Making summer plans!

Greetings!
We hope this update finds you well! We have some good news to share…we are planning to reopen for a modified summer camp. And when I say modified, I mean fewer children in smaller groups practicing social distancing and good hand washing.

Last summer we served 640 members and this summer we will only be able serve 208 members until CDC guidelines change. There will be nine children to one staff member and in their own rooms.

We have also been staying in touch with our staff and families, ensuring that they are safe and accessing the resources they need. We have a page on our website full of activities for the children, and we have been using social media to stay connected.

Strange times indeed, but we are resilient and ready to get on with the business of serving those who need us most. With vigilance and luck, we hope to return to the normal by fall. 
With Gratitude,
Elizabeth Thomason
Executive Director
Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County
Just in the Nick of Time...Angels Dinner a Huge Success!
This year’s Angel Dinner got in just under the Covid-19 wire! The sold-out event at the Moorings Yacht and Country Club was probably one of Vero’s last soirees of the abbreviated season. And what an event is was! The nautical-themed event brought out 400 guests dressed in their casual boating attire in a dining room afloat with life rings and nautical flags.

In top form as usual, Captain Jaquan and his first mate Malik emceed while the younger children performed seafaring songs and mingled with guests. 

Thank you to Marcy DeWolfe and her committee of Emilie Hinman, Nancy Lynch, Paula Shorts, and Carol Twyman for a hugely successful event. Proceeds provide summer camp scholarships for the children. Thank you to all who attended or supported summer camp.

And a buoyant THANK YOU to our top sponsors:

Presenting Sponsor John's Island Real Estate
Dinner Sponsor Vero Insurance
Cocktail Sponsor Tocqueville Asset Management
Chariot Sponsor Coggin Motors - Acura, BMW, Mercedes

Congratulations to Raliyah Dawson - 2016 Youth of the Year!
It seems like yesterday when Raliyah was in Washington DC representing us at the National Youth of the Year competition. Fast forward four years and here she is graduating, with honors, from Florida Gulf Coast University with a BS in Nursing.

Raliyah, a first generation college student, has some words of wisdom for our members. " Just as we’re in the time of a pandemic, so will the members find themselves in tough situations throughout life. The most important thing to remember is that when circumstances arise the path may change, but the destination remains the same. Continue to be dreamers, and always remember to lean on other staff, friends, and family in times of need for support. "

After a couple of years of some practical experience, she plans to return for her master's degree and become a nurse practioner. Raliyah, we love you and wish all the best in your future endeavors.
You Can Help! Here's How:
Donate

Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County is a 501(c)(3)
non-profit. Because of the generosity of our local community, we are able to serve more than 1,300 Club members each year.

If you are interested in providing sustainable support for the Club, please contact Executive Director Elizabeth Thomason, at 772-299-7449.

You can make a difference in the lives of our members in a variety of ways, including donating supplies, becoming a Business Booster, providing scholarship support, and much more. To make a difference today click here.
Attend

We are planning on holding our Pro Am golf tournament on November 11. More details to come.
Volunteer

When things return to normal, we are always seeking tutors, mentors, reading coaches, and caring adults to spend time in one of our three Clubs.

Need more information? 
Email or call Executive Director Elizabeth Thomason, at 
772-299-7449.
We appreciate your support!
The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens.