Stories about the kids and families you have helped YOU HELPED OPEN EIGHT NEW CLUBS
SUMMER 2022
YOUR CLUBS
Thesays.Longfellow Club is one of eight new sites Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio opened this summer, thanks to your support. The expansion – the first step in a plan to double the number of kids we serve by 2025 – involved opening new Clubs in Lorain, Euclid, Cuyahoga Falls, Akron (two locations), Garfield Heights, Elyria and New London, which is BGCNEO’s first site in Huron County. The additional sites generated nearly 1,000 new Club membership applications.
Reviews from kids and the community have been positive. For example, families warmly welcomed Longfellow Club because it filled a big need on Lorain’s east side, according to Club Director Samuel ClubsSanchez.offer safe, fun places for kids ages 6-18 to go after school and in the summer, with a focus on academic success, healthy lifestyles and character development. There is no cost to join.
Brandon Padgett, director of the new Club at Akron North High School, expects attendance to grow: “We have an excellent group of kids to build upon at this point, and we are working hard to make sure that we provide an exceptional environment that is focused on them and their needs.”
Fayth, 11, loves the new Longfellow Middle School Boys & Girls Club in Lorain. “We get to do new things every day, we get to have new experiences and we get to talk to new people,” she
New esports room aims to attract teens
NBA, Kaiser say ‘yes, yes, yes’ to Club project
A new esports room opened at our Desich Family Campus in Lorain, thanks to contributions from corporate, municipal and nonprofit supporters. BGCNEO created the new room in response to a rise in crime on Lorain’s South side and it enables Club teens to participate in the booming esports movement, which now has 29.6 million monthly viewers. Lorain Mayor Jack Bradley and Police Chief James McCann cut the ribbon on the state-of-the-art room, which was funded by contributions from the Lorain Police Department, City of Lorain, Mayor Bradley, NOPEC, the Veard Family, the Community Foundation of Lorain County, BODYARMOR, T3 Performance and Akron Esports. Mike Conibear, BGCNEO regional director for Lorain County, says the game room and the proposed expansion at Desich Club will attract more teens to the Club.
The finger wag was unmistakable. It really was Dikembe Mutombo. The NBA legend incorporated his “No, no, no” gesture into his appearance at our King Kennedy Club, where the league and Kaiser Permanente unveiled major improvements, including a new gym floor, upgrades to the game room and new equipment for the kitchen. The projects were highlighted at the NBA All-Star FIT Celebration presented by Kaiser AttendeesPermanente.includedMutombo, who challenged kids to follow their dreams; Cleveland Cavaliers CEO and BGCNEO Board member Nic Barlage; former NBA player Jason Collins; former WNBA player Val Whiting; and Cleveland Ward 5 Councilman and BGCNEO Director of Sports and Recreation, Richard Starr.
More than 400 runners and walkers took part in this year’s Race for Kids at Cleveland Metroparks TheZoo.event raised about $160,000 for the benefit of kids across Northeast Ohio. Cleveland Guardians pitcher Triston McKenzie was the official race ambassador. Triston connected with attendees and spoke to the crowd. “I’m glad I get to come out here on a Saturday morning and be part of this,” he said.
We thank VIP Breakfast Tent Sponsor Bridgestone/CFNA; Registration Sponsor GOJO Industries; Gold sponsors Cleveland Cliffs, Third Federal Foundation and Heinen’s; Silver sponsors Charles Schwab, Grant Thornton, Huntington National Bank, Saint Gobain, Sherwin Williams, Swagelok, Synthomer Foundation, Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP, Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Clinic, MRI Software and Oswald Companies and Bronze sponsors KeyBank, Erie Bank, Frantz Ward and Legacy Roofing Services. New venue for Blue Jeans for Blue doors
Race for Kids draws a crowd at the zoo
Blue Jeans for Blue Doors, the annual fundraising event for our Club kids in Erie County, will take place this year at an exciting new location: the recently renovated Sawmill Creek Resort in Huron. This year’s event will take place from 5-8 p.m. on Sept. 15 at Sawmill Creek, which was purchased by Cedar Point in 2019, and renovated and reopened earlier this year after COVID-caused delays. Attendees at this casual event will enjoy great food and drink, a chance to try their luck opening one of the Blue Doors, an auction and an update on the Clubs. Don’t miss out on your opportunity to attend this popular event. To purchase tickets, visit https://one.bidpal.net/ bjbd/welcome or scan this QR code. Interested in becoming a sponsor? Please reach out to Grace Marras at gmarras@bgcneo.org or (216)-306-3843.
Aspire! 2022 has a youthful flavor
For the first time since 2019, BGCNEO held its Aspire! gala in person at the St. George Fellowship Centre in Fairlawn. About 150 guests enjoyed an evening highlighted by appearances by 2021 Ohio Boys & Girls Clubs Youth of the Year Abrianna Johnson and 2022 BGCNEO Youth of the Year Nevaeh Richardson.
Broadway
More than 80 volunteers from the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association installed a new all-purpose court, rejuvenated a baseball field, cleaned up our urban farm and spruced up the grounds at our Broadway Club in one of the largest service projects ever done for BGCNEO. The project is a big boost for BGCNEO’s largest Club, serving up to 170 kids a day. The VersaCourt installed at the Club can be used for basketball, tennis, volleyball and ice skating in the winter. Broadway Club Director Joseph Greathouse says, “Our kids have wanted an outdoor court for years, and the volunteers from IBTTA made it possible. We are beyond grateful to IBTTA.”
Volunteers put on full-court press at
We thank Power Hour sponsor Pride One Construction; Good Character sponsor The Richard And Alita Rogers Family Foundation; Smart Moves sponsors Akron Children’s Hospital, Baird, Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLC, Summa Health Medical Staff, Fifth Third Bank, Scott And Linda Earhart, Westfield and Synthomer Foundation; and Career Launch sponsors The University Of Akron, Paula Christ, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Roger And Sally Read, Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority, Wells Fargo Advisors, Huntington National Bank, JW Didado Electric, Goodyear, Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro’s Department of Job and Family Services and Summa Health.
About 30 Club members from Lorain and Cleveland got an up-close look at vehicle maintenance when experts from Bridgestone Retail demonstratedOperations car-care essentials at Stepstone Academy in Cleveland. In addition, Bridgestone revealed that BGCNEO was selected as one of 20 Clubs nationwide to receive a $20,000 donation in celebration of the company’s Driving Great Futures initiative. BGCNEO staffers Mike Conibear and Shaquira Johnson took part in an electronics summit at Lorain
Building Great Futures, a program in which Club teens help rehabilitate homes in concert with Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity and Youth Opportunities Unlimited, kicked off its fifth year with 15 youth working on homes in the Buckeye Neighborhood. The teens are trained in the construction trades. Fourteen homes have been rehabilitated by youth in the program since it began.
Broadway Club members took part in Reality Store, a Charles Schwab program in which teens get a chance to practice their financial decisionmaking skills during a fun and engaging event. The game promotes fiscal responsibility by showing players how every financial decision impacts their future. ”I truly underestimated the amount of bills you take care of adulthood,”duringsaid Club member Ramone.
NextFlex.andprogramandoftalkTheIdeationCampanaCommunityCountyCollege’sCenterforandCreation.eventfeaturedabyU.S.SecretaryLaborMartinWalshhighlightedajointbetweenLCCCaconsortiumcalled
EVENTS
We were honored to host the Jr. NBA Adaptive Sports/Wheelchair Clinic, with participants from Empower Sports, Adaptive Sports Ohio and the Achievement Centers for Children. It was a great day for our Club kids to focus on abilities and to make new friends. About a dozen of our Club kids tried out wheelchair basketball for the first time.
When a neighborhood library closed, BGCNEO volunteer Cassandra Gordon suggested a Little Free Library be installed next to our King Kennedy Club in Cleveland. Enter WKYC anchor Jay Crawford, who not only built the tiny library but installed it during a live broadcast. Cassandra’s daughter, Ty’Janeya, 15, was named the official “steward” of the Little Free SeventyLibrary.Mr.Hero locations throughout Northeast Ohio are going the extra mile for our kids by participating in an onsite fundraising campaign. Mr. Hero hopes to raise $8,000 to $10,000 by asking customers to support our kids. In an effort to curb youth violence, BGCNEO teamed up with the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority to bolster a popular football and cheerleading program. The Clubs and CMHA took control of the Cleveland Muny League Renegades, which serves kids ages 5-14. More than 100 kids are expected to be in the Renegades program this fall. Kids in our Opening Track music program got to work with acclaimed Nashville songwriters Ryan Shea Smith and Jonathan Kingham at the annual Songwriting Workshop at Lorain County Community College. They wrote a song about their experiences titled, “Around this Town.” The music program has expanded from four to 39 Clubs in less than one year!
HIGHLIGHTS
Keyondra, 17 Broadway Club, Cleveland I have been involved with Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio through the Finance Committee and Advisory Board since 2018.
I come to the Boys & Girls Club to get rid of stress and anxiety. They motivate me to be the best version of myself. Even though we are not blood, we are family. And I know that we’ll always look out for one another, no matter what. When I first attended the Club, I knew I belonged because everyone made me feel welcome. That’s why the Boys & Girls Club will always have a spot in my life.
WHY
Lisa Schultz, Westlake We can always do more to help those in need around us, however often resources such as our time and financial resources limit those opportu nities. I have always had empathy towards those around me who are facing issues whether it be so cial, economic, age, disabilities, or other forms of disadvantages or hindrances. Helping those out in my local or surrounding communities serves the intended purpose of making our area stronger and hopefully shows those around me they can make a tremendous impact also. If everyone gives just a little time or financial assistance, a great impact can be made that dramatically improves the conditions that those in need are facing. With enough support and backing, it will lead to lifelong positive impacts to the people around us. Seeing a smiling child’s face and hearing their loud, heart felt laughter is all the payback any of us should need when we volunteer our time.
Chris Matta, North Ridgeville I VOLUNTEER WHY I GIVE WHY BELONG
I
Giving my time, effort, and financial commitments to the Clubs has been one of the easiest things I’ve done simply due to the unwavering support and stability the Clubs provide our kids. Being a mom of two young children gives it a whole new meaning for me. I want my kids to grow up with all the support and resources possible, and all the kids in our communities need that too. It’s up to us to help provide that. Giving to the Clubs is fulfilling, fun and provides me a way to give back to others. These kids are our future and it’s been an amazing experience to be an advocate to help make that happen.
6114 Broadway Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44127 NON PROFIT U.S. PermitClevelandPAIDPostageOHNo.3046 coming up
Sept. 15: Blue Jeans for Blue Doors at Sawmill Creek Resort in Huron
Sept. 17: NEORSD’s Clean Water Fest in Cuyahoga Heights
Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio 6114 Broadway Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44127 (216) 883-2106 www.bgcneo.org BgcloraincountyBGCWRbgcsanduskybgcneocleveland bgcneo
Sept. 15: Bridge Board’s Tee it Up for Kids fundraiser at Top Golf in Independence
