Our Mission Statement: The Great Valley Community Organization helps build a strong, vibrant and connected community by providing facilities, activities and programs enriching the lives of all local residents.

March Newsletter 2018


Did you know you could put GVCO on your United Way donor form?

GVCO #47309


Amazon will donate 0.5% of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to GVCO whenever you shop on AmazonSmile. AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support GVCO every time you shop, at no cost to you. 

Please sign up at: https://smile.amazon.com/
and designate GVCO as your charity.
Thank you!

DONOR SPOTLIGHT
The Powell Family
 
You know the Powells... You have seen them over the years watching their daughter, Charlotte (age 12), play basketball or at cheer or spiking a volleyball while Charlotte's little brothers run around GVBL like it's their second home. You have seen them at flag football, cheering on Sully, who at 4 is now finally old enough to follow in his siblings' footsteps and play in GVCO sports. You have seen them on the baseball and soccer fields as well, where Owen (age 8) plays when he isn't playing basketball or football. You may have seen Elise at Great Valley High School, where she teaches Special Education, or Charlie on the bench and running up and down the GVBL courts, where he coaches basketball when not doing his work as a general contractor. The Powells are just like so many GVCO families: they are active, engaged in connecting with others, and giving back to their community in varied ways.
From the very beginning, we "saw a great sense of friendship, dedication to youth sports, admiration for for the game, [and a] willingness to help kids grow (mentally and skillfully)." We were impressed at how well GVCO was organized "from the bottom to the top," by just volunteers. Is that a proper community, we asked them? "We think so!"
The Powells are happy to be part of such a supportive and fun community. Elise and Charlie moved to this area after meeting at Clemson and living in South Carolina for a while. Elise grew up in Berwyn, so moving back allowed her to be near her family, and they were thrilled to find an extended family in GVCO. Elise, for one, is "excited for the community to have a space that everyone can benefit from. I am very happy to be an educator and a parent in this community. I hope to assist in growing the athletic and fitness opportunities available to people with disabilities in our community."
Charlie agrees, and adds "as wonderful as the space we have are, I know they can be better with a new center. I am invested. [I love] coaching, helping, explaining, teaching, parenting in this community... I want to see the community grow the right way and GVCO is doing it."
The Powells are all of us here in Great Valley: they come from the area and have moved in from away; they have kids involved in lots of programs, and they help coach and ref; they have jobs that benefit our community (publicly and privately) and also want to give back in their spare time; and they love the Great Valley Community. Because they love it, they chose to donate to our future, and they "urge all parents who are a part of GVCO's future." Thank you, Powell family, for sharing our vision and helping make GVCO's future secure!
BUSINESS SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT


As a Realtor for Keller Williams serving Chester County and the Main Line, Wendy Dembrak understands the value community organizations bring to a neighborhood. When looking to move to a new area, clients want to know what the neighborhood is like. They ask about the reputation of the schools, what activities and groups one can join and if the people are friendly. Having an organization like GVCO that services the entire community and provides opportunities for residents to be active and contributing members of their community, makes Great Valley attractive to home buyers.
 
Wendy and her husband Andrew landed in Malvern almost by accident 18 years ago. Since then, they along with their three children Jack, Kayla and Dominic have participated in many programs offered by GVCO from Jr. Hoopsters to the Girls Camp to the March Madness Fundraiser and many things in between. The friends and experiences they've made along the way have encouraged them to give to this great organization.
 
If you know someone that would like to move to Great Valley, if you would like to upsize or downsize, or if you would like to learn more about Great Valley's competitive real estate market, visit Wendy's website at www.WendyDembrak.com or like her Facebook page, WendyDembrak.com. Even better, ask her about the listings in your neighborhood while on the sidelines of the next GVBL game.

COMMUNITY CORNER


GREAT VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL SUMMER CAMPS
 
June 18th - 22nd

Patriot Pride Baseball Camp is a week long youth baseball camp for kids entering grade 1 through 7.   Director Matt Schultz started this camp in the summer for the local area and continues to run a fun filled week of baseball that you don't want to miss.  The main objectives of the week is to assist kids in becoming the best they can be while promoting positive self esteem through the game of baseball.  

July 9th-12th

At the Patriot Youth Football Camp, you will learn from the Patriot Football Staff in individual position drills on both sides of the ball! We look forward to the opportunity of coaching you and seeing you this summer!

Cost: $165 

June 18th-22nd

A fun and exciting week of learning soccer skills for  both boys & girls  under the direction of Great Valley Boys' Varsity Soccer Coach Dave Moffett with the assistance of GV Boys' JV Coach Bern McCauley and former GV JV & 9th grade Coach Pat Oswald along with the help of varsity boys and girls players past and present.

June 18th-22nd

The Patriot Pride Tennis Camp is designed to meet the needs of the beginning through intermediate players.  We emphasize good stroke production, fun on court as well as a love & respect of this lifetime game.


GVHS Girls Basketball Camp is an excellent opportunity for young, aspiring basketball players to become involved in a fantastic game. Each camper will have the opportunity to learn and develop skills through drill work and team competition designed to enhance their level of play throughout the week.

Carousel Arts Consultants

Be a Part of Conv
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Visit their website for upcoming events.



Duane Milne Office


Charlestown Girl Scout Troop # 440

Troop #440 is reaching out to the Great Valley Community asking for non essential food donations for the Food Pantry at St. Peter's. The requested items are: tea, coffee, baking mixes, salad dressing, ketchup, mustard, relish, toilet paper. Other requested items are dried oregano, dried basil, garlic powder, chili powder, paprika and ground cumin. 
There will be donation boxes set up at GVCO April 9th -20th.
Questions or concerns jeannine.espenshade.gvgs@gmail.com
 
If you have an event to include in our community corner,  please e-mail GVCO .  
Nor'easter #2 Can't Stop GVBL's March Madness!

What a turnout! In the midst of one of those early March storms; ice, heavy wet snow, downed limbs and power lines, the Great Valley community still came out in force for the annual GVBL fundraiser. 230+ people made their way to the Desmond Hotel for this year's 2018 March Madness, the "Throwback Edition", fundraiser. Kelly McDaniel and Kellie Eisenhardt, along with the Desmond, put together another tremendously fun evening. There was an outstandingly prepared menu with tons of great food. A DJ with some lively dancing. Over 100 silent auction items from so many local businesses and corporations. Our signature "Live" auction. And a night-long basketball shootout, with this year's champion, throwback edition himself, Dave Hopkins.
On a night that had such lousy weather it was amazing to see such a large group of people having so much fun with their friends and neighbors from our community. Really, what a fantastic event! Thank you everyone for your incredible support!

Keith Walsh, Executive Director
Congrats to Dave Hopkins

BUILDING CONNECTIONS CAMPAIGN
EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS!

Many members of our GVCO community have given...WILL YOU?


GREAT VALLEY GIRLS YOUTH LACROSSE
Our inaugural season is ALMOST HERE!

We are excited for the inaugural season of Girls Youth Lacrosse in Great Valley! Thank you to everyone who has helped to pull this together!! The spring season can be a challenging one with weather so please be sure to look for updates via our Facebook, our News/Updates Page and your Team Snap pages. We are still looking for a few volunteer parents.  If you are interested in helping out please email: lacrosse@gvco.org  Did you miss registration?  Send us an email to see if we have any spots open!



GREAT VALLEY FOOTBALL LEAGUE
GVFL is moving to a GRADE-BASED LEAGUE.
 
After careful consideration, discussion and investigation, GVFL would like to announce our plans to join the Inter-County Football League beginning in the Fall of 2018.   ICFL is a grade-based  league operating out of Phoenixville, Pa.  


CARING HANDS FOUNDATION
Caring Hands runs annual Needy Families Campaign.
 
In February our Caring Hands group teamed up with Terri Lazar, social worker, at the GVMS in our annual Needy Families Campaign. During the GVBL playoffs - volunteers managed a fundraising table and emphasized our goal in assisting the community. This year we were able to raise $660! With the money we bought Giant gift cards and donated them to families in need in the community. Big thanks to all our Caring Hands volunteers who helped out along the way.

GREAT VALLEY CREW CLUB
2018 Regatta Schedule 
 
Manny Flick Series  | Schuylkill River
#1 - March 18
#2 - March 25
#3 - April 8
#4 - April 15
#5 - April 22

Cooper Cup  | Cooper River, Pennsauken | April 29

PRSA City Championships  | Schuylkill River | May 5-6

Upper Merion  | Bridgeport, Pa | May 13 

Stotesbury Cup  | Schuylkill River | May 18th-19th

Follow our progress on Facebook!

 
CHALLENGER GYM PROGRAM
Another successful challenger gym session is underway!

Challenger gym began on Wednesday March 14th and this year we have already seen an increase of participants from eight to twelve children! We always love seeing new faces in the program that caters to children with disabilities - plenty of more smiles and laughter. Challenger gym will run every Wednesday 4:15p-5:15p from March 14th to April 25th (No class March 28th). Thanks again to our Challenger Gym director Wendy Morris for creating a welcoming and fun environment for the kids!
GREAT VALLEY VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE
Great Valley Volleyball League begins spring clinics soon.

The Great Valley Volleyball League Spring clinics start Monday, March 19. We are excited to bring our new coach, Janel Glutch into the Great Valley Volleyball League clinics. Janel is the head coach for the Delaware Valley University Women's Volleyball team located in Doylestown, PA.
 
The clinics will last eight weeks on Mondays and Wednesdays. For questions or information about the Great Valley Volleyball League please contact  volleyball@gvco.org

 
GVCO ARTS CLUB PROGRAM
GVCO is proud to introduce a new Arts Club Program. 

The Arts Club will be directed by Divya Samant and Aru Nittur, who are both currently Juniors at Great Valley High School. The FREE program is designed to teach participants about possible artistic careers as well as provide general art education. We invite children from 6th through 8th Grade to explore their creative minds and join our program. Registration and more details will be on our website: www.gvco.org very soon! The program will have just 10 spots so keep an eye out and sign up ASAP!!



GREAT VALLEY BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Thank you for a great season.

Thank you to all of the players, coaches and parents for a great winter season of basketball! 

Congratulations to the  Shock, Clippers, Fever, Amigos & Bulls for becoming our 2017/18 winter champions! 

We hope to see everyone back for our summer rec league for grades 1st-8th. Look for registration information coming soon. 
PATRIOTS COMPETITIVE CHEER
Patriots Comp Cheer giving back to the community. 

A big "shout-out" to a few girls from  Great Valley Competitive Cheerleading ! They got together over the a holiday weekend and prepared meals for  Home of the Sparrow.  A great way to give back to the community and help out another non-profit right in our back yard. Nice job, Ladies!




IVY EXPERIENCE
Getting the most out of college visits
 
Many juniors and even underclassmen will be visiting college campuses over the upcoming Spring Break. Here are some quick tips to get the most out of your visit: 
 
1. Do your research ahead of time. Pick some spots on campus to visit; reach out to professors in or admissions officers, and email them in advance to set up meetings.
 
2. Take notes. Notes will be invaluable as you compare and contrast, and they can also eventually help you write admissions essays about why you are choosing a particular college. 
 
3. Note your dislikes, too. 
 
4. The student should take charge. Student should take the initiative to ask questions and set things up. 
 
5. Go beyond the tour and info session(s). Strike up conversations with current students - many will be eager to share their experience with you.
 
Questions about college visits? Give Ivy Experience a call at (267) 888-6489.

VFES








CharlestownPaving

All Phase Electric





























GVCO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Great Valley Community Organization | news@gvco.org | http://www.gvco.org
19 N. Bacton Hill Road, Malvern, PA 19355
Tel: (610) 990-6168