Issuu

A Letter from Our Executive Director “Gym and swim” is the term I first heard regarding the Boys & Girls Clubs programs when I started in Orange County in 1989. This term referenced the abundance of recreation programs available for youth during non-school hours at Boys & Girls Clubs across the nation. I quickly realized that this perspective didn’t even scratch the surface of what Boys & Girls Clubs mean to the hearts of children and the staff who dedicate their lives to being of service. This newsletter issue celebrates the arts and the elevated programs that the children in our care challenge and inspire the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County to provide every day. I tell my friends when discussing our young artists that they aren’t creating “Refrigerator Art.” Our children are learning about artists, their styles, mediums, and inspirations, along with color theory so they can mix paint. They are learning about brushes and types of paper so they can decide what effect they wish to create. Most importantly, they realize there are no boundaries to what they can create and where their imaginations can take them. Early on, we learned not to limit our vision for what our Club members can achieve. Through the eyes of a Club supporter, we realized how much our children’s artwork could impact someone. We developed a platform for children to contribute a masterpiece for our signature fundraiser event, Farm to Tableaux, and, in turn, support the art lessons, materials, and experiences they have daily in our art program. The kids became artists whose work was in high demand, and they learned the importance of giving back in support of the programs and community that give so generously to them. Thank you for your support,

Board of Directors Kristin Monsibais, President of the Board Williams Adams & Company, CPAs Theresa Bush, Vice-President Aera Energy LLC Amir Zabrani, Treasurer Community Volunteer Matt Damian, Secretary Tri Counties Bank Alex Balfour Cushman and Wakefield/Pacific Commercial Realty Advisors Shane Bryan Trovato Wealth Management Jason Cohen UBS Financial Services, Inc. Justin Cummings Rio Acai Bowls Rob Duchow Southern California Gas Company Michael George Valley Strong Credit Union Rasmus Jensen Valley Republic Bank Shawn Kerns California Resources Corporation Larry Koman Koman Homes

Zane Smith Executive Director “The Happy Horse” by 16-year old, Lourdes is part of the Farm to Table(aux) virtual event. Bidding starts on 9/30/2020

Jonathan Mueller ServiceMaster at Bakersfield Emily Salters California State University, Bakersfield Zane Smith Executive Director

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Op en i n g Our

STAGE DOOR To A World of Opportunity by Zane Smith

At an audition for a youth performance at the Club 7 years ago, I heard the most incredible voice come out of an 8-year-old. I’d seen him at the Club playing in our game room, but had no idea how much talent was bottled up in his little body. I asked him why he didn’t participate in the talent show at his Club, and he said, “I’ve been busy playing soccer and building robots.” Today, he’s joined by countless children and teens in our performing arts program called “Stage Door Academy.” To quote another Boys & Girls Club who has seen our kids perform locally, regionally, and nationally, “The Kern County Club sets the standard for performing arts that we all aspire to.” The reality is our kids set the standard with the time and commitment they invest in their craft and each other. Whether it’s a summer Broadway Musical or solo for our local symphony, our children rise to the occasion and continue to surpass our expectations. With COVID-19 and the restrictions placed on in-person lessons and performances, we recognized that our children do

singing, dancing, and acting. The outcome surprised and motivated our staff and young actors to continue in this virtual mode yearround to ensure that every child who needs a stage to share their gifts has the opportunity. The Boys & Girls Clubs’ Stagedoor Academy is here to help the fantastic young artists and performers’ creative dreams come true, and we could not be more grateful for the opportunity to provide the environment, tools, and encouragement.

believe that the show must go on, and they count on us for this! This summer, our performing arts instructors created virtual workshops for the Club members. We worked with both Lights Camera Action Cinema and Logic Films Media to individually film the children’s performances, which resulted in two magical shows where you would swear the children were standing right next to each other in conversation,

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It Takes A Cari

Donations: June 1, 2020

CORPORATE/ORGANIZATION/ FOUNDATION GIFTS Active 20-30 Club of Bakersfield Aera Energy LLC AmazonSmile Foundation America’s Charities Atkinson Consulting Services, LLC Bakersfield East Rotary Bakersfield Hyundai Bakersfield West Rotary Stroope Family Foundation Bank of the Sierra Ben H. & Gladys Arkelian Foundation Bob and Stacie Bender Best Buy Foundation Craig and Susan Bonna Calpine Corporation Castle & Cooke California, Inc. Chevron USA Harry and Ethel West Foundation Huron Consulting Group Inc. Jim Burke Ford Lincoln Laborer’s Int’l Union of No. America Local 220 LeBeau-Thelen, LLP Nickel Family LLC Pepsi Beverages Company Premier Equipment Rentals, Inc. Rotary Club of Bakersfield Twilight Rotary Club of Bakersfield West Royal Line Trans, Inc. Assemblymember Rudy Salas S.C. Anderson Sea Research Foundation The Virginia and Alfred Harrell Foundation Union Pacific Foundation United Way, Inc.

Valley Strong Credit Union Walter Mortensen Insurance William and Florence Wheeler Foundation Wonderful Giving Wonderful Real Estate Development

INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS Randall and Constance Adams Justin and April Ahart

Jimmie Ahl Timothy Ashlock Michelle Ashton Ariel and Abby Auffant Laura Avila Alex M. Balfour Larry and Kay Bardin Joe Bariffi Adam Belter Cathy Bennett Bruce Beretta and Melissa Fortune Dean Bishop Aimee Blaine John Bohan Jlynn Bowen Dale Brost John and Jean Browning Charles and Theresa Bush Chris Caratan Tracey Carlile Sean Carlsen Tom Carosella Luis Castro Phillip Cerro Henry Chatman Carolyn Chavez Joann Christensen Chuck Church Doug and Janet Clary Ira and Carole Cohen Kay Coodey Lorraine Coodey Gary and Donna Cross Azucena Cruz Mickey Cushine Mike and Maggie Cushine Matt Damian Veronica Deleon Sabrina Delgado William and Sandra Descary Omid Deylami Ken Dow Trent Driesen Armand and Joanie Fitzgerald Donald Fitzgerald Patrick Flores Vince and Teresa Ford Greg and Heather Frank Melissa Frank Christine Frazier Anthony Galagaza Cathleen Gandara Phil and Sue Gaskill Michael Martin George Mike and Shari George Gwendolyn L Gerhardt George and Marcia Giumarra Renee Goodwin Stephen and Kathryn Hair Robert and Jerry Haner Ericka Harper

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Scott and Denise Haynes Matthew Hewett Mary Hill Herbert Hochstatter Shawn Holzworth Cynthia Huggins Greg Jarvis Susan Jennings Leslie Jones Kadee Kaasa Rod Kane Joseph Kennedy Geoff and Lisa King Larry Koman Allan Krauter and Anna Agenjo Douglas and Angela Landon Steve and Anita Layton Bernie and Lynn LeBeau Gregory and Angela Lockard Andrew Lopez-Landeros Christopher Lowe Mallory Lumsden Zachary Martindale Erlinda Martinez Lisa McAlister Greg McNeish Teresa Mejia Jessie Mendez Tom and Diana Mestmaker Lee and Mavis Meyer Jessica Millan Cheryl Miller Linda Mohammad Chris and Jovan Molina Alex and Kristin Monsibais Jonathan and Mary Anne Mueller Ronald and Kathleen Murotani Jane Myneni Kurt and Luisa Neher Anthony and Donna Oehlert Shannan Ogilvie Dale Oprandy Rickey O’ Sullivan Joe and Rita Parugrug Lanette Phillips-Watson Anindya Poddar Cindy and Mark Pollard Etienne Rabe Noel Raub

ing Community

0 to August 31, 2020

Kari Reichert Kevin Reiser Randy and Mary Richardson Mike and Danette Rinehart Rachel Roberts Maria Rodriguez Jose Romo Lameka Ross Ed Rowlings Kendrick Royer William Sandrini Jim and Robin Scott Dan and Cecelia Shanyfelt Keith and Noel Shotts Sam and Lorraine Siador Carol Simmons John and Christina Sistrunk Paul Skarphol Zane and Amy Smith Cecilia Solis Ashley Southworth Walter Strickland Carol Sugimori Diane Sullivan Mitchell Swen Victor Tamayo Ian Tash Jesse and Martha Terrazas Tung Trang & Ingrid Wang Jack Waite Josh and Susan Wall Rita Waugh Donald and Linda Whipple Gloria Williams Rick and Jenna Williams Ted Witt Deborah Wood Tom Woodard

CORPORATE/ORGANIZATION/ FOUNDATION IN-KIND GIFTS Health Net of California Pottery Barn Tejon Ranch Outlet Rotary Club of Bakersfield East Kern Oil & Refining Co.

INDIVIDUAL IN-KIND GIFTS Bakersfield Market Employees of Bank of America Donna Cross Reed Madden Mary Vasinda

TRIBUTES In Memory of Our Parents By: Steve and Ann Carey

There are many ways you can help the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County. Your financial support will allow us to continue to offer essential programs for underserved youth. Donate Online

It’s easy! Make a tax-deductible donation online at https://www.bgclubsofkerncounty.org/donate

Join Club 66

It’s the easiest and best way to offer dependable support each month to our youth in Kern County. Sign up at https://www.bgclubsofkerncounty.org/club66

Match your gift

Contact your company’s human resources department to determine if your employer matches charitable donations to double your investment.

Event Sponsorship

Sponsor one of our many special events throughout the year.

Gifts of Stock

If you use publicly-traded stocks, bonds, or mutual fund shares to make your gift, you will receive an additional tax benefit: the IRS allows you to make your transfer to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County without recognizing capital gains on the appreciation. You can make a larger donation than you could make with cash and receive a larger tax deduction.

Planned Giving

Regardless of your age or the size of your estate, many vehicles allow you to balance your own income needs, the needs of your family, and your philanthropic interests. Follow Us on Social Media Support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County by starting a fundraiser on your Facebook page for your birthday or other important milestones.

Amazon Smile

When doing your online shopping through Amazon, go to smile.amazon.com, and select the “BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF KERN COUNTY” as your non-profit of choice. A portion of your purchase will then be donated to your local Boys & Girls Club. Call our Resource Development Department at 661-325-3730 about gift opportunities.

THANK YOU

In Memory of Richard Eckerman By: The Leonis Family Foundation

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Feeding children healthy meals while tantalizing their discriminating palates is the responsibility of our knowledgeable and passionate Nutrition Coordinator, Chelsea Dow, and her dedicated nutrition staff. Our staff is challenged to feed over 1,200 at-risk and disadvantaged children two meals each day in Arvin, Bakersfield, and Lamont through eight community and Club sites. They meet this challenge with enthusiasm! The first time the Boys & Girls Club staff heard the words “food Insecurity,” and learned that many children in Kern County who rely on their school for breakfast and lunch were going without dinner, was the moment our team acknowledged that we could do more. Through the creative mind of our Associate Executive Director, Barry Hill, and the willingness of our team to transform beyond youth development, our nutrition program was established in 2014 and continues to evolve. Most recently, the nutrition program increased to serving two meals per day, six days per week (Saturday and Sunday meals are packaged together and distributed on Saturday), so children continue to

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receive nutritious food while limiting potential exposure to COVID-19. The nutrition staff each day prepare and package about 2,400 healthy meals utilizing the two kitchens and a refrigerated truck in the garden at the Boys & Girls Club - Armstrong Youth Center. The meals are packed up in coolers and hotboxes then transported by Club vans to the community and

“305,000 meals served to children since March 2020” Club sites where staff serve the healthy meals to Club members as well as hand out “to go” meals for children in the community. Since March, when the COVID-19 crisis closed school campuses, almost 305,000 meals have been served to children in need by the Club’s nutrition program. Feeding children is truly an art form and requires creativity, imagination, and resourcefulness so that each meal is a masterpiece!

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Return Service Requested OF KERN COUNTY

801 Niles Street PO BIN 5J Bakersfield, CA 93385

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