FEATURE STORIES

• Economy hurts Club budget
• Success Story
• Ready... Camera... Action
• Home Depot helps kids with Soap Box Derby
• Holland Conneely receives leadership award
• MCAA Golf Clinics
• Alumni Spotlight: Charlie Powell
• Board Profile: Bruce Dunn

Economy negatively impacts Club Budget

Cutbacks in government and foundation grants will impact the Club's operating budget and delivery of services during the upcoming year. State budget cuts have had a trickle-down effect to the county and city level. Poor performance by the stock market has reduced the size of foundation portfolios and the amount of funds available for distribution. The net result is fewer and smaller grants being made to community-based organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club. A number of services provided by the Club will be reduced or eliminated due to loss of funding. These include counseling services in Borrego Springs and Ramona, an outreach program in Escondido and a technology program in the Metro Region. The after-school program in City Heights also will be eliminated, due to loss of a lease. Other services funded by the County of San Diego have been severely reduced. These include juvenile diversion and tobacco prevention programs in the Metro Region. On a positive note, cuts were limited to specific programs and will have no impact on the Club's core services at its 10 branch clubhouses. Club staff has prepared and submitted proposals requesting funding from alternative sources to replace programs which were impacted.

Success Story

Like many single parents today, it was hard for Luisa to make ends meet. Moving to a new city, finding a job to support her two children, and making sure that her family was safe and well looked after simply wasn't a possibility until Luisa found the Boys & Girls Clubs. Luisa Bishop-Lenart and her two children, Samantha and Jonah, moved to United States from the Philippines a little over a year ago, and in May of last came to Escondido. New to the city, and with two young children, it was hard to find time to for a job. Luisa's sister, who lives in Chula Vista, told Luisa about the Boys Girls Clubs and how club services would be able to help. Luisa looked into Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego. With help from the staff, Luisa enrolled her children in the Child Development program at the Mitchell branch, using a Boys & Girls Club scholarship. "The staff was very friendly and always answered my questions. They gave me the help I needed to really get settled in a new city," said Luisa. The scholarship made it possible for Luisa to focus on her job search, knowing that her children were in a safe and supervised environment. Luisa did not waste any time, and within one week of her children's enrolment into the Club, she secured a job. In order to help Luisa to get on her feet financially, the Club continued to keep Samantha and Jonah on the scholarship for a few months. Today, Luisa and her family are off of the scholarship and continue to enjoy the now familiar benefits of the Boys & Girls Clubs. "This is why we are here, to help out children and their families. Success stories like Luisa's reaffirm our belief that our services are necessary and appreciated," said Danny Sherlock, president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego.

Ready... Camera... Action...

More than 30 youth who are enrolled in the Critical Hours Program at Inland North County branches recently got the opportunity to participate in the production of a public service announcement (PSA). With the guidance of Stephen McCurry of Triple Dare Productions in Los Angeles, Club members were responsible for the script, casting, wardrobe, makeup and even post-production of the PSA. All Critical Hours youth who wanted to participate had the opportunity to write a script, and after an extensive selection process by a panel of judges consisting of McCurry and a few Critical Hours youth, it was decided that a portion of each script would be used in the final piece. Participants signed up for positions that interested them and learned first hand about the detail and hard work that goes into the production of any multi-media project. Club members decided casting, with help from McCurry. The 30-second anti-alcohol public service announcement was filmed on May 3 and premiered on May 8 at the Mitchell branch in Escondido. Everyone involved hopes that a local television station will air the PSA. Aside from the invaluable experience that these participants were given, McCurry will be donating editing and camera equipment, at an estimated value of $13,000 to $15,000.

Home Depot sponsors Soap Box Derby

Home Depot donated 20 cars (and race fees) to Boys & Girls Club members to compete in the local Soap Box Derby. Youth from Linda Vista, Oakes, Encanto, Ramona, Borrego, Santa Margarita and Market Street competed. Brian Sandoval, from the Oakes Branch, won a trip to Akron, Ohio to compete in the national soap box derby. All expensesto be paid by Home Depot! The kids had a blast. What made the event even more meaningful was the support provided by Home Depot staff. Volunteers gave up their time to help disadvantaged youngsters learn how to build and race thier own cars.

Holland Conneely Receives Leadership Award

Two years ago, the Middle Managers Committee created the Excellence In Leadership Award to recognize middle managers who make a strong and positive impact on the kids, their clubs and their community. To be eligible, candidates must hold a management position and have been involved in the Movement for at least 2 years. Candidates were nominated by their supervisors or colleagues. The winner was selected by a committee of local Executive Directors/CEOs. There are many outstanding professionals in the County, but one stood out above the rest to receive the award for 2003. This year's recipient has been involved with Boys & Girls Clubs for over 17 years. She works in a community with many challenges: a high percentage of low-income families, a high percentage of immigrant families, and gang activity. Despite all this, this professional has made her branch a safe, fun and positive place. Her accomplishments have had a positive impact on the community beyond the Club as well. About 18 months ago, she turned her efforts to expanding club programs into a local Housing Site. There were many obstacles: Funds were very limited. Parents had a mistrust of anyone they didn't know. Language was a barrier for some. But she knew that the kids in the site needed the services. Every week, she brought art programs, Torch Club and Keystone to the members. Power Hour was offered every day. Field trips to the "main branch" were coordinated to allow housing site members to participate in athletic programs and special events. The greatest triumph was probably when four members from the Keystone Club were able to travel to Anaheim for the National Convention using funds that they had raised. She has also been the visionary behind the Teen Center that will be added to her branch over the next year. It had been a dream since she started at the Club. She has worked over the past three years with community leaders and grant writers to raise over $1.5 million for the project. By Summer 2004 her dream will be a reality. Her supervisors say, "Watching Holland interact with members is amazing. She has great relationships with them and the mutual respect and admiration is evident. Holland will put in whatever time is necessary to make her programs successful. She believes in the mission and the philosophy of the club and is a great ambassador for the organization."

Multi-Cultural Golf Association of America Golf Clinic

More than 25 members from the Mitchell Branch, Baker Branch and Market Street Housing site participated in a Golf Clinic sponsored by the Mult-Cultural Golf Association of America. Held in March at the Vineyard Golf Course in Escondido, members received instruction from 5 different golf pros. On hand to provide inspiration and excitement was former Charger Carl Wilson. Participants worked on putting, chipping, and driving and the clinic ended with a skills contest in all three of these areas. Three members took home 1st place trophies, four took home 2nd place trophies, and three took home 3rd place trophies. Graduates of the clinic received a golf bag and clubs. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego wishes to thank the Multi-Cultural Golf Association of America (MGAA) for providing our members with a memorable experience. Established in 1991, MGAA's mission is to make golf available and accessible to all people, with the belief that learning the game of golf leads to positive character development, self-discipline, academic achievement, self-reliance, creativity, imagination, principles, values, and a balanced approach for the youth of America.

Alumni Spotlight: Charlie Powell

Charlie Powell is a legendary San Diegan who used his God-given athletic abilities to excel in three professional sports. As a youth, Charlie watched workmen construct the first Boys Club in Southern California, the William J. Oakes Branch in Logan Heights. As one of the Club's original members, he participated in all Club activities and was especially fond of woodworking in the shop and sports on the grassless red clay field. He remembers the Club as a place where members were a mixture of nationalities, where everyone played harmoniously and where both English and Spanish were commonly spoken. He was a standout athlete at San Diego High School and was named one of the Top 100 San Diego Athletes of the Century by The San Diego Union-Tribune. He was signed out of high school by the St. Louis Browns baseball team (now known as the Baltimore Orioles) and became the second black player, after Satchel Paige, on their Major League roster. After being sent to the minors by the Browns, Charlie quit baseball and returned home to San Diego. He was recruited and signed by the San Francisco 49'ers, where he played for five years as a defensive end. He and running back Joe Perry were the only black players on the team. Later, he played two seasons for the Oakland Raiders. Charlie learned how to box at the Boys Club. He won his first 12 professional fights and went on to be ranked the No. 4 heavyweight in the world by Ring Magazine. After his career as an athlete, Charlie served as a representative for a local union. He is firm believer in the value of the Boys & Girls Club and is an active supporter of the Alumni Association for the William J. Oakes Branch.

Board Profile: Bruce Dunn

Some people thrive on challenges. When Bruce Dunn, owner of Mission Pools, was asked to donate a swimming pool for the Club’s Baker Branch in Escondido, he accepted the challenge and set out to organize construction. His employees donated 425 hours of labor, and 26 suppliers donated labor and materials. With the cooperation of city building inspectors, his team built the pool in three days and saved the Club $75,000 in expense. When the pool at the Club’s Clairemont Branch required renovation last spring, he secured donations of labor and materials and was able to save the Club 60% of the estimated cost. The pool was back in use in just three weeks, which was no small feat considering the time of year and amount of work performed. Bruce and his company are currently working to get the pools at the Club’s Linda Vista and William J. Oakes branches open by summer. Both of these aging pools were closed last summer and are undergoing extensive renovations. Bruce has served on the Club’s Inland Board of Directors since 1983. In 1985, he was instrumental in establishing Kash for Kids, a major fundraising event. He chaired the event in 1986 and has been a top solicitor of event sponsors since then. In 2002, he became a founding member of the Board of Governors of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego. In recognition of his work, Bruce received the Medallion Award from Boys & Girls Clubs of America in 1993 and the Silver Medallion Award in 1997.