memberships, 13-18, are being offered at a $10 discount off the Club's usual annual membership of $30.
All the October events are organized to introduce and familiarize prospective members with the Club's year-round recreational and educational programs. The Club serves approximately 4,000 local youth.
The open house will be held at the Elson Clubhouse, One Moeller Place, off School Street. Current members are encouraged to bring a friend for free. There will be tours of the clubhouse, the opportunity to learn about Club programs, and meet staff members. Local parents and kids' families are invited to attend too. Refreshments and recorded music, written by Club musicians, will add to the festivities. A Club raffle will give away bicycles and other fun prizes.
Staff from the Kids Konnection, the Club's childcare program, will be available to answer questions. All childcare initiatives promote a child's sense of belonging and provide nutritious daily meals, homework assistance, fun activities and supportive staff interaction. The Boys and Girls Club of Pawtucket accepts Department of Human Resource payments for families that qualify.
Further, the Club will host a pool party for kids, 6-12, on Saturday, October 25, at 11 a.m. On Wednesday, October 29, the Haunted Halloween event will include a scary, creative costume contest along with refreshments. The event runs from 4-6:30 p.m. Registration for discounted memberships will be available at all October events.
For more information on discounted annual memberships, the open house and other upcoming events, please contact the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket at 722-8840.
The Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket has been serving the community through recreational and educational programs since 1900, enhancing the lives of local youths and families and providing hope for the future.
"DAY FOR KIDS" AND BATTLE OF THE BANDS
TO BE HELD AT BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PAWTUCKET
September 13 Events - Free and Open to Kids and Adults -
Highlight Pawtucket Arts Festival Activities
PAWTUCKET, RI, SEPTEMBER 9, 2008 - On Saturday, September 13, as the premier family event of the 2008 Pawtucket Arts Festival, the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket will host daylong activities from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., commemorating the Boys & Girls Clubs of America's national Day for Kids. Also, the second annual Battle of the Bands will spotlight the area's best, aspiring musicians.
Club and Festival organizers welcome everyone to come and enjoy the fun activities for adults and kids, many of which will be held on the fields overlooking the Blackstone River at the Elson Clubhouse. The Clubhouse is located at One Moeller Place, off School Street.
Day for Kids will provide entertainment for the whole family. The schedule includes field games, arts and crafts, talent show, face painting, raffles, family swim and refreshments. Pawtucket Police officers will present a bike safety program. Greg Cooney, a children's musician sponsored by the Friends of the Pawtucket Library, will perform. Lynn's Dance Troupe also will be featured. The YMCA's rock wall will challenge adventurous climbers. Families can explore nature along the eight-station Dolores and Frederick Goff Nature Trail.
Also on the Club's campus that afternoon, there will be the Battle of the Bands competition that originated during last year's Pawtucket Arts Festival. Bands will be on stage from 1-4 p.m., featuring local student and youth musicians in two age groups - middle/junior high school students, 12-14, and high school students, 15-18.
Judging will be held in three inclusive categories: Rock and Blues; Rap, Hip-Hop and Rhythm & Blues; and, lastly, Latino and World Beat. Each band will be given about 15 minutes on stage.
Winners in each category will receive cash prizes. There will also be musical instruments donated as prizes by local merchants. All participants will be eligible also for raffle prizes. Every band will receive a Certificate of Participation. Winners will be announced on site and photographs will appear in The TIMES.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of America encourage the national Day for Kids celebration as a symbolic, one-day event to increase adult and child interaction on a regular basis through planned family time.
Therefore, in addition to attending the event, the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket asks adults to pledge a meaningful amount of time to spend every week with a child. Parents, grandparents, foster parents, caregivers, relatives, neighbors, and friends are welcome to bring children to the Day for Kids event and join in the fun.
The event's major sponsor is the 99 Restaurant, including locations in North Attleboro and Foxboro. In addition to financial support, restaurant employees will donate their time preparing and cooking food.
Additional sponsors include: The TIMES, the Pawtucket Arts Festival, Doug's Music World, and the Guitar Center in North Attleboro.
Admission is free for all the Club's Day for Kids events. For more information please call the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket, 722-8840.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PAWTUCKET TO HOST
ANNUAL RAMSBOTTOM-BARLOW GOLF TOURNAMENT
PAWTUCKET, RI, JUNE 6, 2008 - With the arrival of warm, spring weather, it's time again for local golfers to play a round and win prizes while supporting a worthy Pawtucket organization. The Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket will host its 27th Annual Ramsbottom-Barlow Golf Tournament on Monday, June 16, at Pawtucket Country Club. Shotgun starts will be at 8:00 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. The entry fee is $175 per player.
The one-day tournament will host dozens of foursomes during the morning and afternoon and starts. All tournament proceeds support the programs of the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket, a non-profit organization which serves 4,000 youth from Pawtucket and surrounding communities through educational and recreational initiatives year-round. The Club's mission is to help children and teens succeed in life by building skills that will help them become healthy, productive, responsible and caring citizens.
Once again, the tournament also will include an auction for a trip to California that includes travel and accommodations for two. The winning bidder will play golf in December at several of the West Coast's finest courses. Inskip Lexus and the Lexus Champions for Charity are sponsoring the auction. Through this Lexus initiative since 1989, amateur golfers have competed in about 200 charity tournaments held at the finest golf and country clubs throughout the United States.
Ramsbottom-Barlow Golf Tournament sponsorship opportunities are available to businesses statewide with donations ranging from $125 to $10,000 to reserve logo placements, tee-signs, banners, and inclusion in tournament print materials. All donations go directly for kids' programs and initiatives at the Club.
A new 2008 Lexus, provided by Lexus/Inskip of Warwick, will tempt players who will shoot to win the car with a hole-in-one on the 165-yard 7th hole.
Major tournament sponsors include Crown Collision Centers, Almighty Cleaning, Inc., Navigant Credit Union, Twin River, Butler & Messier Insurance, and Lexus/Inskip. More than 100 companies will be sponsoring tee signs. Last year's tournament netted more than $50,000 to assist the Club and further its programs.
J. David Francis chairs the event committee, comprised of area business and civic leaders. Francis is vice president of Shove Insurance as well as a Club alumnus and member of the Board of Directors.
The tournament's title honors Ned Barlow, Club trustee and longtime booster, as well as the late George R. Ramsbottom whose support established the Club's Camp Ramsbottom in Rehoboth, Massachusetts.
For more information on the Ramsbottom-Barlow Golf Tournament and sponsorship opportunities, please call Amy Gravell at the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket at (401) 722-8840.
YASMINE LIMA OF PAWTUCKET CLUB CHOSEN RHODE ISLAND
YOUTH OF THE YEAR BY BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA
PAWTUCKET, RI, MAY 23, 2008 - Yasmine Lima, a senior at Tolman High School and winner of the Youth of the Year award at the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket in April, won the statewide competition on May 21, becoming the Boys & Girls Club of Rhode Island's 2008 Youth of the Year as selected by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA). Lima was chosen from among fellow Youths of the Year, representing the other Rhode Island Clubs.
The day-long event, attended by the candidates and their Club mentors, featured a presentation by 2007 Miss America Lauren Nelson on Internet safety, courtesy of Cox Communications, followed by a luncheon with members of the Rhode Island General Assembly at the State House, and culminated with the final awards ceremony and dinner at the Radisson Hotel in Warwick.
In addition to winning this prestigious title, Lima will receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Reader's Digest Foundation. She is among hundreds of Youth of the Year winners across the country recognized by Boys & Girls Clubs of America for her sound character, leadership skills and willingness to give back to the community.
Being named Youth of the Year is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can receive. The title recognizes outstanding contributions to a member's family, school, community and the Boys & Girls Club, as well as overcoming personal challenges and obstacles. The program was founded over 60 years ago through the generosity of the Reader's Digest Foundation.
"The Reader's Digest Foundation has been the proud sponsor of the Youth of the Year program since 1947," said Susan Fraysse Russ, executive director, Reader's Digest Foundation. "For over 60 years, we have had the great honor of saluting amazing teens, like Yasmine Lima, for their dedication to their families, Club, community, and their academic and career goals."
Lima, a Pawtucket Club member for five years, will attend URI in the fall to pursue studies in veterinary medicine. She is a member of Tolman's student council and has been an honor roll student. An accomplished athlete, Lima is on the outdoor and indoor track teams and the school's volleyball team. She served as track team captain as a junior. Also, she has been actively involved in community service projects with the Club and other Pawtucket organizations. Her talents extend to art and singing. She sculpts as well as lends her voice to Tolman's show choir.
"We are very proud of Yasmine for all her accomplishments, which have led her to this statewide honor. Academically, athletically, artistically, and through her community involvement, Yasmine exhibits the skills and traits every day that shape her standing as Youth of the Year. We'll continue to give her our support and to root hard for her," said Club CEO James Hoyt.
On May 14, the Pawtucket Club organized and hosted a full day of teambuilding and Youth of the Year competition preparation for all the Rhode Island club's winners as well as those hopeful candidates for the 2009 Youth of the Year awards.
In July, Lima will travel to New York City where she will vie with other youth from states located in BGCA's Northeast Region. If named regional winner, she will be awarded a $10,000 college scholarship and advance to the national competition in Washington D.C. The National Youth of the Year receives an additional $15,000 college scholarship and will be installed by President George W. Bush during a ceremony in the Oval Office.
"Yasmine and all Youth of the Year nominees are living proof that Boys & Girls Clubs across the country are fulfilling their mission of inspiring and enabling young people," said Roxanne Spillett, president, BGCA. "We are most appreciative to the Reader's Digest Foundation for their long-time support of our Youth of the Year program and for helping Club members attain their goals."
As the founding sponsor of the Youth of the Year program, the Reader's Digest Foundation has given nearly $8 million towards BGCA, and 61 teens have been selected as the National Youth of the Year. For more information about the Youth of the Year program, visit www.bgca.org/yoy.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America (www.bgca.org) comprises a national network of more than 4,000 neighborhood-based facilities annually serving some 4.8 million young people through Club membership and community outreach, in all 50 states and on U.S. military bases worldwide. Known as "The Positive Place for Kids," the Clubs provide guidance-oriented character development programs on a daily basis for children 6-18 years old, conducted by a full-time professional staff. Key Boys & Girls Club programs emphasize leadership development, education and career exploration, financial literacy, health and life skills, the arts, sports, fitness and recreation, and family outreach. National headquarters are located in Atlanta.
EDITOR'S NOTE: To interview Yasmine Lima or arrange a photo please contact Amy Gravell or Mike Coelho at the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket, 722-8840. Either staff member will be glad to facilitate contacting Yasmine.
REGISTRATION OPEN FOR CAMP RAMSBOTTOM AND CAMP SUN ‘N' FUN
AT BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PAWTUCKET
PAWTUCKET, R.I., APRIL 15, 2008 - Camp Ramsbottom and Camp Sun ‘n' Fun are offered by the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket for local kids. Registrations are now being accepted for both accredited, summer camps.
Camp Ramsbottom, off Route 44 in Rehoboth, Massachusetts, is for boys and girls, 6-13, and runs daily, 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., from June 23 through August 15 in two-week sessions. The camp provides each child with fun, adventure and learning in an ideal, New England country setting. Children interact in a spirit of fellowship and sportsmanship, developing self-esteem and positive character traits.
At Camp Ramsbottom, activities include archery, art, basketball, crafts, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, soccer, swimming, tennis and more. Convenient transportation to Camp Ramsbottom is provided by the Club from numerous locations in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Camper drop off is between 8:00 - 8:30 a.m., and pick up is between 4:10 and 4:30 p.m. daily. Extended care is available from 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. at an additional cost of $80 per child, per session.
The Camp Ramsbottom fee for a two-week, day camp session is $240. An open house is scheduled at Camp Ramsbottom in Rehoboth, on Sunday, June 22, from noon until 4:00 p.m. In addition to registering at the open house and the Pawtucket Club, families wishing to enroll children for Camp Ramsbottom may do so by visiting the Rehoboth camp on Saturdays during May and June from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Camp Sun ‘n' Fun operates from the Club's Elson Clubhouse, One Moeller Place, Pawtucket, from June 23 through August 15 for children 6-12. The camp offers two-week sessions and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.
At Camp Sun ‘n' Fun, kids enjoy arts and crafts, field games, swimming, soccer, music, photography, rock-climbing wall, outdoor basketball, kayaking and more. The fee per session is $170 per child with discounts for siblings. Extended care is also offered, 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., at $80 per child, per session. No sibling discounts apply for extended care.
Camp Sun ‘n' Fun and Camp Ramsbottom campers must be Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket members. The annual membership fee is only $30 per child and provides year-round benefits and programs. Each camp is accredited by the American Camp Association.
Some scholarship funds are available for both day camps.
For more information or to register for Camp Sun ‘n' Fun or Camp Ramsbottom, please call the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket at (401) 722-8840.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PAWTUCKET CELEBRATES ACCOMPLISHMENTS AT 107TH ANNUAL MEETING
PAWTUCKET, RI, NOVEMBER 16, 2007 - Supporters and friends of the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket attended its annual meeting November 15, marking the organization's 107th year of service in the city. The meeting was held at the Club's Alfred Elson, Jr. Branch at One Moeller Place.
Club CEO James R. Hoyt, Jr., addressed the audience, relating the guiding principles that steer the Club's programs and mission. Hoyt detailed the Club's efforts to provide hope and opportunity to Pawtucket's youth who need the most support. He elaborated on the Club's service to local youths through guidance, mentoring, and a proven youth development strategy that includes diversified and interesting experiences for members year-round. The end result of the Club's commitment to building character is caring, responsible adults with a sense of community involvement.
Hoyt also spoke about the Club's reliance on partnerships that help the organization remain successful.
"Strategic partnerships within the city, and beyond, surround our kids with a web of support. The Pawtucket Police, through the Gang Resistance Education And Training program, form immensely beneficial relationships with our members. The Parks and Recreation Department - with the encouragement of the mayor's office - supports athletic leagues. Meanwhile, the PawSox, the Yawkey Foundation and Major League Baseball partner with us for Junior RBI and R.B.I. Baseball. We greatly appreciate every helping hand we receive," stated Hoyt.
Hoyt stressed that these relationships and dozens more are integral to the Club's ability to offer the array of recreational and educational programming to the city's youth.
Also at the meeting, the following officers of the board of directors were named for continued service: Augusto Rojas, Jr., President; William A. Catelli, Jr., 1st Vice President; Raymond E. Wynne, Jr., 2nd Vice President, Thomas J. Westgate, Treasurer; and Brian E. Rawnsley, Secretary.
Kristin E. Lyons, Associate Director of the Women's Center of Rhode Island and a former Club trustee and Pawtucket Club alum, was elected to the board of directors. She is a resident of Seekonk, Mass.
Three new trustees were nominated and elected. George P. Hovarth Esq., of Pawtucket, is a partner in the law firm, Hovarth & Hovarth and serves on the board of the Rotary Club of Pawtucket. Lansing "Lanny" Lewis resides in Pawtucket and is a divisional merchandising manager at CVS Caremark in Woonsocket. Charles Ransom, of Seekonk, is a Vice President at Compton Capital Management and serves as the board treasurer of the Rhode Island SPCA.
A number of Ramsbottom Society members, directors, trustees and staff received the Club's Service to Youth awards for their longevity of service and commitment. They are: Robert C. Moeller, Jr., 55 years; William R. Whiteley, 35 years; Gary E. Furtado, 20 years; Paul K. Keating, 20 years; Francis A. Doheny, III, 15 years; Brian E. Rawnsley, 15 years; Raymond E. Wynne, Jr., 15 years; Joanne Keough, 10 years; Joseph A. Kumiega, 10 years; James J. Sequeira, 10 years; Keri Kozlowski, 5 years; Mark R. Melikian, 5 years; and Herbert P. Weiss, 5 years.
The Club recognized 2007 Youth of the Year, Danielle Patti, a Rhode Island College student and graduate of St. Raphael's Academy, who has been a Club member for five years. She won honors as the R.I. Youth of the Year and competed in the Northeast regional competition last summer in New York City.
The Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket has been serving the community through recreational and educational programs since 1900. Today, the Club has 4,000 members. Charitable donations further the Club's mission of enhancing the lives of local youth and families and providing hope for the future.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PAWTUCKET HONORS THE TIMES
AND ATTORNEY DANIEL MCKINNON
PAWTUCKET, RI, NOVEMBER 20, 2007 - The Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket acknowledged the generous contributions of The Times and Daniel V. McKinnon, Esq. at a luncheon hosted today by the Rhode Island Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP-RI). The fundraising organization annually celebrates National Philanthropy Day through the event, which was attended by community leaders from across Rhode Island.
National Philanthropy Day acknowledges the full spectrum of services provided by the nonprofit community and recognizes the impact that philanthropy has on society. Each year AFP-RI honors individuals, businesses and groups who, through their hard work and dedication, have enhanced philanthropy, their communities and the world.
AFP-RI considers nominations from local organizations in categories including philanthropic citizen, service organization, business, and corporation. More than 100 partners in philanthropy receive recognition.
Nominated by the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket, in recognition of their ongoing charitable support to the Club, and listed among the 2007 partners in philanthropy, are the leadership group of The Times for continued commitment to the Club's youth. From significant in-kind, advertising contributions for the Club's Homers for Kids Corporate Campaign, to consistent coverage of activities, programs and events, the newspaper's dedication to the Club and community makes a significant impact on the organization's mission of helping local kids.
Additionally, the Club honored and thanked Dan McKinnon, a partner in the Pawtucket law firm of McKinnon & Harwood, for his investment in the lives of the Club's youth members. A trustee and alumnus of the Club, McKinnon consistently provides countless volunteer hours whenever his expertise is needed. His efforts and contributions on behalf of the Club are significant.
The Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket has been serving the community through recreational and educational programs since 1900, and today enhances the lives of more than 4,000 local youth and their families while providing hope for the future.
REGISTRATION OPENS FOR 10th ANNUAL
COCA-COLA YOUTH TIPOFF BASKETBALL TOURNEY
Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket Will Serve Again as Host
OCTOBER 4, 2007, PAWTUCKET, R.I. -- The Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket will host the 10th Annual Coca-Cola Youth Tip-Off Basketball Tournament beginning Thursday, November 9, and continuing through Sunday, November 12. Registration is now open. Early registration is recommended for scheduling preferences. The deadline is Friday, November 3.
There will be eight divisions of play. For boys, there will be four divisions at different age levels: 10 and under, 12 and under, 14 and under, and 16 and under. For girls, there will be three divisions: 12 and under, 14 and under, and 16 and under.
Teams will be selected at random. The tournament format is single-elimination. All games will be played at the Alfred Elson, Jr. Branch gym, One Moeller Place, Pawtucket, R.I.
Each year the tournament draws crowds and sparks solid competition. The championship teams will receive team and individual trophies or medals. The runners-up in each division will receive team trophies. An MVP trophy will be awarded to each division's top player. There will be an All-Tournament Team in each division, which will be honored on the tourney's final day.
The entry fee is $90.00 per team or $75.00 per team for two or more teams entered. Fees are payable to the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket. Admission to games at the door is $3.00 for adults. Children, 12 and under, are admitted free. There will be a convenient concession stand, serving light snacks, beverages and some hot dishes.
For more details or information, contact Luke McLaughlin, Director of Athletics at (401) 722-8840 or lmclaughlin@bgcpawt.org.
FOLLOW THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD TO THE
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PAWTUCKET
Club's Alum Reunion Features Wizard of Oz Theme
PAWTUCKET, RI, OCTOBER 9, 2007 - Lions and Tin Men and Scarecrows. Oh, my. Tigers and bears aside, many costumed characters from the Wizard of Oz will be roaming the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket when the organization hosts an Oz theme party for alums, friends and supporters, on Saturday, October 20, 7 p.m.
For the Come on Home celebration, the Club, One Moeller Place, will be decorated like Oz by the organizing committee, chaired by Jack and Sharon Lund of Seekonk. The yellow brick road will meander from space to space at the Elson Branch, leading visitors on Oz-like tours of the facilities that reflect a member's typical day at the Club. The brief tours also provide a chance to meet some of the Club's young members. Guests can learn about the Club's mission and see first-hand how, literally and figuratively, the Club and its programs help Pawtucket's kids discover their brain and heart - even their courage.
Dinner, music and dancing are just part of the evening. Several of the Club's youth will entertain, singing a medley of songs from the Wizard of Oz, The Wiz, and Wicked. The Club will not serve alcoholic beverages, but after 8 p.m. the party is B.Y.O.B.
All funds raised during the Come on Home reunion assist the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket, which has been serving the community's children and youth through recreational and educational programs since 1900, enhancing lives and providing hope for the future. Today, the Club has 4,000 members.
Tickets are $30 per person. The public is invited as well as Club alums and supporters. For reservations call the Club, 722-8840. If you're not in Kansas anymore then you could be in Pawtucket on October 20.
ANNUAL "DAY FOR KIDS" EVENT TO BE HELD
AT BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PAWTUCKET
September 15 Events Are Free and Open for Pawtucket's Kids and Adults;
Pawtucket Art Festival's Battle of the Bands at Noon
PAWTUCKET, RI, SEPTEMBER 5, 2007 – On Saturday, September 15, the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket will host daylong, local events that are part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America's national Day for Kids.
The Club welcomes non-members as well as current members and their families to come and enjoy the many activities for adults and kids. The day kicks off at 10 a.m. at the Club's Elson Branch, One Moeller Place, off School Street.
Day for Kids will provide entertainment for the whole family. The full schedule includes: basketball with guest appearances by members of the Providence College Men's Friars basketball team, dunk tank, moon bounce, field games, arts and crafts, talent show, face painting, raffles, family swim, and bike safety program. Families can explore the newly opened, eight-station Dolores and Frederick Goff Nature Trail.
The first 100 guests will receive Club t-shirts. Visitors also will enjoy free refreshments, including hot dogs, drinks and cookies.
Also on the Club's campus that day, there will be a Battle of the Bands competition, one of many activities on tap during the concurrently running 2007 Pawtucket Arts Festival. Bands will be on stage from noon until 2 p.m., featuring Pawtucket's student and youth musicians in two age groups – middle/junior high school students, 12-14, and high school students, 15-18.
Judging will be held in three inclusive categories: Rock and Blues; Rap, Hip-Hop and Rhythm & Blues; and, lastly, Latino and World Beat. Each band will be given about 15 minutes on stage.
Day for Kids celebrates and honors children, while also highlighting the positive influences adults can have in helping children be happy, healthy, and good citizens. Research studies show a positive relationship between the time kids spend with adults and the youths' developed skills to cope successfully with challenges such as substance abuse, teen pregnancy, and youth violence.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of America view the Day for Kids celebration as a symbolic, one-day event to encourage increased adult and child interaction, on a regular basis, through planned family time.
Therefore, in addition to attending the event, the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket organizers encourage adults to pledge a meaningful amount of time to spend every week with a child. Parents, grandparents, foster parents, caregivers, relatives, neighbors, and friends are welcome to bring children to the Club's Day for Kids and join in the fun.
Admission is free for all the Club's Day for Kids events. Ballooney Tunes, Ricotti's and Tim Horton's are among the event's sponsors. For more information please call the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket, 722-8840.
"HOMERS FOR KIDS" CAMPAIGN FOR BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PAWTUCKET RAISES UNPRECEDENTED $87,225
PawSox and Times Again Support the Annual Corporate Campaign
PAWTUCKET, RI, SEPTEMBER 19, 2007 - The Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket's yearly Homers for Kids fundraising effort reached new heights in 2007, topping $87,000 for the first time. Additionally, the number of participating donors jumped significantly to 140 from 109 in 2006.
The campaign, which extends throughout the summer, generated an unprecedented total of $87,225 in contributions. The Homers committee, chaired by Donald Baker, vice president and branch manager at Sovereign Bank, along with other local business people and Club leaders, had set a goal of $80,000 in April for this year's corporate campaign. The effort came to a close during pre-game ceremonies at McCoy Stadium on Monday, August 20.
The Pawtucket Red Sox and The Times continued to serve as supporting partners of Homers for Kids, which completed its 13th year. As long-time partners, the PawSox supplied event support and promotion at McCoy Stadium. The Times inserted advertisements, recognizing contributors and acknowledging total contributions throughout Homers for Kids.
"The Club continues to receive tremendous support from the local business community during Homers for Kids. For the excellent leadership and networking help of AM Source and Crown Collision to the campaign promotion given by The Times and the PawSox, we are extremely grateful," said Club CEO James R. Hoyt, Jr. "Our Club's kids rely on the generosity of corporate, community and individual donors to provide the funds needed to maintain high-quality, recreational and educational programs. We thank everyone who contributed time, effort and funding to make this our best year ever for Homers for Kids."
The Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket has been serving the community's children and youth through recreational and educational programs since 1900. Today, the Club has 4,000 members. Charitable donations through Homers for Kids further the Club's mission of enhancing lives and providing hope for the future.
INTERACTIVE NATURE TRAIL -- COLLABORATION BETWEEN BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PAWTUCKET AND AUDUBON SOCIETY OF R.I. –
WILL OPEN FOR KIDS' ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
WHAT: Dolores and Frederick Goff Nature Trail opening/dedication
WHEN: Thursday, July 19, 2007, brief ceremony beginning at 3 p.m. Tours of trail after.
Ceremony will last approx. 15 – 20 minutes. Event will be rain or shine.
WHERE: The Club's Elson Branch at One Moeller Place, off School Street, Pawtucket.
WHO: Sixty Club kids exploring the nature trail with instructors after brief ceremony. Club and Audubon staff and supporters along with city officials.
MORE: The two organizations have partnered and created a dynamic, interactive experience for children. Eight stations, sloping from woods to fields to river's edge, offer kids experiential, environmental learning at each stop. For example, one innovative lesson plan from the comprehensive teacher's guide encourages tree identification through touch. Blindfolded children feel the bark of different trees then, with blindfolds removed, look at and identify each tree and learn about it. Other hands-on lessons utilize materials such as nets, field guides, socks, crowbars, thermometers, soda bottles, pipe cleaners, peanuts, calculators, magnifying lenses, lima beans and more.
GOLFERS WILL TEE OFF AT BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PAWTUCKET'S ANNUAL RAMSBOTTOM-BARLOW GOLF TOURNAMENT
PAWTUCKET, RI, JUNE 6, 2007 - Golfers can enjoy a challenging round, win prizes and help support a worthy local organization when the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket hosts its 26th Annual Ramsbottom-Barlow Golf Tournament on Monday, June 18 at Pawtucket Country Club. Shotgun starts will be at 8:00 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. The entry fee is $175 per player.
The one-day tournament will host dozens of foursomes during the afternoon and morning starts. Tournament proceeds support the programs of the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket, a non-profit organization which serves 4,000 of the city's youths through educational and recreational initiatives year-round. The Club's mission is helping children and teens to succeed in life by building skills that will help them become productive, responsible and caring citizens.
Again this year, due to its initial popularity, the tournament will include an auction for a trip to California with travel and accommodations for two. The winning bidder will play golf in December at several of the West Coast's finest courses. Bids for the trip are being accepted by calling the Club at 722-8840 or visiting bgcpawt.org. Inskip Lexus and the Lexus Champions for Charity, through which, since 1989, amateur golfers compete in over 195 charity tournaments held at the finest golf and country clubs throughout the United States, are sponsoring the auction.
Ramsbottom-Barlow Golf Tournament sponsorship opportunities are available to businesses statewide with donations ranging from $125 to $10,000 to reserve logo placements, tee-signs, banners, and inclusion in tournament print materials. All donations go directly for kids' programs and initiatives at the Club.
A sleek, new 2007 Lexus, provided by Lexus/Inskip of Warwick, Rhode Island, will tempt players who will shoot to win the car with a hole-in-one on the 161-yard 7th hole. More prizes can be won via a hole-in-one at various other holes. There is also a shootout hole.
Major event sponsors include Crown Collision Centers, Almighty Cleaning, Inc., Stop & Shop, Navigant Credit Union, Twin River, Lexus/Inskip, Doheny & Pelletier, and Hayes & Sherry. More than 100 companies will be sponsoring tee signs. Last year's tournament netted $51,000.
J. David Francis chairs the 20-member event committee, comprised of area business and civic leaders.
The tournament's title has been changed this year to honor Ned Barlow, Club trustee and longtime booster as well as George R. Ramsbottom whose support established Camp Ramsbottom in Rehoboth, Massachusetts.
For more information on the Ramsbottom-Barlow Golf Tournament and sponsorship opportunities, please call Amy Gravell at the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket at (401) 722-8840 or www.bgcpawt.org.
WE WILL ROCK YOU AT THE BATTLE OF THE BANDS
The Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket and the Pawtucket Arts Festival Partner to present Youth Music Competition and Art Show
PAWTUCKET, RI, JUNE 1, 2007 - On Saturday, September 15, the hills around the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket will be alive with the sound of music. But you won't hear the von Trapp Family. Not even close. Instead, the modern sounds of rock, blues, hip-hop and more will fill the air during the Battle of the Bands, hosted by the Club and sponsored by the Pawtucket Arts Festival.
The musical competition, one of many events and activities on tap during the 2007 Pawtucket Arts Festival, will be on stage from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Club's Elson Clubhouse, off School Street. It is open to student and youth musicians of Pawtucket in two age groups - middle or junior high school students, 12-14, and high school students, 15-18.
Judging will be held in three inclusive musical categories: Rock and Blues; Rap, Hip-Hop and Rhythm & Blues; and, lastly, Latino and World Beat. Each band will be given 12-15 minutes on stage to strut its stuff and electrify the audience and judges.
Prizes for winning bands will include cash awards and recording studio time at Mockingbird Music Facility. In addition, all bands that win and complete a four-hour recording session will be entered into a drawing to receive an additional eight hours of recording time at Mockingbird and a cash prize of $200. All participating bands will receive a Battle of the Bands Certificate of Participation. Winners will be announced in The Times and other local newspapers. Entry requires a $25 non-refundable fee, which is waived for members of the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket. Checks should be made out to "City of Pawtucket."
All participating bands must have at least one verifiable Pawtucket resident. The band member from Pawtucket must be active in the band and should fill out the application. To verify residency, he or she will need to provide a copy of a school-issued student I.D. card along with the Battle of the Bands application. Incomplete forms will not be considered. Deadline for showing interest is June 15.
All musicians and bands wishing to express interest in the Battle of the Bands should send an email to BattleoftheBands@PawtucketArtsFestival.org by June 15. The email should include the band member's name, telephone number and email address. Also, please add a short paragraph about you and your band.
The Youth Art Show will display works from the different age groups of the members from the Boys & Girl's Club of Pawtucket. Pottery, photography, sculpture, paintings and more will be shown.
Battle of the Bands applications are available at the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket or on its website at bgcpawt.org. Applications also can be obtained through music teachers at the following schools: Goff Junior High, Jenks Junior High, Slater Junior High, Shea High, Tolman High, Saint Raphael's, JMW Arts, Blackstone, The Charter School and Davies Vocational Tech. Finally, applications also can be downloaded at PawtucketArtsFestival.org.
For more information, questions or comments regarding Battle of the Bands, please email Steve or Pam at BattleoftheBands@PawtucketArtsFestival.org. You can also contact Allan Young at the Boys & Girls Club at 722-8840 or ayoung@bgcpawt.org.
Vendors wishing to be present during the Battle of the Bands should call or email the Boys & Girls Club.
"HOMERS FOR KIDS" CAMPAIGN TO HELP BOYS & GIRLS CLUB BEGINS APRIL 30 AT McCOY STADIUM
Pawtucket Red Sox and The Times Continue Support of Annual Effort
PAWTUCKET, RI, APRIL 27, 2007 - Homers for Kids, the annual corporate fundraising effort of the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket, will kick off Monday, April 30, at McCoy Stadium before the Pawtucket Red Sox take the field against the Buffalo Bisons.
Homers for Kids is a summer-long, corporate solicitation effort, which is part of the Club's annual giving campaign. Funds raised benefit Pawtucket's children and teens through support of the Club's programs. The Pawtucket Red Sox and The Times are supporting partners of Homers for Kids, which is in its 13th year. As long-time partners, the PawSox supply event support at McCoy Stadium and pre-event promotion. The Times inserts periodic advertisements, recognizing contributors and tracking the success of the Homers for Kids campaign throughout the season. The committee, comprised of sponsors, local business people and Club leaders, has set a goal of $80,000 for the 2007 campaign. The Homers for Kids committee chairman is Donald Baker, vice president and area manager at Sovereign Bank.
"Last year's Homers campaign was highly successful and greatly helped the Club provide quality educational and recreational programming to thousands of local boys and girls during 2006. We're always pleased and proud to have the commitment of the PawSox and The Times in promoting Homers for Kids. Their efforts, and those of other local businesses and sponsors who contribute, help the Club be a year-round safe haven for our kids. As always, we're looking forward to being at McCoy on the 30th to begin this year's campaign. We ask our friends in the business community to help us reach our Homers goal once again," said Club CEO James Hoyt.
A brief ceremony celebrating Homers for Kids will be held at McCoy Stadium before the game on April 30. Representatives of the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket will throw out the first ball. A wrap-up, appreciation event for supporters will be held on Monday, August 20 at McCoy Stadium. The event publicly recognizes those who contribute to Homers for Kids over the summer.
The Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket has been serving the community through recreational and educational programs since 1900. Today, the Club has 4,000 members. Charitable donations through Homers for Kids are welcome to further the Club's mission of enhancing the lives of local youths and families and providing hope for the future.
For more information on the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket and sponsorship levels for its Homers for Kids campaign, please call Amy Gravell at 722-8840.
APRIL SCHOOL VACATION WEEK BUSY WITH FUN PROGRAMS AT THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PAWTUCKET
"Discovery Week" Activities, Meals for Children, 6-12
PAWTUCKET, RI, APRIL 9, 2007 - The April school vacation week, beginning Monday, April 16, will be filled with fun and interesting activities at the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket. Families can register their children, 6-12, now. Kids will be active, learn, and have fun during the Club's week-long activities.
The Club's theme for the five days of programming and events is Discovery Week, which will involve all children attending programs at the Club. Each day has its own theme and will stimulate a sense of investigation, exploration and discovery.
Discover Each Other will be offered on Monday when kids will learn about different cultures and traditions. On Tuesday, hands-on, creative activities will be the focus during Discover The Arts. Discover Hollywood frames Wednesday when kids will take a field trip to a local movie theater. Eating well and exercising properly will shape Thursday at Discover Fitness, using the Club's various recreational facilities and equipment. Lastly, Friday highlights will include a visit from Regal Reptiles and investigation of animals and their habitats in Discover The Wild.
Some of the organized events include classroom time, races, competitions, contests, games room tournaments, gymnasium activities, swimming, arts and crafts, computer time and field trips.
From Monday-Friday, the 16th-20th, drop off is 7 a.m. and pick up is 6 p.m. The Club provides children with two meals - breakfast and dinner. Lunch should be brought from home. The fee for the week's activities and events is $85 per child. Department of Human Services assistance is accepted. Registration has begun.
For more information on pre-teen childcare, please call the Club at 401-722-8840.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PAWTUCKET OFFER SWIMMING ACTIVITIES
Sharks Swim Team Clinics and Lifeguard Training at the Club Pool
PAWTUCKET, RI, APRIL 9, 2007 - The Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket will host ongoing swim team clinics from April thru August.
The team, called the Sharks, will meet from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. This initiative provides an excellent way to practice competitive swimming and become more proficient in various strokes. The team practices will be coached much like a swimming clinic, focusing on a different stroke each week. To assist swimmers' styles, the Club will incorporate videos, games and drills for each stroke that is taught.
The cost is $50 for the five months and can be paid in $10 per month installments. The Sharks swim team will compete in a swimming meet with the Boy & Girls Club of Newport during the summer.
Also, for those seeking an enjoyable and rewarding summer job as a lifeguard, the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket will be hosting a lifeguard training course during April school vacation week. The class will meet Monday, April 16 - Thursday, April 19 from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
The cost for the training program is $180 and will include class materials, lifeguard certification, CPR/AED training and First Aid certifications. There are a limited number of slots available for this session.
For information on either the Sharks swimming team clinics or the upcoming lifeguard training course please contact Director of Pre-Teen Programs & Childcare, Club Aquatics Director, at 722-8840 x. 21.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PAWTUCKET'S SUMMER CAMPS ACCEPTING REGISTRATIONS
PAWTUCKET, RI, MARCH 12, 2007 - The Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket hosts three entertaining, interactive summer camps for local youth of all ages. The Club is now accepting registrations for each of its summer camps.
Camp Sun 'n' Fun operates from the Club's Elson Clubhouse, One Moeller Place, Pawtucket, from June 25 through August 17 for children 6-12. The camp offers two-week sessions and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Children enjoy arts and crafts, field games, swimming, soccer, music, photography, rock climbing wall, outdoor basketball, kayaking and more. The fee per session is $170 per child with discounts for siblings. Extended care is offered, 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., at $80 per child, per session. No sibling discounts apply for extended care.
Camp Ramsbottom, off Route 44 in Rehoboth, Massachusetts, is for boys and girls, 6-13, and runs from June 27 through August 17 in two-week sessions. The camp experience provides each child with fun, adventure and learning in an ideal, New England country setting. Culturally diverse children interact in a spirit of fellowship and sportsmanship, developing self-esteem and positive character traits.
Activities include archery, art, basketball, crafts, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, soccer, swimming, tennis and much more. Bus service to Camp Ramsbottom is provided from convenient locations in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, with camper drop off between 8:15 - 8:30 a.m. and pick up between 4:15 and 4:30 p.m. daily. Extended care is available from 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. at an additional cost of $80 per child, per session.
The fee for a two-week, day camp session is $240 with discounts for additional siblings. An open house is scheduled at Camp Ramsbottom in Rehoboth, on Sunday, June 24, from noon until 4:00 p.m. In addition to registering at the open house and the Pawtucket Club, families wishing to enroll children for Camp Ramsbottom may do so by visiting the Rehoboth camp Saturdays during May and June from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
For teenagers, 13-18, the Club offers Teen Explorers, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. One-week sessions run from July 2 until August 10. Headquartered at The CLUB in the Elson Clubhouse, Teen Explorers exposes participants to athletics, computer skills, music, dance, pottery, cooking, boating, games, as well as field trips. Teens will travel to Block Island, the Basketball Hall of Fame, Cape Cod, Laser Gate, Purgatory Chasm, Six Flags, state beaches, Water Country and more. Many of the field trips are free and included in the summer session fee of $85 per week.
Camp Sun 'n' Fun, Camp Ramsbottom and Teen Explorers attendees must be members of the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket. An annual membership fee is only $30 per child and provides an array of year-round benefits and programs. Some scholarship funds are also available for the summer day camps.
For more information or to register for Camp Sun 'n' Fun, Camp Ramsbottom or Teen Explorers, please call the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket at (401) 722-8840 or visit bgcpawt.org. to access and download application forms.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PAWTUCKET TO HOST ARTS FESTIVAL
PAWTUCKET, RI, MARCH 24, 2007 - Members of the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket will lead off the organization's spring events by hosting the Club's annual Arts Exhibit. Dance routines, musical performances and art displays will highlight the evening on Friday, March 30, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the Club, One Moeller Place, off School Street. The public is invited; refreshments will be served.
Performances begin at 5:30 p.m. with songs from the musical band, Key Soldiers, followed by the dance group, Bazerka, and culminating with a hip-hop act by Young Regards.
On display, there will be youths' digital photography in the exhibit Shoot. Who Am I features plaster castings while Our Club is a raised ceramic mural. Additionally, the Club youth will offer poetic lyrics as well as arts and crafts.
The Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket has been serving the community through recreational and educational programs since 1900, and today enhances the lives of 4,000 local youth and their families by providing hope for the future.
For more information about the annual Arts Exhibit please call 722-8840 or visit bgcpawt.org.
MARCH MADNESS TIPS OFF AT THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PAWTUCKET
Registrations Open for Local Youth Basketball Teams in Nine Divisions
PAWTUCKET, RI, FEBRUARY 14, 2007 - There's a local version of "March Madness" soon to take place on the basketball court of the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket at One Moeller Place.
From Saturday, March 17 until Sunday, March 25, hundreds of local hoopsters will dribble, pass and shoot their way through the First Student Invitational and
93rd Annual Youth Basketball Tournament at the Boys & Girls Club.
Youths - boys and girls - will compete in nine different age divisions including:
Boys' divisions will be 10, 11, 12, 14, 16 and under, with an Open Division for any high school players. Girls' divisions will be 12, 14, and 16 and under.
The single-elimination tournament features experienced officials, and each level awards championship and runner-up team trophies. Individual players receive medals, and a Most Valuable Player is selected for an award in each division.
Recreational, travel, and CYO Teams are all welcome to register and compete too. The fee for a single team entry is $90 each.
For more information contact Luke McLaughlin, Director of Athletics, at (401) 722-8840 or e-mail: lmclaughlin@bgcpawt.org . Please enter early to participate in this tournament as teams will be accepted on a first-come basis. Registration runs through Saturday, March 3.
The Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket has been serving the community through recreational and educational programs since 1900, and today enhances the lives of 4,000 local youth and their families by providing hope for the future. Fitness of body and mind are key components in helping Club youth members to realize good health and possess a positive attitude in all endeavors.
HEALTH FAIR TO BE HELD AT BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PAWTUCKET
Topics Will Focus On Fitness, Nutrition and Comprehensive Wellness
PAWTUCKET, RI, JANUARY 11, 2007 - On Saturday, January 13, the Boys and Girls Club of Pawtucket will host a health fair, welcoming the public to participate along with youth members and their parents.
The fair will be at the Club's Alfred Elson Jr. Clubhouse located at One Moeller Place, off School Street in Pawtucket. The event runs from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
A number of local organizations and businesses will attend to share information and demonstrations with attendees. The fair's main topics will be fitness, nutrition and wellness. There will also be information available on various healthcare issues.
Additionally, there will be free blood pressure screenings and demonstrations of massages. Martial arts and self-defense demonstrations will be presented.
Among those organizations scheduled to attend are: Blackstone Massage Therapy Center; Blackstone Valley Community Action Program; Memorial Hospital; Neighborhood Health Plan of R.I.; Planned Parenthood of R.I.; and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, known as the WIC Program, which is sponsored by the R.I. Department of Health. The program serves to safeguard the health of eligible women, infants, & children, up to age five, who are at nutritional risk. W.I.C. provides nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care.
The Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket has been serving the community through recreational and educational programs since 1900, and today enhances the lives of 4,000 local youth and their families by providing hope for the future. Fitness of body and mind are key components in helping Club youth members to realize good health and possess a positive attitude in all endeavors. The Club also offers adult memberships that include use of its modern fitness room and equipment, swimming pool and gymnasium.
For more information on the renovations or program offerings please contact the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket at 401-722-8840.
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