This Week at the Clubs

In the last edition of "Week at the Clubs", we incorrectly identified the group competing at the Junior Olympics as wrestlers. They were actually WEIGHTLIFTERS. We apologize for the error.

The Team GKC Weightlifters did extremely well at the recent AAU Junior Olympic Games in Des Moines, IA. In addition to 5 first place finishes, 4 second place finishes, and 2 third place finishes, the team took home a Girls' Team Championship (see photo at top) and coach Anna Martin was voted the AAU Weightlifting Coach of the Year! Click here to visit our web site and see all of the results. Congratulations to all of our incredible youth and special kudos to Anna for a much-deserved honor!

The Clubs received a major school supply donation last week from Club friend and supporter Burns & McDonnell in the form of 300 backpacks, four truckloads of school supplies and a monetary donation for more. We thank Burns & McDonnell for their incredible support of our youth as they head back to school!

On July 31, the Hawthorne and Leslie Units collaborated on their first teen party/overnight hosted at Hawthorne. The event, sponsored by the Keystone Club, was held to promote non-violence in the neighborhood/community. Approximately 30 teens participated in the event with music, movies, pizza (donated by Domino's), tacos (donated by Taco Bell), and burgers and fries (donated by Burger King).

The Teen Apprentice program at the Wyandotte County Unit completed t-shirt designs in preparation for the Unit's annual Appreciation Luncheon held on Thursday, August 6. Members took several designs created by peers and created a line-up of fashion. Though the t-shirt designs were individual projects, the collective group will submit their designs for national Boys & Girls Club recognition in the area of Education & Career Development/Technology.

On Friday, August 7, the Clubs held a College & Career Day for teens at the Thornberry Unit. The day started with three guest speakers who spoke to the youth about starting a business, dressing for success and self-discipline. After lunch, the youth had the opportunity to walk through a college & career fair in the gym to visit with agencies who could directly impact their future, including such schools and groups as K-State, the Army, UMKC, Stevens, and the Air Force. Special thanks to Board Members Marty Stanley, Marilyn Townsend, and Cindy Weiner for speaking at the event.

The Drama Matters program took 35 members from various Club sites to see the musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at Starlight Theatre to learn more about live performance, sets, costumes & stage presence. Members were surprised to see how much work goes into set and costume changes and they especially loved seeing the car fly!

Leslie and Hawthorne teens attended Old Navy Career Day, where they learned how to prepare for the workforce. The day included lessons on wearing professional attire, filling out job applications, preparing resumes, and interview preparation. The youth also shadowed cashiers and even got to run the cash registers (scanning items, troubleshooting items without tags, etc.) and work as dressing room attendants. It was a fun and educational day for these Club teens.

The Clubs presented the 2009 Summer Science Fairs on August 5-6 at the Hawthorne and Thornberry Units. Science fair exhibits were the result of hard work during the summer months where Boys & Girls Clubs youth, ages 5-18, participated in science lessons taught by certified teachers. The youth worked diligently on these projects all summer and were thrilled to have the chance to show off their work.

Don't forget to use GoodSearch.com for your online searches and GoodShop.com for your online shopping to benefit the Clubs. Just enter "Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City" as the charity you want to support!