18 | lifestyle & arts sunday breakfast ■ by
david sweet
When Rosalind Franklin students explained to Boys & Girls Club of Lake County youngsters the dangers of wearing shoes that didn’t fit, they also took time to measure their feet. Many of the youth, who are predominantly from Waukegan, owned shoes two sizes too small – or worse. “This blew me away,” says Cesilie Price, chief executive officer of the Boys & Girls Club of Lake County. It became even more startling when teenagers shopped for new shoes, thanks to the generosity of the non-profit’s partners. One young man was obviously not comfortable; he asked to show up with a staff member at another time away from the others. “He had never been in a shoe store,” Price said. “He asked if he could take the tissue out of the box. He asked if he could try the shoes on.” Technically, the North Shore of Chicago runs to the Wisconsin border. But once one passes the north border of Lake Bluff, Sheridan Road takes on a far grittier feel. Mansions give way to abandoned storefronts. With locations in Zion, Waukegan and North Chicago, the Boys & Girls Club of Lake County is an oasis for the troubled area. More than a quarter of residents in Waukegan, for example, report income below the poverty line; more than half of club members come from single-parent homes. Boys and girls from 6 to 18 by the hundreds are able to learn essential skills in a safe environment. About two years ago, Price led a change of emphasis at the club. Programming would focus on three areas: healthy lifestyles, academic success and good character/ citizenship.
“We felt that was what children needed the most. We felt we needed to give them skills to be successful citizens in the future,” explained the Lake Forest resident over a breakfast of oatmeal and coffee at Egg Harbor Cafe. “A year later, the national program came out with the same formula — we were ahead of the curve.” Today the club offers programs called Money Matters: Make It Count (created with the Charles Schwab Foundation), Goals for Graduation and CareerLaunch. A commitment to computers is also apparent. “Kids in underserved communities must have access to technology,” said Price, who noted programs show members the basics of how to use a computer and how to research on the Internet. One challenge is many members — who fill out an application which a parent or guardian must sign and pay $20 for 36 weeks of after-school access — can’t read, even in high school. “No teacher says, ‘You can’t read. We’ll keep you at this level.’ They move them on,“ said Price, who added that Dan Coad of Lake Forest High School brings students to the club to tutor members. “When they’re older and can’t read well, they’re embarrassed.” With a budget of $1.3 million a year, the Boys & Girls Club of Lake County depends on corporations, foundations and individuals to fund operations (it received a threeyear grant from the National Recreation Foundation for $120,000 a year to promote physical fitness and healthy choices among members’ families). Its 13th annual benefit will take place Saturday, Feb. 23 at Cuneo Mansion and Gardens in Vernon Hills (information available at www.bgclc.com). Price believes it’s important to teach these youngsters to give back. During a
Price is right for youth in need Santa’s Workshop last month, they created presents to give three or four loved ones at Christmas. “You know how good it feels to give someone something? Some of these children have never been able to do that,” she said. Born in Springfield, Price attended college in Texas and then moved to the San Francisco area with her husband. That opened her eyes to some problems in education — her fourth-grader’s class contained 43 students, and some schools out there didn’t offer physical education classes or art because they couldn’t pay the teachers. She was on the founding board of the Boys & Girls Club 14 years ago and served as a board member until she was tapped as chief executive officer five years ago. “It’s one of the jobs you get excited about every day,” she said. “You see the way you’re changing people’s lives.” ■ Cesilie Price
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