From the Desk of David Solo

President and CEO

Summer 2012 - Click here to view this release as a PDF.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Marin and Southern Sonoma Counties Re-Opens the Old Elm and Round Walk Village Clubhouses

Boys & Girls Clubs of Marin and Southern Sonoma Counties was able to re-open the Old Elm and Round Walk Village Clubhouses in Petaluma. Burbank Housing, working with the City of Petaluma, identified program income from Burbank Housing Properties to provide $160,000 in funding for both the Old Elm Village and Round Walk Village Clubs during the 2012-13 fiscal year. These funds provide life changing program opportunities for the 392 youth we serve. On behalf of our Board of Directors, Staff and most importantly the Children we serve, we cannot thank Burbank Housing and the City of Petaluma enough.

Meet Erik Alcazar...

I want to demonstrate to you the true impact our programs have at Old Elm Village by sharing with you the words of Club Member Erik Alcazar, a senior at Casa Grande High School who has attended the Old Elm Club for six years: Laughter, smiles, and the awesome staff are what come to mind when someone mentions the Boys & Girls Club to me. Over the last few years, I have been able to build many relationships with the Club members, as well as the staff, at Old Elm Village Clubhouse. The Club has not only been a safe and fun place to be, but is has been a second family to me and has helped me to achieve my personal and academic goals. I grew up being bullied and picked on in elementary school as well as Junior High. The Club was a safe place where I did not have to worry about being in those situations. There have been many times when my friends were out making bad decisions, but luckily, I was at the Club during those times avoiding trouble. The Club is also important to me because of the academic help they have provided. Now that I have matured and I understand where I want to go in life, I have started to take all of the opportunities I can to further my education. The Club has provided a space where I can study for my exams, receive help on my essays, and I have always been offered help on my homework. The Club not only has helped me academically, but it has also allowed me to focus more on my career path. The Club has affected many aspects of my life, it has been a safe place, a fun place, a place where I can pursue my interests, and discover who I am; but most importantly it has one name, HOME.

Marin "Rise and Shine" Breakfast Event presented by Ghilotti Bros. Inc., PG& E and Golden State Lumber

Save the Date for the 2nd Annual Rise and Shine- Start Your Day for Kids breakfast event on Tuesday, September 25, 2012, 7:30am at the Mill Valley Community Center. This year's event will be led by Master of Ceremonies Amy G. San Francisco Giants in Game Reporter for Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, and Keynote Speaker Amy Tan, author of The Joy Luck Club. Our goal is to have 240 guests in attendance and to raise $80,000 for Club programs. We are recruiting table captains and sponsorships are available. If interested please contact Cary Haris at charis@petalumabgc.org or at 707-769-5322 x10.

Board Member Scott Adams of Comcast and Eden Housing support Digital Connectors

Comcast is providing a gift of $13,000 and Eden Housing has provided $21,307 to continue its on-going support for the Digital Connectors program. Digital Connectors identifies talented young people, immerses them in technology training, and helps them build their leadership and workplace skills to enter the 21st century economy. Club members develop professional and life skills, explore workplace pathways, and serve in their respective communities. The program bridges the "digital divide" by teaching digital literacy to community members so that they may also benefit from the vast amount of resources available to them via the internet and other technological resources. Over the past 18 months with the support of Comcast and Eden Housing, BGCMSSC has provided over 60 youth with the skills necessary to learn the importance of digital literacy and the ability to apply those skills to a career in the field of their choosing. Club members attend 156 curriculum hours and provide 60 hours of community service. To date, our program boasts three high school graduates who are college bound and two young adults who have obtained their first job positions.

Summer Camp Recap

With 891 total youth served and 781 children receiving full or partial scholarships totaling $195,750, this year's Summer Program was the strongest to date. Again, the Quest Foundation provided a matching gift of $75,000 which the Club successfully matched again this year. Daily academic and cultural enrichment activities included: sports, arts, education and career development, project-based learning, computer lab, health and life skills, and theme based learning in coordination with State of California Content Standards. Club members went to Dillon Beach, Samuel P. Taylor State Park, San Francisco Giant's Game, Petaluma Swim Center, KOA Campground, Spring Lake, Chuck E Cheese, Cal Skate, San Francisco Zoo, the Sonoma Marin Fair, Train Town, Howarth Park, Ridgeway Swim Center, Golfland Sunsplash, Legion of Honors, San Francisco Discovery Museum, Beach Boardwalk, Morton's Warm Springs, Annadel State Park, Laser Tag, and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. Partners included San Rafael City Schools, Eden Housing, City of Petaluma, Redwood Empire Food Bank, Burbank Housing and Petaluma Transit Authority.

22nd Annual Hansel Auto Group Golf Challenge presented by Dynacraft Bicycles

Our 22nd Annual Hansel Auto Group Golf Challenge presented by Dynacraft Bicycles was a "GOLF SHOT" over selling for the second time with over 150 players. Our favorite themed holes returned, including Tres Hombres, RedRum, McNear's, Traxx Bar & Grill, Willibees Wine & Spirits, Steven Yeager Studios, Club One, Amica Insurance, Royal Petroleum, Gohan Japanese Restaurant, and Casey Runge's now famous, Jalapeño Sliders! We welcomed our new additions, Peace Officers Association of Petaluma and Mister McGoo's. Between the players, auction items, our raffle and sponsors we raised over $56,000 this year to support our programs. Special thanks to our top sponsors, Hansel Auto Group, Dynacraft Bicycles, AutoTrader.com, Club One, Clover Stornetta Farms, US Bank Dealer Services, Raleys, Minuteman Press Petaluma and Ken O'Donnell. Congratulations to the team from Dynacraft Bicycles (pictured left to right: Gary Buffo, Josh Armstrong, Rick Warner & Paul Anderson) for taking 1st place! The planning has already begun for next year's tourney, be sure and mark your calendar for August 16, 2013 at Rooster Run Golf Course and Swing Big Fore the Kids!

Petaluma Community Foundation gifts another $20,000 for Smart Moves

The Petaluma Community Foundation has provided a grant again this year for $20,000 for the Club's Smart Moves program. A year round evidenced based program, Smart Moves features interactive, small-group activities designed to increase participants' peer support, enhance life skills, build resiliency, and develop and strengthen leadership skills. It uses age-specific modules that engage Club staff, parents, community members, and older teen members in a team approach to prevention. The highlight for graduates is a camping trip!

Marin Sonoma Concours d' Elegance

Boys & Girls Clubs of Marin and Southern Sonoma Counties was chosen as one of the two beneficiaries of the 2012 Marin Sonoma Concours d'Elegance May 18 - 20. The weekend kicked off with a Chairman's Dinner & Auction at Ram's Gate Winery on Friday, May 18th. The Tour, a scenic drive through Marin and Sonoma counties, occurred Saturday, May 19. The Concours occurred Sunday, May 20 at the Marin Civic Center and focused on exceptional automobiles from French coach builders through 1950, Italian automobile designers from 1946-1975 and extraordinary Cord automobiles in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the last year these automobiles were produced. Marin Sonoma Concours d'Elegance was able to gift $15,600 to Boys & Girls Clubs of Marin & Southern Sonoma Counties!

August Lepori Endowment Trust

The Club now has over $350,000 in the August Lepori Endowment Trust in cash. August "Augie" Lepori was the founding President of the Petaluma Boys & Girls Club from 1950-1958. The Board of Directors created the August Lepori Endowment Trust Fund in 1985 to honor the Father of our Club. Only the earnings from the principal of the endowment trust can be used to support the Club's programs, as the balance remains intact. All August Lepori Endowment Trust donors will receive special recognition from Boys & Girls Clubs of America's Heritage Club. Please contact me for more information about leaving a legacy gift that will last forever at 707-769-5322 x11 or dsolo@petalumabgc.org.

In Service to Youth,

David Solo