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News Releases 2012
27TH ANNUAL LYNCH MEMORIAL BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT TO BE HOSTED AGAIN BY THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PAWTUCKET
PAWTUCKET, R.I., DECEMBER 3, 2012 – The 27th Annual Dennis M. Lynch, Jr. Memorial Basketball Tournament, hosted by the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket, tips off Thursday, December 6, at 6 p.m. Play resumes on Saturday, December 8, also at 6 p.m. All games will be at the Club's Alfred Elson, Jr. Clubhouse gymnasium, One Moeller Place, Pawtucket.
Central Falls High School, Providence Country Day School, Saint Raphael Academy and Woonsocket High School comprise the four-team field that will compete for the tournament championship.
The tournament's 6 p.m. opening contest fills the court on December 6 and pits Saint Raphael Academy against Woonsocket High School. The second game, starting at 7:45 p.m., will feature Central Falls High School vs. Providence Country Day School.
The second and final round of the tournament begins on December 8. The championship game starts at 7:45 p.m., preceded by the consolation game at 6 p.m., played by the losing teams from the first round.
Admission is $5 both evenings at the door. Children, age 12 and under, are free. All proceeds benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket.
For more information, contact Luke McLaughlin, Director of Sports, Fitness and Recreation, at
lmclaughlin@bgcpawt.org or 722-8840 ext. 22.
NINETY NINE RESTAURANTS IN NORTH ATTLEBORO AND FOXBORO TO GENERATE OCTOBER DONATIONS FOR BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PAWTUCKET
PAWTUCKET, RI, OCTOBER 2, 2012 – October is Boys & Girls Club Fundraising Month at the Ninety Nine Restaurants. Locations in North Attleboro and Foxboro will again assist the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket through a local effort that is part of the Ninety Nine Restaurants' company-wide commitment to the communities in which it does business.
Ninety Nine Restaurants broadened its community involvement by developing a relationship with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the oldest and largest organization that has a primary mission of service to youth. For over a decade, the Ninety Nine Restaurants has shown its commitment to the Boys & Girls Clubs through various initiatives that occur on the local level. For example, every time a new restaurant location is opened, the Ninety Nine Restaurants makes a donation that benefits the local Boys & Girls Club that serves that restaurant's community.
The Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket has 4,000 members, a third of which are residents of nearby Massachusetts due to their attendance at the Club's Camp Ramsbottom in Rehoboth, Mass.
Founded in 1900, the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket has established a long-standing tradition of caring and supportive involvement with the area's youths and their families. The Club's primary mission is helping children to succeed in life by building skills that will help them become productive, responsible and caring citizens. The range of Club programs, activities and services extend to educational support, tutoring, mentoring, career counseling, computer training, fine arts, athletics, before-school and after-school environments, and nutritious meals.
Throughout October, patrons at both local Ninety Nine locations can participate in the fundraising effort three ways. When customers order a Boys & Girls Club sandwich or entrée one dollar will be donated to the Pawtucket Club. Also, diners can purchase a commemorative bracelet for five dollars or simply add a donation of one, three, five dollars or more to the guest check.
For more information on charitable giving or Club membership, please contact Amy Gravell at the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket at (401) 722-8840,
agravell@bgcpawt.org, or visit
bgcpawt.org.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PAWTUCKET RECOGNIZED BY
R.I. MENTORING PARTNERSHIP
PAWTUCKET, R.I., SEPTEMBER 19, 2012 – The R.I. Mentoring Partnership, a non-profit organization that supports mentoring programs statewide, has designated the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket as a Premier Member.
This year, the Club is one of eight organizations from a field of 70, which received RIMP's highest designation. The Premier Member standing recognizes the Club's mentoring program's adherence to RIMP's newly implemented Quality Standards Membership program.
The Quality Standards Membership program helps make it easier for prospective mentors and other members of the public to find a mentoring program that is meeting or exceeding expectations. Those expectations are based on a set of benchmarks over numerous aspects concerning a mentoring program, ranging from the strength of the program's method for screening volunteers to its ability to support and retain mentors once they are matched with a child.
The Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket has been aligned with RIMP for two years. Since then, 92 youth, ages 6-18, have participated in the Club's mentoring program. Thirty-three adult volunteers have mentored the Pawtucket and Central Falls youth by sharing experiences such as ice skating, bowling, helping with homework, exercising, playing games and taking college tours.
"So many children in our communities can benefit from having a mentor," said Jo-Ann Schofield, RIMP President and COO. "By implementing Quality Standards Membership, RIMP now has the ability to identify programs, such as that of the Boys and Girls Club of Pawtucket, which will go above and beyond the call of duty to provide a top-notch mentoring experience for the children they serve."
Started in 1990, the R.I. Mentoring Partnership serves as an umbrella organization for Rhode Island's mentoring programs. RIMP provides extensive training for mentors and mentor program coordinators, offering collaboration among mentoring agencies, providing volunteer referral services, marketing campaigns, and the recently unveiled Quality Standards Membership program.
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.
LEXUS CHAMPIONS FOR CHARITY AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS
31ST RAMSBOTTOM-BARLOW MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
PAWTUCKET, RI, JUNE 7, 2012 – The 31st Annual Ramsbottom-Barlow Memorial Golf Tournament, hosted by the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket, will be held Monday, June 18, at Pawtucket Country Club.
The tournament includes an auction, sponsored by Lexus Champions for Charity and Inskip Lexus, for a golfing trip to California with travel and accommodations for two. The winning bidder will play golf December 5-9 on the West Coast's finest courses including Pebble Beach, Spanish Bay and Spyglass. Through this Lexus initiative, amateur golfers have competed in more than 200 charity tournaments held at America's best golf and country clubs since 1989. The auction will occur during a dinner following the tournament. The winner need not play in the tournament, but must be present at the dinner.
All tournament proceeds support the programs of the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket, which serves 4,000 of the city's youth through educational and recreational programs. The Club's mission is to help local youth succeed by becoming healthy, productive, responsible and caring citizens.
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Ramsbottom-Barlow Memorial Golf Tournament sponsorship opportunities are available to businesses statewide. Donations range 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.
Also, the allure of driving a new Lexus, provided by Inskip Lexus of Warwick, will excite the event's golfers as they shoot to win a free two-year lease with a hole-in-one on the 165-yard 7th hole.
J. David Francis chairs the tournament 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 name honors the late Ned Barlow, who was an emeritus member of the Club's Board of Directors and a longtime booster, as well as the late George R. Ramsbottom whose support established the Club's Camp Ramsbottom in Rehoboth, Massachusetts.
Members of the public are invited to participate. Single players are welcome as well as foursomes. The entry fee is $175 per golfer or $700 per foursome. Players will tee off during a 1:15 shotgun start.
For more information on the Ramsbottom-Barlow Memorial Golf Tournament, registration, sponsorship opportunities, and the Lexus Champions for Charity auction, please call Amy Gravell at the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket at (401) 722-8840 or visit
bgcpawt.org.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PAWTUCKET OFFERS
SEVERAL SUMMER PROGRAMS AT ELSON CLUBHOUSE
PAWTUCKET, MAY 31, 2012 -- The Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket is offering summer programming for children and youth, 6-18 years old. These specialty programs include the KR Summer Baseball Academy, aquatics training, and daily teen drop-in and basketball league.
The Club's aquatics training program, for ages 9-16, uses the swimming pool at the Elson Clubhouse, One Moeller Place, Pawtucket. Instruction and practice is open to swimmers in beginning, intermediate and advanced levels. This safe, structured program is ideal for all swimmers that want to work on their strokes, endurance and technique.
The two-week sessions, beginning June 25, July 23 and August 6, also include team building, goal setting and activities to build a healthy lifestyle that supports a strong swimmer. Participants can register for one or more of the two-week sessions. Due to the nature of the program, youth will benefit from participation in the full six weeks.
The aquatics will be customized to meet individual needs; however, all participants must be able to swim 25 yards freestyle and 25 yards backstroke without stopping.
Also offered will be a Junior Lifeguard program from July 9 – 20. The course is designed to prepare youth to take the Red Cross lifeguarding certification programs and for future work as lifeguards. The Junior Lifeguard program helps participants build the knowledge, attitudes and skills they will need to be responsible lifeguards. Lessons are grouped into five areas: prevention, fitness, response, leadership and professionalism.
All aquatics programs run Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. with a registration fee of $170 per two-week session that includes breakfast and lunch. Extended care is available from 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. for an additional fee of $80 per two-week session.
R.I. Department of Human Services and Massachusetts childcare vouchers are accepted. All participants must have a current membership at the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket.
For more information about the aquatics training program, or to register, visit
bgcpawt.org or call 401-722-8840.
The KR Baseball Academy summer program will take place during the weeks of
July 9 and July 16 for baseball players, ages 9-17.
For players, ages 9-12, one-week baseball programs will be held Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket's fields at the Alfred Elson Jr. Clubhouse. The one-week registration fee of $280 includes a one-year membership to the Club. The programs are under the direction of former major league pitcher Ken Ryan, the staff of KR Baseball and the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket staff.
Ages 13-17 will meet at McConnon Field at Slater Park, off Newport Avenue, Pawtucket, Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. The one-week fee for this program is $250 and includes a one-year Club membership.
Both programs will include instruction on all aspects of the game by KR Baseball Academy. There will be organized afternoon baseball games. A catered lunch will be served each day. All participants will receive a KR Baseball Academy t-shirt and cap. The program located at the Elson Clubhouse will also offer swimming and other recreational activities.
For the baseball programs only, interested families can find more information and register by visiting
krbaseball.com or calling 401-724-7555.
The Club's teen summer drop-in program will run for eight weeks from June 25 until August 17 at the Elson Clubhouse's Teen Center. Hours of operation will be 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Teens will enjoy the entire Club's facilities as well as occasional field trips. There also will be a teen basketball league from July 10 – August 17. The fee for the drop-in program is $5 per week. The fee for the entire six-week basketball program is $15.
For additional information on teen summer programs, call the Club at 401-722-8840.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PAWTUCKET
KICKS OFF 2012 "HOMERS FOR KIDS" CAMPAIGN
The Times and PawSox Bolster Annual Fundraising Effort
PAWTUCKET, R.I., MAY 10, 2012 – The annual "Homers for Kids" campaign, the summer-long, fundraising effort of the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket, unites local businesses and individual donors as they team to support the Club's youth and children. This year's Homers corporate solicitation began May 7 during a McCoy Stadium kickoff event. It is the campaign's 18th year.
The Pawtucket Red Sox and The Times are long-time, supporting partners of Homers. The Times publishes periodic advertisements, recognizing contributors and highlighting the campaign's progress throughout the summer. The PawSox supply event support at McCoy Stadium and offer related promotions.
The chairperson of the 2012 campaign committee is Donald Baker, vice president and branch manager at Sovereign Bank. The committee is comprised of sponsors, local business persons and Club leaders. This year's campaign goal is $80,000.
"The Homers campaign is a key segment of our annual fundraising and helps build a foundation for high-quality, youth-development programs for our kids. We sincerely appreciate the ongoing efforts of the PawSox and The Times as well as all the members of the campaign committee. Their combined dedication always helps in making Homers a success," said Club CEO James Hoyt.
During the McCoy Stadium ceremony, prior to the PawSox' game with the Rochester Red Wings, Club staff and members were introduced on the field. Mellany Rodas, a Youth of the Year candidate, threw out the ceremonial first ball.
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.
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 or visit
bgcpawt.org to learn more and download sponsorship forms.
LOCAL TEEN SELECTED BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PAWTUCKET'S
2012 YOUTH OF THE YEAR
PAWTUCKET, R.I., MAY 1, 2012 – Ryan Gomes, 16, a sophomore at the Jacqueline M. Walsh School for the Performing & Visual Arts and a Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket member for six years, has been selected as the Club's 2012 Youth of the Year.
Gomes was chosen from four youth nominees during the annual Youth of the Year dinner at the Alfred Elson, Jr. Clubhouse on Thursday, April 26.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of America's Youth of the Year program promotes and recognizes service to Club and community, academic performance and contributions to family and spiritual life. Each teen's candidacy is weighed in these categories by a panel of judges.
Club CEO James Hoyt said, "Everyone at the Club is pleased and proud that Ryan will serve as our Youth of the Year for 2012. His musical talents and personal accomplishments are well recognized by staff and Club members alike, and we congratulate him on this honor. But just being nominated for this award is a special recognition, and this year we have a very special group of finalists. Ryan along with Eddie, Eddriz, and Mellany are all role models for our other members."
Hoyt added, "Ryan will be a solid ambassador while competing for Rhode Island Youth of the Year. He possesses the traits and characteristics that the Club staff encourages every day."
Gomes overcame early obstacles as a boy. His absentee father died and his mother became ill, so Gomes moved from his native Canaan, Maine, at 7 years old to live in Pawtucket with his aunt, Natalina Gomes.
"Ryan is smart, attentive and very caring…One of the things I love most about my nephew is that he is very caring towards his mother. He calls her daily and visits whenever he can," his aunt said.
Perhaps, Gomes expresses himself most clearly through his music. He is a founding member and guitarist of the Key Soldiers, a Pawtucket Club hip-hop band that won the top national award for best Music Production during BGCA's 2010 Annual Club Tech Digital Arts Festivals. This year, in the same BGCA competition, Gomes took honors as the festival's regional winner for his original, recorded composition, "Fly Away."
As co-founder of a business initiative called "Hip-Rock Workshop," he was awarded seed funds through a Youth Venture Grant to offer affordable music lessons to underserved children wishing to play guitar, piano, drums or to learn music production.
Meanwhile, he excels academically, currently ranking eighth in his high school class. At the JMW School, he is a member of the prestigious Tri M Music Honor Society and has participated in many recitals as a soloist or as a member of jazz ensembles and choral events.
Gomes works part-time at Artee Fabrics in order to help his extended family with household bills. Also, he has spent 160 hours during the past year engaged in community service activities.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America's Youth of the Year recognition is the highest honor a Club member can achieve. Since its inception in 1947, the Youth of the Year program, now sponsored by Tupperware, 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.
As the Pawtucket Club's Youth of the Year, Gomes will advance to competition at the state level along with peers from six other clubs in Rhode Island. The winner of the state contest, to be held later this spring, wins a $1,000 scholarship from the Tupperware Foundation and moves on in July to regional consideration, vying among a field of 14. Each regional winner receives a $10,000 college scholarship from Tupperware. In September, five regional winners will compete in the national competition, which, in addition to a $15,000 scholarship award from Tupperware, includes installation by President Obama in a White House Oval Office ceremony. The Pawtucket Club's Carolina Correa achieved such recognition as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America's 2009-2010 National Youth of the Year.
Nominees for the Youth of the Year, ages 14 to 18, exhibit the personal qualities that Pawtucket Club membership fosters such as honesty, responsibility, caring, fairness and respect. As with all Club members, the nominees are taught to become the best citizens they can be. A panel of judges, comprised of community leaders, reviewed the nominees' candidacy and made the final selection.
The Club's other 2012 Youth of the Year candidates were Eddie Lima, Eddriz Pimentel, and Mellany Rodas.
Lima, a junior at St. Raphael Academy and Club member for eight years, aspires to a career as a businessman and would like to own his own barbershop. He is captain of his school's soccer team and active in Club programs including Keystone Club, SMART Leaders and Passport to Manhood. Lima has also served as a member of the Club's junior staff.
Pimentel is a sophomore at St. Raphael Academy and joined the Club nine years ago. She aspires to a criminal justice position and is considering a career as a lawyer. Pimentel is actively involved in her church and learned to play basketball at the Club where she serves as a member of its junior staff.
Mellany Rodas became a Club member in 2008 and is a junior at St. Raphael Academy. Rodas hopes to pursue a career in either physical therapy or law enforcement. She is a Keystone Club member, is actively involved in her Church, and serves as a positive role model to the Club's younger members as a junior staff member.
Local businesses and other organizations contributed gifts and scholarships to the Youth of the Year winner. The Ninety Nine Restaurant, supported by the Attleboro and Foxboro locations, presented Gomes with a Visa gift card and a Ninety Nine gift certificate. He also received the Thompson Family Scholarship, a $2,000 award established in memory of Joseph E. Thompson, and the McHale Family Foundation Scholarship awarded him a $1,000 scholarship.
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.
APRIL SCHOOL VACATION
AT THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PAWTUCKET
Daily Activities and Meals for Children, Ages 6-12
PAWTUCKET, RI, APRIL 10, 2012 – Recreation and education will fill the days during the upcoming school vacation, April 16-20, at the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket.
Families seeking high-quality programs will find five days of interesting activities at the Elson Clubhouse, One Moeller Place. All programs are designed for ages 6-12 and provide children with an opportunity to have fun while learning. Registration is now open.
The vacation week's events will include an egg-drop contest, Earth Day volunteer projects, a treasure hunt, movie day, as well as visits to Capron Park Zoo, Mac's Bowl-a-Way and the Pawtucket Public Library. There will also be games and contests on the Club's athletic fields and in the games room as well as time spent in the swimming pool and on the rock-climbing wall.
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.
From Monday–Friday, April 16-20, drop off at the Club is 6:30 a.m. and pick up is 6:30 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.
All registered children must be, or become, Club members. The annual fee is only $30 for Pawtucket and Central Falls residents and $50 for non-residents. Membership 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.
To register a child for the school vacation week programs or for more information, contact Sam Brown, Director of Pre-Teen Programs, at the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket, 722-8840, ext. 27 or visit
bgcpawt.org.
AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL BRINGS SHREDDER TRUCK TO THE
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PAWTUCKET
Secure Document Disposal Open to Area Residents
PAWTUCKET, RI, APRIL 10, 2012 – A paper-shredding truck will be available to the public on Saturday, April 14, 10 a.m. until noon, in the parking lot of the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket, One Moeller Place. Sponsored by Ameriprise Financial, the event provides local residents the opportunity to securely destroy confidential documents free of charge, protecting against identity theft and consumer fraud.
According to Daniel Gamm, owner and financial advisor at the Ameriprise Financial office on Pettaconsett Ave. in Cranston and a Pawtucket resident, "The Ameriprise employees of our Cranston location, as well as clients, participate in various community service activities throughout the year. We're pleased to offer this valuable service to our community."
Ameriprise employees, family members and clients volunteer periodically to assist the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket through efforts such as helping with distribution of turkeys at Thanksgiving and various outdoor clean-up projects on the Club's property in springtime.
The on-site truck will be equipped with cross-cut shredding technology that completely destroys all paper that is fed into it.
Individuals are invited to bring their personal, confidential documents. Lines will form shortly before 10 a.m. People will be allowed to destroy as much paper as they can carry. Those with more to dispose of can return to the line.
For more information, contact the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket, 722-8840.
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.
RBI BASEBALL LEAGUE AT BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PAWTUCKET
NOW ACCEPTING REGISTRATIONS
PAWTUCKET, RI, APRIL 5, 2012 – Spring has arrived, and the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket's RBI summer baseball league is now forming. Registration runs now through May 31. Tryouts will be held on Sunday, June 3, with league games beginning on Monday, June 18.
Since the 1940s, tens of thousands of youth have played baseball at the Club. This summer, hundreds more players, ages 13-15, will take to Pawtucket diamonds as part of Major League Baseball's national Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities program.
According to MLB's web site, RBI is a youth outreach program designed to increase participation and interest in baseball, encourage academic participation and achievement, increase the number of talented athletes prepared to play in college and minor leagues, promote greater inclusion of minorities into the mainstream of the game and teach the value of teamwork.
Since the inception of the RBI program in 1989, MLB clubs have drafted more than 170 RBI participants. Some of the RBI alumni on MLB rosters during the 2011 season included: Carl Crawford (Red Sox), "Coco" Crisp (Athletics), James Loney (Dodgers), Jimmy Rollins (Phillies), CC Sabathia (Yankees), Yovani Gallardo (Brewers), Justin Upton (Diamondbacks), James McDonald (Pirates), and the Club's very own Chris Iannetta, who was with the Colorado Rockies last season and now plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
In 1997, MLB selected the Boys & Girls Clubs of America as the official charity of Major League Baseball. Since, MLB and BGCA have established more than 100 new RBI leagues, more than 200 Junior RBI Leagues, and increased exposure for BGCA through Major League Baseball produced print, radio and television public service advertising campaigns. The partnership has given children across the country the opportunity to reach their dreams on and off the field.
Established locally in the late 1990s, the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket's RBI program, generously sponsored by the Pawtucket Red Sox, has not only become a tradition at the Club, but is a winning one as well. In 2006, the Club's baseball team, comprised of local boys, 13-15 years old, was crowned champion of the RBI Northeast Regional Tournament in Trenton, New Jersey. The team went on to finish second at the 14th Annual RBI World Series, held in California.
Also, Pawtucket's RBI league has provided players with a stepping stone to semi-pro and minor league play in addition to the major leagues as exhibited by stars such as Chris Iannetta, starting catcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
To sign up for RBI leagues at the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket, registration forms can be found at
bgcpawt.org or contact Matt Bergeron, RBI Director, 722-8840 or
mbergeron@bgcpawt.org.
CAMP RAMSBOTTOM ACCEPTING REGISTRATIONS FOR SUMMER
Accredited Summer Day Camp in Rehoboth Run by Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket
PAWTUCKET, R.I., MARCH 20, 2012 – Camp Ramsbottom, operated by the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket, offers recreational and educational summer day camp activities for boys and girls, ages 6-13. The camp provides families with an affordable and rewarding summertime destination for their children and is now accepting registrations.
Camp Ramsbottom, off Route 44 in Rehoboth, Massachusetts, runs from June 25 through August 17 in two-week sessions. The Camp Ramsbottom tradition offers fun, adventure and learning in an ideal New England setting of 160 country acres. Children interact in a spirit of fellowship and sportsmanship, developing self-esteem and positive character traits. The camp is accredited by the American Camp Association, which is a leading, national authority in child development that works to preserve, promote and improve children's camp experience.
What makes a summer camp memorable for boys and girls is enjoying the thrill and discovery of new experiences. From recreation and sports to arts and crafts, Camp Ramsbottom offers many activities that shape lifelong memories of summertime fun.
Daily activities at Camp Ramsbottom include archery, art, basketball, cooking, crafts, drama, fishing, hiking, model rocketry, mountain biking, petting zoo, soccer, swimming, tennis and more. The fee for a two-week session is $275. Also, extended care is available from 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. at an additional cost of $80 a child, per two-week session.
Campers will need to bring their own towel, bathing suit, sunscreen, water bottle, appropriate footwear, and insect repellent. Programming is still provided despite inclement weather; however, campers must bring rain gear. A camper's name should be on all personal items. Campers should not bring hand-held games, toys, MP3 players, collectible cards, sports equipment or phones.
Camp Ramsbottom provides transportation, athletic and craft supplies. The on-site Trading Post offers snacks and beverages for purchase throughout the day. Lunches are not included but may be purchased in advance for $25 per session upon registration.
Bus service to the camp is provided from numerous, convenient locations in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, with camper drop off between 8 and 8:45 a.m. and pick up between 4:05 and 4:45 p.m. daily. Bus routes in Attleboro and Norton have been added.
Camp Ramsbottom staff will host an open house on Sunday, June 24, 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 for pre-camp tours that are held every hour on the hour. Registration can be completed at Camp Ramsbottom and the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket. Families also may enroll their children by downloading forms at www.bgcpawt.org.
Attendees at Camp Ramsbottom must be members of the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket. An annual membership fee is only $30 per child for Pawtucket and Central Falls residents and provides year-round benefits and programs. For residents from other cities and towns the annual membership fee is $50. Some scholarship funds are also available. Contact the Club for more details regarding scholarships.
For additional information or to register for Camp Ramsbottom, call the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket at (401) 722-8840 or visit
bgcpawt.org to access and download application forms.
FAMILY RESOURCE FAIR TO BE HOSTED BY THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB
OF PAWTUCKET ON MARCH 5
PAWTUCKET, R.I., FEBRUARY 29, 2012 – As a community service, the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket will host a Family Resource Fair on Monday, March 5, 5-7 p.m., at the Alfred Elson, Jr. Clubhouse, One Moeller Place.
The fair is open to all local families whether or not their children are Club members.
This event is an opportunity to discover available services and programs in Pawtucket that can provide assistance and useful information at a time when such help can be of significant benefit.
Participants will be able to learn about education support, health care, housing resources, food assistance, and more. Most information will be offered in English and Spanish.
For more details or to register as a vendor, please contact Joe Tomchak, the Club's director of Program Services & Outreach, 401-722-8840 or jtomchak@bgcpawt.org.
The Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket serves over 4,000 children and their families. Its mission is to inspire and enable young people from Pawtucket and surrounding communities, especially those with greatest need, to realize their full potential as healthy, productive, responsible, and caring citizens. The Club provides a safe and supportive environment for youth year-round.
PARTY CITY AGAIN SUPPORTS BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PAWTUCKET
Company Donates $221,000 in 2012 to Aid Club Renovation and Expansion
PAWTUCKET, R.I., FEBRUARY 28, 2012 – Party City, of Rockaway, New Jersey, has donated more than $221,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket for 2012, bringing the corporation's total contributions to more than $400,000 in the last two years. The funds are earmarked for eventual renovation and construction at the Elson Clubhouse as well as endowed support for educational and recreational program expansion to meet the growing needs of the city's youth.
The recent capital campaign donation was given in memory of the Club's longtime executive director, Mike Pappas, who died last year. One hundred thousand dollars will be used to create new space and refurbish the existing facility. The remainder will be directed to the Club's program endowment.
Area businessman Arthur J. Kaufman, general manager of AM-SOURCE, LLC, located in East Providence and owned by Amscan Holdings, Inc., encouraged the generous support of CEO Gerald Rittenberg. Kaufman is a member of the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket's board of directors and has assisted the Club for 16 years through stewardship, volunteerism and charitable giving.
Party City is a division of Amscan Holdings, Inc., headquartered in Elmsford, N.Y. Amscan designs, manufactures and distributes party goods throughout Asia, Europe, the Americas and Australia.
"The Club is very fortunate to have the support of friends such as Party City. They deserve our wholehearted and sincere thanks. The company's philanthropy and commitment is a great benefit to our Club members," said Club CEO James Hoyt.
The check presentation occurred at the Lincoln home of Bill and MaryLou Catelli, co-chairs of the Club's capital campaign. Bill Catelli is also president of the Club's board of directors.
The Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket, located at One Moeller Place, serves over 4,000 children. Its mission is to inspire and enable young people from Pawtucket and surrounding communities, especially those with greatest need, to realize their full potential as healthy, productive, responsible, and caring citizens. The Club provides a safe and supportive environment for youth year-round.
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.
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.
