A Message from Debbie Wagner, CEO
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Dear BGCT supporters,
The last few months have delivered us a difficult test, not only as an organization, but in all of our personal lives as well. While none of it has been easy, this time has shown the dedication that our board, staff, supporters and community has to our mission.
We have rallied to make various changes in the way we engage with Club members and each other. New practices and protocols have been put in place to adhere to safety guidelines and we continue to adjust our practices as we follow updates from the CDC and other agencies. It has been inspiring to see us all working together as we navigate together the complexities of our “new normal."
Our Summer Day Camps have been in place since June 1, providing positive role models and the opportunity for our kids to meet friends, discover new interests and create memories that will last a lifetime. It’s rewarding to see the smiles on our young people’s faces and the moments where they can have fun, be active and just be kids. We’ve continued to staff at the 1:9 staff-to-child ratio established at the start of this crisis, limit our total number of young people, and implement our enhanced cleaning and safety protocols. Our engaging Virtual programming and Club On-the-Go kits are also continuing to be distributed through Summer Camp as well.
For more than 63 years, our Clubs have been here to serve the youth and families who need us most.
Thanks to our board, sponsors, community partners and BGCT staff for your support. Our kids and families depend on us to open our doors and provide a safe and welcoming place during this critical out-of-school time and we could not do it without you!
We are grateful to you and wish you a wonderful July 4
th
holiday.
With gratitude,
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Celebrating Our 2020 Youth of the Year
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On Sunday, June 28th, Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson presented its first ever televised broadcast of its 29th Annual Youth of the Year Celebration on KVOA News 4 Tucson and COZI-TV hosted by Edmund Marquez with special guest appearances by University of Arizona Basketball Women's Head Coach Adia Barnes and Men's Head Coach Sean Miller, as well as Jim Click and Mark Irvin. This special TV broadcast was produced to celebrate the accomplishments of the Clubs' 2020 Youth of the Year winners. The youth winners were able to enjoy the broadcast presentation with their families and were treated to a wonderful steak and burger dinner by Charro Steak & del Rey at their respective Clubhouses. The dinner and presentation incorporated all safety protocols including social distancing, wearing masks and utilizing proper hand cleaning methods. It was a fantastic evening and the youth felt truly honored by the event.
As in years past, all of our Clubhouse Youth of the Year Honorees were 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 recognized its "Click for Kids" Award recipients, Sam Levitz and family as well as the “Youth Impact” Award recipients, Cindy and Tom Roberston.
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Additional opportunities to watch to show will be available on COX's
YURVIEW Channel 7 on July 4 at 1:30pm, July 6 at 6:30pm and July 8 at 6:30pm.
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Thank you to our Supporters
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This summer things may look a little different in the Clubhouses, but one thing has not changed, the Clubs are here to assure that success is within reach for every young person who walks through our doors or joins us through virtual programming... While safety and education are our number one priority, we are still having a lot of FUN and focusing on implementing innovative and creative ways to incorporate lots of learning into each day to tackle the learning loss our youth experienced with the early closings of schools. Whether our Club members are in the Clubhouses or taking advantage of our Clubs On-the-Go virtual programming, we are here for Tucson's youth.
For young people who are participating in onsite programming, we made a few very important changes. To start, we extended the number of weeks we are open for camp from six to seven weeks, as well as extended our daily hours of operation to better serve our community. In keeping with health and safety recommendations from the CDC and the governor’s office, we are engaging in small and more restricted groups, socially distancing, following strict hand cleaning protocols and routine cleaning of program areas, as well as using masks, as now mandated. In addition, for Club youth who are staying at home, virtual Club On-the-Go programming has continued to be made available and activity kits distributed to keep youth connected, learning, and having fun!
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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!
- Davis-Monthan Officers’ Spouses’ Club
- Dollar General Literacy Foundation
- Evo & Ora Deconcini & Thu Family Foundation
- Foothills Club of Tucson
- RBC Foundation
- Unidas Emergency Relief Fund (Women’s Foundation of Southern Arizona)
- Union Pacific Foundation
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Ways to Support the Clubs
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Help Tucson’s Youth and Accrue Tax Benefits
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The CARES Act, designed to help the nation recover from the pandemic, has five important implications for charitable giving.
- New Charitable Deduction for Non-Itemizers: Taxpayers who take the standard deduction can claim a charitable deduction of up to $300 for cash donations in 2020.
- Higher Deduction Limits: Individuals will be able to deduct cash gifts in 2020 to the extent of their entire adjusted gross income rather than a cap at 60%.
- Increased Deduction Limits for Corporations: The contribution limit for corporations has been raised to 25% for cash contributions this year.
- Required Minimum Distributions Waived: For the year 2020, there will be no mandatory distributions from retirement accounts, thus allowing those accounts to recover. Once they do recover, retirement funds are a tax-wise giving strategy.
- Waiver of Penalties When Retirement Funds Are Used for Coronavirus Purposes: If you are under the age of 59½ and withdraw money from your retirement plan to cover expenses incurred by you or a family member related to the treatment of the Coronavirus, the 10% tax penalty will not apply. In the future you may consider a retirement fund gift.
Please reach out to Jill Long, VP of Fund Development to discuss what type of gift may make sense for your situation. Jill can be reached via email at
jlong@bgctucson.org
or direct line 520.308.3332.
Information provided above does not substitute for the advice of your tax advisor or attorney. Please see your tax advisor or attorney for full advice on implications of the CARES Act.
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Blue Tiles Campaign is 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 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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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 4,600 Club members with proven out-of-school programming that promotes healthy practices, skill building and pathways to GREAT FUTURES!
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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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