BUILDING GREAT FUTURES
NOVEMBER 2024 NEWSLETTER
GIVING THANKS AND LOOKING AHEAD
Right now is the perfect time to slow down and enjoy the beauty of the changing seasons while preparing for the holidays, whether that means pulling out family recipes, making travel plans to see loved ones, or simply enjoying a little downtime. What I look forward to most is having my family together under one roof during the holidays, even for a few precious moments.
As we head into the season of gratitude and togetherness, I would like to thank you for your support over the past year. Thanks to you and our village of supporters, this has been a year filled with tremendous growth and achievement at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana. We opened our doors to a fully renovated South Haven Club, and our Club Kids flexed their musical muscles in the Lyricism 101 program. Club Kids also enjoyed science in motion during our summer STEM fair and learned about making healthy decisions in our “Too Good for Drugs” program. There are countless other impactful one-on-one moments that can’t be captured here.
While we have accomplished so much, there is still much more work to do. We need your ongoing support to continue providing these life-changing services that make great futures possible. Today, I am asking you to invest in the youth of our community by making a gift that will support our mission for another year.
All children deserve the chance to become the best version of themselves, but the odds are stacked against many from an early age. A staggering one out of every five kids are unsupervised after school, which increases their odds of engaging in risky behaviors. During the hours of 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., unsupervised kids are at a much higher risk of
committing a crime or becoming the victim of one. Our kids deserve better, and we support families by filling that supervision gap.
Behind our blue doors, kids don’t just avoid the perils of unsupervised time. They flourish. Through our homework assistance, they advance and become more confident in their studies. Structured sports, specialty clubs, and mentoring reinforce positive character traits like leadership, fairness and responsibility. Nourishing afterschool snacks, physical activities, and health education pave the way for strong minds and healthy bodies now and into adulthood.
Our impact is huge: 54% of former Club Kids surveyed reported that their Club saved their lives. A national Boys & Girls Clubs of America study found that every $1 invested in Clubs returns $10.32 in economic benefits to society. What an impressive return on your social investment! Not only are we shaping and saving lives, we are strengthening the future of Northwest Indiana.
The need is great, and the need is now. Please consider giving a gift that has true power to change a life by supporting Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana today.
Thank you for being part of our movement. Thank you for investing in our youth. Thank you for the difference you make for our Boys & Girls Clubs kids and families!
With gratitude,
To inspire and enable the youth of our communities to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.
BUILDING GREAT FUTURES TAKING THE LEAD
NEW BOARD LEADERSHIP
Josh Schoon • Berglund Construction
When I joined PALS (Professionals Advancing Local Success) a little over 6 years ago, I was looking for a way to get involved with mentoring our local youth. Little did I know that being involved in this outstanding organization would turn into a passion and love for supporting these great kids. I have been able to witness firsthand the tremendous impact Boys and Girls Clubs have on our youth and now as a Board Member I have the opportunity to support outstanding youth in a greater capacity!
Justin Hutton • Hutton & Hutton Architects & Engineers
Having a history with the organization, seeing its impact, and understanding what it means to so many families in the community, I’m excited to support Boys & Girls Clubs’ mission of building the next generation of leaders. It’s more important now than ever to assist our communities and create a stable and strong environment, and Boys & Girls Clubs has the leadership to continue to fulfill that mission.
PARTNERING FOR MENTORSHIP
We’ve teamed up with Valparaiso University Men’s Basketball Coach, Roger Powell Jr., to provide mentoring to our Club kids.
Coach Powell, through his organization, The Rev Foundation, engaged in four sessions at the Hammond, Portage, Gary and Valparaiso Clubs that included inspirational mentoring about perseverance, self-confidence and positive thinking.
“Having a partnership like this, with a well-respected coach that kids look up to, is the kind of mentorship programming our Clubs are built for,” noted CEO Mike Jessen. “We are excited to give kids the opportunity to meet players, hear their stories, and learn what it means to set and achieve goals.”
The program will culminate with 100 members and staff visiting the Valparaiso University campus for a college tour and basketball game. To learn more about The Rev Foundation, visit therevfoundationinc.org
GARY CLUB FOCUSES ON YOUTH
MENTAL HEALTH
Our Gary Club kicked off their Geminus Healthy Decisions Grant with an event they called "You Matter." The event focused on suicide awareness and mental health for 9–10-year-olds with guest speakers Rossetta Cox and Dominique Davison. Former Youth of the Year candidate Marcus Steele, now Program Coordinator at the Gary Club, organized the event.
OUR CLUBS ARE TRAUMA INFORMED, SAFE SPACES FOR CLUB KIDS.
Trauma-Informed Practice is a strengths-based service delivery approach that is grounded in an understanding of the impact of trauma. This approach emphasizes physical, mental, and emotional safety for our youth, families, and staff.
The CDC reports that one in four children experience some sort of maltreatment (physical, sexual, or emotional abuse). This informs us that we need to be aware that many of our youth, whether known or not known to us, have experienced trauma in their short lifetimes.
What our Clubs are doing about it:
The first step is to recognize how common trauma is. Each of our full-time staff are certified through CPI (Crisis Prevention Institute) and are trauma-informed trained. This means, on a daily basis, we ensure that our interactions with our youth, their families and our co-workers involve the application of the six principles of trauma-informed care: mutual self-help, collaboration and mutuality, empowerment, voice and choice, cultural, historical and gender issues.
Sensory rooms, also known as multisensory environments, are specially designed spaces that provide a range of sensory experiences to stimulate or calm individuals. These rooms have gained popularity in various settings, including schools, hospitals, and community centers, due to their potential benefits for individuals with diverse needs.
Parents were invited to attend and the feedback was powerful, with some seeing their children open up in ways they had not experienced before. Everyone took something away knowing at every stage of their life that they matter.
Implementing sensory rooms in Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana has provided numerous benefits for children, particularly those with special needs or experiencing stress. These rooms offer a safe space for children to regulate their emotions, reduce anxiety, and improve focus.
ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY
Not only is our South Haven Boys & Girls Club newly renovated, but it’s home to the latest addition of the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana’s OrderAhead locker program, providing a fast, private, and easy way to access food assistance online.
“By partnering with Boys & Girls Clubs, we’re placing this resource directly where it can have the most impact,” said Chanda Dixon, Director of Community Impact at the Food Bank.
OrderAhead was developed by Feeding America and its network of Food Banks to make it easier for people seeking food assistance to get the help they need with dignity.
Learn more at orderahead.org
NEW ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Tiffany Johnson • Controller
Before joining BGC, Tiffany served as Budget & Finance Director at the Porter County Auditor’s Office. She has a master’s degree in accounting and is also a CPA.
“I’ve always been motivated to help others and I am grateful for the opportunity to join an organization that is dedicated to the kids in our community.”
DID YOU KNOW?
$75-100
Membership cost for parents for an entire year.
$2,400
Cost for the Clubs to serve one child for one year.
RETURN TO LEARN 2024 HIGHLIGHTS
Thanks to our village of supporters, our 2024 Return to Learn match campaign was our most successful one EVER! Together, we raised $211,799…41% OVER our goal and secured the $100,000 University of Chicago Medical match... for a Grand Total of $311,799!
CLUBHOUSE HEROES
Congratulations to Chelsea Whittington, winner of the 2024 challenge who raised $3,415 for the Gary Club. Our heroes raised a total of $13,178 for their Clubs!
Thanks to all of our heroes: Carl Kurek, Chelsea Whittington, Drew Sarkisian, Sasha Armstrong, Jessica Kish, Robbie Hummel, Ron Kittle, Stephanie Jones, and Pete Trgovich.
Jim Manago • IT Manager
Jim brings over a decade of experience working in IT and data analytics, serving as a Network Engineer before joining BGC.
“Working at the Valpo Club during college, I always dreamed of returning to BGC. Now, I’m excited to work supporting the Clubs’ mission again!”
Sara Deal • Sr. Director of People & Culture
Sara joins with an extensive background in Human Resources and nonprofits, most recently working for Cleveland Cliffs.
“I’m happy to return to my non-profit roots and be part of a mission I am passionate about. My kids are also Club Kids, and I love seeing the joy it brings them every day.”
CELEBRATING “LIGHTS ON AFTERSCHOOL”
We joined others across the country in celebrating Lights On Afterschool the week of October 24. The nationwide event creates awareness for the vital role afterschool programs play in the lives of children, families, and communities through rallies and special events.
One of our parents shared why they continue to use the Clubs for their afterschool care, “I support the afterschool program because they treat our kids like their own. My daughters love it here. It means a lot to know your kids are well taken care of outside of your care. Thank you for all the staff and their help!”
MAKE A ONE-TIME GIFT
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A gift today helps our Clubs build the next generation of leaders. The need is great, and the need is now. Please consider giving a gift that has true power to change a life by supporting Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana today.
MAKE A CHARITABLE IRA ROLLOVER
A charitable IRA rollover, also known as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), allows individuals who are at least 70.5 years old to donate up to $105,000 from their IRA to a qualified charity tax-free in 2024.
A financial advisor or CPA can help you choose the right strategy to minimize your tax liability and maximize the impact of your charitable donation.
BECOME A GEM
A GEM is a donor who Gives Every Month. Think of this as a monthly subscription to providing Great Futures for Northwest Indiana youth.
$20 per month for one year will feed kids in one Club for one day.
$40 per month for one year will send 12 kids on one field trip.
$100 per month for one year provides utilities and maintenance for one of our 10 Clubs for 12 days.
https://form.jotform.com/bgcgreaternwi/qcd
Have questions? Call or email. 219-764-2582 dkoebcke@bgcgreaternwi.org
