A Message from Debbie Wagner, CEO
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Thanks to you and our community partners for supporting us as we mobilized to safely meet the needs of Tucson Club and vital worker families. During this challenging period of time our Boys and Girls Clubs of Tucson family rallied to turn our passion into action. Now, as the economy begins to re-open, we are preparing to meet the tsunami of need for our services as many transition back into the workforce.
As a valued partner and member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson family, I want to share with you our plans for the coming weeks as it impacts the children and families we serve, our staff, our volunteers, and our organization’s sustainability.
Currently we are implementing a phased re-opening of additional Clubhouses through this Friday May 22nd. Four sites are now open and providing services to critical and vital service workers’ children.
The Clubs’ Summer Day Camp has always been a place where Tucson’s kids can celebrate summer and engage in unique, life-changing experiences
.
We will continue to staff at the 1:9 staff-to-child ratio established at the start of this crisis, and implement our enhanced cleaning and safety protocols. BGCT will also continue to offer “Club On-the-Go Virtual Programming” and the distribution of activity kits designed to align with core program areas and adapted for easy use at home. For real time updates to our plan and service locations, please visit
bgctucson.org/news
.
As our community moves forward, the needs of our Clubs will continue to grow. Provide a safe place for our Club kids with access to virtual programming and activity kit supplies for the youth who need us most by
making a donation today
.
We will continue to keep you posted on our efforts so you can see the difference your support makes.
Stay well everyone.
With gratitude,
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Clubhouse Operations and Summer Day Camp Update
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In conjunction with the expiration of Arizona's stay-at-home order on May 15th, Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson (BGCT) will be continuing its phased re-opening of Clubhouses. Four sites are open through Friday, May 22nd to provide services to all critical service workers.
Beginning Tuesday, May 26th, all six Clubhouses will open their doors for Summer Day Camp from 8:30am - 5:30pm, Monday - Friday to youth ages 7-17 and will be serving both breakfast and lunch to members.
The Clubs' Summer Day Camp has always been a place where Tucson's kids can celebrate summer and engage in unique, life-changing experiences. Traditionally, all-day camp offered engaging hands-on activities and programs focused on academic success, STEAM, the arts, music, dance, sports, recreation and more over six weeks.
This year, BGCT's Summer Day Camp will still be about making great memories and quality learning experiences but will include a few important changes. To start,
camp will be extended to seven weeks, May 26th - July 10th
. In keeping with health and safety recommendations from the CDC, the health department and the Governor's Office, the Clubs will also shift their approach to small groups of youth rotating through program areas across all six locations, as well as continuing cleaning protocols, health screenings and frequent hand-washing practices.
The cost of Summer Day Camp is $60 for seven weeks of programming with scholarships available.
In addition, for Club youth who will be staying at home,
virtual Club On-the-Go programming will continue
to be made available throughout the summer to keep youth connected, learning and having fun! Clubhouses will also continue to supplement this programming with Club On-the-Go Activity Kits.
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There are many meaningful ways you can support BGCT’s mission as we continue to navigate the many ways we serve our youth and the community:
- 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 summer starting, 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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Gratitude and Appreciation
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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!
- Arizona Complete Health
- First Book/Pizza Hut
- Verizon Foundation
- Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation
- Eliot Spalding Foundation
- Wells Fargo Foundation
- Bank of the West
- Walmart Store #5626
- Bonnie Kay
- Julie & Dale Butcher
- Papa John's Pizza - Robert Welsh
- Ruth & Brent Rice
- Mary & Jim Horvath
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In case you missed #GratefulTuesday, we wanted to share a highlight video and tell you how
YOU
have helped us “Do Whatever it Takes” to keep kids connected and cared for, especially during the COVID-19 crisis... Thank you!
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Throughout the day, we thanked donors, volunteers, community partners, Board and Associate Board members and staff. With that being said, there are
numerous individuals, groups and businesses that show up for our Clubhouses in many different capacities throughout the year. We'd like to take this moment to recognize as many as we can here and say, "THANK YOU!"
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- 29th Street Coalition
- Ace Tounsel - Volunteer
- Arizona Athletics
- Back to the Roots Program - Donated Gardening Kits
- Calvin Harris - Volunteer
- Cameron Bedard - Volunteer
- Catalina Rotary Club of Tucson - Pizza for kids & staff at FEM*
- Dominos Pizza - Lunch & Gift Certificates at FEM*
- Dwane and Associates
- Geico - Volunteers
- Gentlemen’s Corner Barber Shop
- Guadalajara Grill- Lunch for kids & staff at FEM*
- GuyTalk
- I Am You 360- Desiree Cook
- Jenelle Lewis - Volunteer
- Jesse Sossaman & MC Sunrdiers - Volunteers Junior League
- Linda & Stuart Nelson
- Micah Mills - Volunteer
- Michaela Baker - Volunteer
- MW Morrissey - Cleaning Supplies
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- Old Navy - Joseph Arguellez & Associates from local Old Navy Stores
- Papa Johns
- Raising Canes
- Raytheon
- Rebecca Caldwell - Art
- Reeds Compounding Pharmacy - Hand Sanitizer
- Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church
- Ruth & Brent Rice
- Taco Bell
- Tucson Police Department
- Tucson Urban League
- Young Professionals
- UofA Games Club Students
- Victor Mikulin Jr. - Volunteer
- Victoria Thomas - STEM
- Vivace Restaurant - Donated lunch for kids & staff*
- Whataburger - Snacks
- Zach Busch - Youth Empowerment Camp
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Amid the current COVID-19 crisis, we are humbled by the continued generosity and support of our community. Be on the lookout for our banners at all 6 local Clubhouses, and remember, WE LOVE YOU TUCSON.
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Holmes Tuttle Clubhouse and community partner I AM YOU 360 continue to serve our Youth in positive ways. Together they organized a Hygiene Empowerment Bag Curbside Pick-Up/Delivery opportunity serving youth with much needed items including personalized hygiene and hair products according to gender and ethnicity. These empowerment bags also included important items to combat COVID-19 such as soap, masks and hand sanitizer. Way to go Holmes Tuttle staff and I AM YOU 360 volunteers!
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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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Cocktails & Connections - Virtual Cocktail Class
May 28th at 6pm
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With summer right around the corner, join us on Thursday, May 28th for a fun and entertaining virtual cocktail making class and fundraiser with longtime supporter, Carol Cristiani!
Carol will guide you through making the iconic Cosmopolitan, brunch-time staple Bloody Mary, and a fun Cold & Refreshing cocktail to beat our Tucson Summer heat!
All proceeds will benefit and sustain the organization for Summer Camp during this crisis — and to ensure kids have a safe place to go now and in the future.
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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 the stay-at-home orders expire, please continue to 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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Youth of the Year Watch Party - A Televised Event
SAVE THE DATE
(In lieu of our Annual Steak & Burger Dinner Celebration)
Sunday, June 28th - 4:00pm-4:30pm
KVOA News 4 Tucson and COZI-TV
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In lieu of our Annual Steak & Burger Dinner Celebration, Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson will host its 29th Annual Youth of the Year Celebration as a televised fundraising event on KVOA News 4 Tucson and COZI-TV.
As in years past, all of our Clubhouse Youth of the Year Honorees will be awarded scholarships for their hard work and outstanding achievements over the years. They have overcome adversity and are on their way to fulfilling their college dreams largely due to their affiliation with Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson.
In addition, Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson will also recognize its "Click for Kids" Award recipients, Sam Levitz and family as well as our “Youth Impact” Award recipients, Cindy and Tom Roberston.
To learn how you can salute the kids and become a sponsor, please contact Yvonne Pysher at
ypysher@bgctucson.org.
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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 Partners
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