| Member Spotlight
Joshua Carter |  |
Joshua Carter is an alumnus of the FBR Branch @ THEARC in Washington, DC. In 2008 he was selected as the BGCGW Youth of the Year. Now, he is entering his junior year at the University of Pittsburgh majoring in mechanical engineering.
Joshua is an active member of the university's Chemistry Club and works in the computer
lab, all while maintaining
a 3.5 GPA. Joshua is also enrolled in a Co-op Program which allows him to work every other semester in his chosen field of study. The program prepares students for job placement after graduation. In the summer Joshua alternates between working at jobs in his field one year and as a counselor at BGCGW's Camp Brown the next. He believes it's important to give back and hopes he can inspire others through his example. Joshua hopes one day to work for BMW to help design the Ultimate Driving Machine. What better choice for what we believe is the Ultimate BGCGW Alum.
|
| Funder of the Month
|  |
Art Gallery
ICON 10
Visual Arts Winner
| |
Sydney Sharp, age 11
Silver Spring Branch |
| What's Happening at Camp Brown?
After the successful Julliard Jazz Camp and Performance Arts Camp, Camp Ernest Brown is in full swing for Open Enrollment. 85 students were enrolled in the first week, with "Adventure Week" as the theme. The following week "Showtime Week" is completely full as families across the District excitedly enroll their youth in this 73 year-old tradition.
Future themes include:
"Homecoming Week"
"Olympic Week"
" International Week"
Enrollment for upcoming weeks is still open and ready to accept youth.
To make a donation or for more information contact:
|  Morning Exercises |
Beautiful Camp Grounds
 Camp Staff
Teen Arts Performers (T.A.P.) Camp
|
|
|
|
Richard England Clubhouse 14 Gets a New Club Tech Center of Excellence
Clubhouse 14 member, LaDawn Curley, shares her excitement for the new Tech Center and personally thanks Microsoft for their generosity | On Monday, June 14th, BGCGW along with representatives from Microsoft, proudly unveiled its state-of-the-art Club Tech Center of Excellence at the Richard England Clubhouse 14 in NE, Washington DC. Made possible by a grant from Microsoft, the new Center is one of 10 opening in Boys & Girls Clubs across the country this year and next. The site was selected from thousands of Clubs based on its outstanding efforts in increasing the digital literacy of children and teens.
"This is a great honor for our Club," says BGCGW's President & CEO, Pandit F. Wright. "We are thrilled to be recognized by Microsoft for our technology programming, and excited by this opportunity to further enhance our Club members' technological skills."
Microsoft's Donna Woodall (left) joins member LaDawn Curley, BGCGW President & CEO Pandit Wright, and DC Regional Board President Steve Shaff in the official ribbon-cutting ceremony | The Center of Excellence is the latest evolution of Club Tech, a
decade-long initiative developed by Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Microsoft. As founding sponsor of Club Tech, Microsoft provides software, training and digital literacy curricula to young people at more than 3,600 Boys & Girls Clubs around the world every year. Microsoft and Boys & Girls Clubs of America will provide training and support to ensure the Center's success.
Microsoft Representatives Rafael Maldonado (left) and Matthew Bando (center) get the thumbs up from club members enjoying their new Tech Center | A model of technology programming for all Clubs, the new Club Tech Center of Excellence features state-of-the-art Microsoft software and dedicated space to foster creativity and teamwork. Along with teaching young people how to navigate basic technology functions, the Center will provide instruction in such areas as creating a resume, designing websites and restoring computers. Activities are designed to help youth develop critical thinking, project management and problem-solving skills. The ultimate goal is to enable young people to do well in school and prepare them for success in a 21st century workforce. |
|
European Power Company ALSTOM
Lights Up BGCGW with $10,000 Donation
(L to R) BGCGW Board Member Justin Jordan, Alstom CEO Patrick Kron, Alstom N.A. President & CEO Pierre Gauthier, BGCGW VP Marketing & Communications Eric Liley, BGCGW Board Member Phil Garfinkle, and Christina Lecuyer | BGCGW would like to thank ALSTOM for their generous contribution of $10,000.
The donation and check presentation took place at the company's first annual golf and camaraderie event held on Friday June 25, at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm in Potomac, Maryland.
Fifty golfers representing the power, energy and transportation industries participated in the golf outing. Also attending were BGCGW Vice President Marketing & Communications Eric Liley who was on hand for the check presentation ceremony. BGCGW Board members Justin Jordan and Phil Garfinkle hit the links with other foursomes throughout the day which included ALSTOM North America President & CEO Pierre Gauthier, company CEO Patrick Kron and the Golf Channel's Big Break Contestant, Christina Lecuyer.
ALSTOM is a global leader in equipment and services for power generation and rail transportation. The company with $26.7 billion dollars in sales revenue, also focuses on innovative and environmentally friendly technology, generating 25% of the world's electricity. |
|
18th Annual Safeway National Capital Barbecue Battle
(L to R) MPD Lt. Ewell, BGCGW President & CEO Pandit Wright, & WUSA9 Chief Meterologist Topper Shutt at Opening Ceremony |
The Safeway Barbecue Battle rolled into the Nation's Capitol on June 26 & 27, amid some of hottest weather on record. This unique event remains one of Washington's largest annual food and music festivals, bringing together many of Americas' favorite pastimes in a celebration of food, music, community and family fun.
The Safeway Barbecue Battle is one of the largest annual fundraisers for Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington and has raised over one million dollars for the youth in the metropolitan area.
This year's event kicked off with an opening ceremony that included District notables, Millicent West, Head of DC's Homeland Security Office, Metropolitan Assistant Police Chief Diane Groomes, BGCGW President & CEO, Pandit Wright and WUSA-9 TV news personality Topper Schutt. A highlight of the ceremony was an acapella rendition of the National Anthem performed by 15 Teen Arts Performers (T.A.P), conducted by BGCGW Artistic Director Tony Small.
DC Legend and Performing Artist Chuck Brown autographing guitar for BGCGW auction | Nothing goes better with delicious barbecue than lots of great rock, reggae, R&B, jazz and blues music. Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington was proud to auction off a Chuck Brown autographed electric guitar at their booth, donated courtesy of the Gibson Guitar Showroom in Washington, DC. The auction raised $3,500.
|
BGCGW Beneficiary of Annual Congressional
Baseball Game
Rachel Robinson (center) with BGCGW Chief Development Officer Leah Lamb (left) and members from the FBR Branch @ THEARC. |
Rachel Robinson, the widow of baseball pioneer and Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson, threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the 49th Annual Roll Call Congressional Baseball Game on Tuesday, June 29th. This annual grudge match between Congressional Democrats and Republicans drew over 8,000 attendees to Nationals Park. Proceeds from the game benefited Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington and the Washington Literacy Council.
Robinson was in Washington, D.C., to promote the work of the Jackie Robinson Foundation, which she founded in 1973, shortly after her husband's death. The foundation provides four-year college scholarships to needy minority youths.
BGCGW's partnership with the Congressional Baseball Game staffers was managed by Sports, Recreation and Fitness Director, Tim Phillips. BGCGW Chief Development Officer, Leah Lamb and DC Board member Mark Bailen took to the field to participate in check presentation. FBR Branch youth and other BGCGW volunteer staff were on hand to greet baseball fans as they arrived at the stadium. |
 Finalists Named
ICON 10 Performing Arts Finalists with judges: Women's Leadership Group (WLG) Event Chairman Barbara Hawthorn (4th from right), WLG Founder & Chairman Patty Perkins Andringa (2nd from right), and performing artist Raya Trent (far right) |
On June 19, BGCGW held its annual ICON Regional Talent Competition at the Culmore Character Club in Falls Church, VA. Ten performing acts were selected to advance to the Final Competition being held at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage on October 4, 2010 at 6:00PM. They are:
Performing Arts
Julia Estrada, Culmore Character Club, Falls Church, VA
Brian Gaither, ORR Elementary School Branch, DC
Tiffany Greene, Trinity Greene, and Adiah Johnson, Clubhouse # 6, DC
Carlos Hood, Jelleff Branch, Washington, DC
Jada Jackson, ORR Elementary School Branch, DC
Brandon Kelly, FBR Branch @ THEARC, DC
Marc Loud, Jelleff Branch, DC
Tamika McKay, Clubhouse # 14, DC
Kaitlyn Myers, Fredericksburg Regional Branch, Fredericksburg, VA
Sandra Stevenson, ORR Elementary School Branch, DC
The ICON Program was first implemented in 2003. A brain-child of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington's (BGCGW) Women's Leadership Group, this initiative was created to address the ever increasing budget cuts in the area of the cultural arts within our schools. ICON provides club members an avenue to develop and showcase their hidden talents. From singing to dancing, to poetry to comedy, to playing instruments, youth members have displayed extraordinary talent that may have otherwise gone unnoticed.
At the Kennedy Center performance, five acts or "ICONs" will be selected to perform at the ICON 10 Dinner & Talent Showcase Benefit Gala to an audience of nearly 400 people. This event will take place at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, DC on November 17, 2010.
ICON 10 Visual Arts entries | In 2008, the visual arts were incorporated into the ICON program as another way of increasing awareness and offering additional exposure to even more kids. This year's winners will have they work displayed at the Kennedy Center on October 4th and at the Gala in November. The winning artists are:
ICON 10 Visual Arts Winners with WLG members Patty Perkins Andringa (rear center) and Barbara Hawthorn (far right) | Visual Arts
Quyen Ha, Culmore Character Club,
Falls Church, VA
Sibhat Hagos, Jelleff Branch, DC
Shawna Harris-Lenoir,
FBR Branch @ THEARC, DC
Caprice Humphries, FBR Branch @ THEARC, DC
Abraham Kinguelewa, Germantown Branch, Germantown, MD
Jamilla Lewis, Fredericksburg Regional Branch, Fredericksburg, VA
Robert Liston, Culmore Character Club, Falls Church, VA
Shenita Malone, Jelleff Branch, DC
Clarity Miller, Jelleff Branch, DC
Whitney Octavious, Jelleff Branch, DC
Aniyah Ownes, ORR Elementary School Branch, DC
JaJuan Scott, FBR Branch @ THEARC, DC
Sydney Sharp, Silver Spring Branch, Silver Spring, MD
For more information about this program or to find out how you can support this effort please contact Terri Johnson, tjohnson@bgcgw.org.
|
|
Club "Highlights"
BGCGW Alexandria/Fairfax Regional Director Wonhee Kang wows the crowd with her jazzy sounds. |
Fairfax Region's
5th Annual Benefit Concert
The annual Fairfax County Boys & Girls Clubs' Benefit, held on June 26 at the Culmore Character club, was off to a hot start. The original venue's air conditioning couldn't have picked a better time to conk out, leaving the organizers no choice but to transfer to the adjacent Fellowship Hall. But once the first notes were played by Charles Brubeck and his jazz quartet, the smooth music brought in both a cool soothing feeling to the audience and special warmth to the occasion of giving.
As a fund raising event of the Boys & Girls Clubs in Alexandria/ Fairfax region, the benefit concert aimed to raise funds to pay for membership fees of members from low income families in the neighboring communities. A big turn-out for the evening, which included BGCGW President and CEO Pandit Wright, was just what the concert needed to generate scholarships for the clubs' after-school programs and summer camp attendees.
Charles Brubeck, who has been performing and recording with his own jazz group since 1989, entertained the audience with a repertoire of jazz greats. Brubeck's group has performed up and down the East coast in such settings as Blues Alley and the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, the Zeitgeist Gallery in Boston, Harry's in Rochester New York, and regularly at The Ice House Café in Herndon, Virginia. By performing for the benefit concert and in special musical numbers with Regional Director Wonhee Kang, Brubeck and his quartet reached out to kids and adults alike, in the same manner that his recordings and performances have met critical success throughout the United States and Europe.
Highlights of the evening's program featured Youth of the Year Awardees, Service Awards for staff who have reached 5 year milestones, and club alumni now in college who were awarded scholarship assistance from the Boys and Girls Club. President and CEO Pandit Wright kicked off the Change for Change campaign where people were asked to save then donate their loose change to the Club. Ms. Wright commended the concert and its organizers saying that it was a win-win situation with raising the much needed funds while at the same time enjoying great music in the company of others.
Fredericksburg Region's
Annual Rib & Chicken Benefit Dinner
Club member Ahmad Spence with honoree Marci Catlett, Assistant Superintendent of Fredericksburg City Schools & Regional Board member | The Fredericksburg Regional Branch recently held its 9th Annual Rib & Chicken Dinner at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA. The event was attended by over 200 guests, raising more than $21,000 for Club programs. The evening included a tribute to individuals that have shown a commitment and dedication to the community. Honorees included Marci Catlett, Assistant Superintendent of Fredericksburg City Schools; Fred Rankin, President & CEO of Mary Washington Health Care; and Jan Shaffer, retired BGCGW professional. Also recognized was club member Analisa Wall who received the $2500 Hank Aaron "Chasing the Dream" Award. A special thanks to event sponsors: Cox Communications, Sodexo USA, GEICO, Famous Daves and Costco.
Silver Spring
Kaleidoscope Art Exhibit
The Silver Spring Branch's Kaleidoscope Arts Festival was a culminating activity to bring closure to the Spring school year graphic arts program. Between the months of February and May, members in the after-school program, ranging in ages from 5-12 years, participated in a number of creative graphic arts activities. The completed works were displayed at the Festival to an audience of parents, staff, and volunteers. Each participant had the opportunity to showcase their work in a gallery style presentation. The exhibit ran for two weeks.
Visits the White House
 *1 out of every 3 kids in the U.S. are overweight or obese; $150 billion a year is being spent treating obesity-related illnesses.
On June 25th, 80 members and staffers from the FBR Branch were invited to participate in the "South Lawn Series." As part of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move Initiative, the series consists of a variety of events held throughout the summer to bring local children, sports leagues, community programs and coaches to the White House to participate in sports, games and activities.
Similar to BGCA's long standing FIT U Program, Let's Move is a national campaign created to combat childhood obesity. At its core, the initiative has four pillars: more nutrition information, increased physical activity, easier access to healthy foods and personal responsibility.
While the first Lady was not able to attend BGCGW participants were greeted on the South Lawn by BGCA advocate and former Olympic Gold Medal Gymnast, Dominique Dawes. During the day, members participated in a variety of recreational activities and ate healthy snacks. |
|
|
|
|
