BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF TUCSON | P.O. Box 40217, Tucson, AZ 85717 |
www.BGCTucson.org
| 520.573.3533
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A Message from Debbie Wagner, CEO
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Dear BGCT Friends and Supporters,
What a month this has been for us all!
This crisis is the worst our generation has ever faced and is a time of unparalleled uncertainty.
During this critical time for the world and our community, the BGCT team has worked to find new ways to fulfill our mission in real and meaningful ways. We have opened our Frank & Edith Morton Clubhouse from 8am-6pm to provide childcare for essential workers’ families with an emphasis on health care and first responders. We also launched our "Clubs on the Go" Virtual Programming for all youth who remain safely quarantined at home.
I am humbled by the support we have received and how our team of board members, partners, volunteers, donors, and staff have rallied to help us continue to serve our community and the young people who need it most.
Thank you all for your support! We are all in this together, and I know we are looking forward to“normalizing” - whatever that may look like in the near future.
Stay safe and be well!
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Remembering Russell "Rusty" Garrett
January 5, 1955 – April 7, 2020
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"Grief is the last act of love we can give to those we loved. Where there is deep grief, there was great love."
Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson and the Tucson community has lost a champion – our amazing Rusty Garrett.
It goes without saying that all of us in the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson family were so blessed and so fortunate to have known such an incredible man. He was an unwavering supporter of so many facets of our community, and he loved this organization and our Club kids so very much.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Mary and their family as they grieve.
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Like us on Facebook or Follow us on Instagram
to stay up-to-date with all things Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson.
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The Clubs During COVID-19
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Club Director David Lopez of the Jim & Vicki Click Clubhouse takes to Facebook to share a STEM Lesson with Club members.
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Over the past three weeks, Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson Club teams have made the shift to implementing the Clubs On-the-Go virtual model via Facebook in an effort to stay connected with our amazing Club members and their families. Our teams are posting a variety of static content, including: quotes, word of the day, and inspirational messages. They are also posting instructional videos covering topics like fine art projects, science experiments, cooking, places to visit virtually, and Triple Play challenges (such as doing sit-ups, push-ups, basketball drills). Combined, what we are sharing is designed to support families with engaging their children in educational and fun activities while everyone is staying home.
At our Frank & Edith Morton Clubhouse, we are wrapping up our third week of opening our doors to the children of healthcare and other essential workers. We are checking temperatures upon arrival, encouraging appropriate physical distance, washing hands regularly, plus cleaning rooms and materials frequently. Club staff are providing fun and engaging activities for the youth attending such as
myfuture.com
, Triple Play components in the gym and outside, and fine arts. Breakfast, lunch and snacks are provided daily.
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Club members enjoyed an egg hunt and prizes at Frank & Edith Morton Clubhouse during our special Day Camp. This camp provides child care services to the children of essential employees, first responders and medical staff.
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In the next couple of weeks, we will begin to distribute BGCT "Clubs On-the-Go" activity kits to our Club members, so they can stay connected to their Clubs. The activity kits will be linked with live virtual instruction that youth can access daily. Since our Club members are not able to return to their Clubs yet, we are ramping up to bring the Clubs to them!
The only thing standing between Tucson’s kids and access to these programs are the resources to make it happen. There are many meaningful ways you can support BGCT’s mission during this time:
- Donate Snacks and/or Any Item on our WISH LIST - Even if you’re social distancing, you can order online and ship desperately needed snack and supply items to the Clubs! With schools out of session, low-income youth need access to healthy snacks and supplies now more than ever.
- Shop Online – Speaking of shopping… if you’re doing any personal shopping on Amazon, consider selecting BGCT as your charity of choice on Amazon Smile. We receive 0.5% of every order you place… and trust us: that adds up.
- Make an Emergency Gift – As a 100% local and independent nonprofit, your donations are more important than ever. All gifts help us to retain as much of our staff and programming as possible during this global pandemic.
Our staff and our kids thank you!
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We'd like to take this opportunity to thank those in the community that have stepped up and supported us in serving our mission with
emergency COVID-19 relief funds, programmatic grants and special gifts
over the last month. We can't do it without you!
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- Community Foundation for Southern Arizona COVID-19 Community Support Fund
- Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation
- Target Store #1863
- Banner Health
- Fiesta Bowl Charities
- Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl
- Simone Charitable Foundation
- Altrusa International of Tucson Foundation
- American Academy of Dermatology
- Linda and Stuart Nelson
- Catalina Rotary
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- Arizona Cardinals Charities
- Jeannie & Cole Davis
- Glassybaby
- White Light Fund
- Nicholas W. Genematas II Foundation
- QuikTrip
- Stone Canyon Community Foundation
- Target Store #1863
- Walmart Store #3379
- Whole Kids Foundation
- AZ Gives Day Individual Donors
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Jasimiair Roebuck, 2020 Mark Irvin City of Tucson Youth of the Year Competes for State Title "Virtually"
Congratulations to our very own Jasimiair Roebuck! She made us all very proud as she represented Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson at the Arizona State Youth of the Year "virtual" competition.
A special thanks and recognition to Clubhouse Director Anayeli Melkumyan and Program Director Marsharne Flannigan who mentored and coached Jasimiair on behalf of the Steve Daru Clubhouse. We'd also like to extend a special thanks to
Human Communication Studio for coaching Jasimiair in
communication skills, presentation skills, and soft skills development.
If you are interested in viewing the event and hearing from other Youth of the Year candidates across Arizona click on the button below.
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Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson offers much more than quality supervision at an affordable cost. Character building and success in school are recurrent themes in all of our core programs. Our enrichment activities, such as sports leagues, performing and fine arts, also form an integral part of the learning experience. Families truly depend on us to take an active and positive roll in their children’s lives. Taking on this important role means that we are not just teaching things like arts and crafts, cooking, and sports. We use these as opportunities to teach socialization and living skills in a positive environment. And, we provide academic support and homework assistance to assure success in school and in life.
We sincerely hope that you, too, feel excited about the opportunity to make a positive impact on so many young lives in our community. We see this Blue Tiles Campaign as an opportunity to make an investment in our community’s youth and to leave a legacy for future generations.
The support and commitment of the entire community is needed for this project to succeed. Our goal is to raise an additional $50,000 a year to support the transformational growth of the organization. This growth will include capital improvements at each club, scholarship funds for more youth, an increase in STEAM activities, Workforce Development Programs, and sports. Blue tiles will hang on front of the Harold Ashton Resource Center at 3155 East Grant Road. Each tile will be engraved with your personal message or tribute. Please consider securing a lasting tribute by purchasing your own blue tile today. To learn more, click the link below or contact Jill Long at
520.730.3369
or
jlong@bgctucson.org
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The Arizona Charitable Tax Credit & CARES ACT
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It's Not Too Late... Make Your Taxes Count & Keep Them Local
Deadline for 2019 Credits
is April 15th
Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson is a qualifying charity for the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit. Your contribution may qualify for a dollar-for-dollar tax credit of up to $800 per family. No investment is too great to ensure our children have great futures. Thank you!
QCO # 20282
Check out this great resource explaining the tax credit and how to take advantage of it -
Curious as to the impact the Clubs have in the community? Check out our
2019 Impact Report
.
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New Tax Advantages for Donors in 2020 - CARES ACT
There is a
new financial incentive for Americans to give generously to qualifying charities
, including Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson. The new universal tax break for charitable donations was included in the final $2 trillion COVID-19 stimulus package signed into law last week and will go into effect starting with the 2020 tax year.
The measure grants taxpayers an above-the-line deduction for up to $300 in charitable donations
given in 2020. So for individuals who take the standard deduction, if you give $300 to charity, you’d get the $300 tax break in addition to the standard deduction. Now is the perfect time to take advantage of this “above-the-line” opportunity and give to qualifying charities during the unprecedented COVID-19 health and economic crisis.
To learn more about how above-the-line deductions apply to your particular situation, please contact a tax professional.
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NEW DATE SECURED - Sunday, October 4th
The EVENT 2020
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We are excited to announce that a new date has been secured for our 19th annual event, The EVENT as Sunday, October 4th, 2020 at La Encantada.
The EVENT is Tucson’s Premier Tasting Event featuring 50 of Tucson’s Best Restaurants, the Best Libations, and the Best Entertainment – all to benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson.
As we stay home during the COVID-19 pandemic, please support the local restaurants that support us. Here is a link to all participating "The EVENT" restaurants:
The BEST Restaurants
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Tucson Conquistadores Charity Raffle - NEW DEADLINE OCTOBER 15th
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SUPPORT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF TUCSON
with your purchase of
Tucson Conquistadores Charity Raffle Tickets!
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Tickets are still on sale, and previously sold tickets are still valid, but the Grand Prize drawing date has been moved from Thursday, May, 28, 2020 to Thursday, October 29
th
. The last day to purchase tickets is Thursday, October 15th.
Disclaimer:
Actual ticket will still show the original Drawing date of May 28, 2020, however, actual Drawing date is October 29, 2020
Tucson Conquistadores and O’Rielly Chevrolet have partnered to benefit members of Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson, as well as other local charities! Join the Club in supporting Tucson’s youth by purchasing raffle tickets for just $10 each. Your purchase will help Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson continue to provide more than 12,000 of Tucson’s youth and more than 4,200 Club members with proven out-of-school programming that promotes healthy practices, skill building and pathways to GREAT FUTURES!
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#GratefulTuesday
Tuesday, May 5th
Your support has helped us with “Doing Whatever it Takes” to keep kids connected and cared for... Thank you!
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Swing for the Kids Golf Classic - SAVE THE DATE
Sunday, October 25th
Topgolf of Tucson
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Thank You To Our 2020 Partners
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