Great Futures Moments

Everyday youth at our Clubs demonstrate positive service and leadership at school, home, church and community. We celebrate them and the staff at our Clubs for the impact they make in the lives of these children. Read their stories below.

2023 Youth of the Year & Gala Recap

YOUTH OF THE YEAR WINNER ANNOUNCED
AT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER ST. LOUIS GREAT FUTURES GALA

Zhariah Davis Wins Youth of the Year, $5,000 in Scholarships & A NEW CAR

Over 500 guests and $660,000 raised for Club kids and teens!

St. Louis, MO, November 28, 2022 – Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) is proud to announce the 2023 Youth of the Year winner is O’Fallon Park Club member Zhariah Davis! Being named Youth of the Year is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can receive and a signature national youth recognition program that celebrates the recipient’s contributions to their family, school, community, and their Boys & Girls Club. The winner was announced under the Big Top at the carnival themed Great Futures Gala, the largest fundraising event for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, which raised $660,000 for Club kids and teens!

Zhariah, age 17, is a senior at Metro Academic and Classical High School and has been a Club member for two years. In addition to winning the Youth of the Year title and the honor of representing the Club as a Teen Ambassador, she received the Michael & Wanda DeHaven $5,000 Scholarship, a celebratory dinner courtesy of the Saint Louis Club, and a car provided by Frank Leta Honda!

Zhariah’s Great Future plans are to pursue higher education and become a Biomedical Engineer. She enjoys the Club’s SMART Girls program the most and is thankful for the support of staff and programming that has helped boost her self-confidence. She says of the Club, “I love being a part of the Boys & Girls Club! Interacting and getting to know kids of different backgrounds and ages played a big role in boosting my confidence and developing better social skills. The staff also played a big role in my character development by making sure I felt safe but also by pushing me outside of my comfort zone. Most importantly, I love the Boys & Girls Club because the Club gives me the big family I’ve always wanted!”

“The Youth of the Year program honors our nation’s most awe-inspiring young people on their path to great futures and encourages all kids to lead, succeed and inspire. All of the honorees are shining examples and living proof that great futures start at the Boys & Girls Clubs. We are so proud of all of this year’s participants who took the time to complete a challenging yet worthwhile process. All possess the ability and ambition to be successful, and should be recognized for their leadership, service, academic achievements and commitment to live a healthy lifestyle,” said Dr. Flint Fowler, President, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis.

Another special moment in the evening was Daryl Jones from Tri-Tec, Inc. contributing $3,000 to each of the Youth of the Year runner up candidates.


2nd Place winner receiving a $2,500 scholarship is Mathews-Dickey Club member, Lai Joen Williams.

3rd Place winner receiving a $1,000 Scholarship is O’Fallon Park Club member Lailah Green.

4th Place winner receiving a $500 Scholarship is Herbert Hoover Club member Nikell Smith.

Special thanks to Emcee KSDK Rene Knott, the Great Futures Gala committee including event co-chairs, Melanie & Jim Bennett, Jill & Ed Dowd, and Lisa & Joe Bertain. We are also grateful to the following sponsors for their support: Title Sponsor, Dowd Bennett LLP, Presenting Sponsor Emerson, and Plantinum Sponsors Ameren, Edward Jones & Stifel. For more information on how the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis is helping our community, visit www.bgcstl.org.

Taylor Family and Enterprise Holdings Gift to BGCSTL

Generous Donation from Longtime Partner

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) is thrilled to announce that the Taylor Family and Enterprise Holdings will be making a gift of $5 Million dollars to support the recent mergers, combinations and partnerships! It will come in a combined donation from the Enterprise Holdings Foundation and the Crawford Taylor Family Foundation.

Mike Andrew, Enterprise Holdings, Inc. Senior Vice President & General Counsel and BGCSTL board member said, “We appreciate the efforts that Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis has undertaken to work with the Mathews-Dickey team to create a unified organization that will serve our region’s youth. As such, we are pleased to continue supporting the work the organization does every day to support the GREAT FUTURES of St. Louis kids and teens.”

Dr. Flint Fowler, President & CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis says of the gift, “The Taylor Family and Enterprise Holdings have been longtime supporters and partners of BGCSTL and the youth we serve. Their generous gifts throughout the years have helped us to support and retain staff; enhance transportation; support events; establish the Teen Center of Excellence; and so much more. Without their ongoing support many of the initiatives and programs BGCSTL puts in place for our youth would be limited and we are very thankful for their generosity.”

St. Louis Internship Program Celebrates 30 Years – Over 4,200 Interns Served!

St. Louis Internship Program Celebrates 30 Years – Over 4,200 Interns Served!

In 2020, BGCSTL finalized its merger with the St. Louis Internship Program (SLIP), a seasoned workforce development program in the St. Louis area. For nearly 30 years, SLIP has provided results-oriented career and college readiness experiences for area youth. SLIP’s goal is to provide hope and opportunity for high school students through paid summer internships, intensive employability training, and year-round college and career planning. SLIP works in partnership with businesses and community organizations, to build the St. Louis community by developing motivated, well-trained, and talented youth for the workforce.

Leading St. Louis business partners who have participated in the program include Emerson, Polsinelli PC, Cushman & Wakefield, Lashly & Baer, RubinBrown, SM Wilson, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, Thompson Coburn, Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, Armstrong Teasdale and Armanino.

Mark Levison is an attorney with Lashley & Baer PC, a member of the Board of Directors for BGCSTL, and a founding Board member of the St. Louis Internship Program. He commented, “Over thirty years ago I got together with Tim Hullverson and several other lawyers with the idea to equip over 50 students with paid internships. We were able to hire and outfit 52 students and today the program has spread to over 37 different cities and we’ve served over 4,200!”

Since its founding in 1992, over 4,200 students have completed the program. Ninety-eight percent have successfully acquired skills, graduated high school and pursued career goals. The interns are recruited from schools all over the city (private, parochial, charter and public).

Dr. Flint Fowler, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis president says of the anniversary, “I am excited to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the St. Louis Internship Program. Career readiness and youth employment are critical components of our youth development process. We are fortunate to have this proven program as part of the Boys & Girls Clubs operation.”

Deionna Ferguson, Associate at Polsinelli and SLIP Alum, attributed her career success to the program, saying, “SLIP has truly been my pipeline to success. SLIP not only exposed me to the legal field by allowing me to intern with a law firm in the area, but they also provided me with useful life skills such as networking, professional etiquette and interview skills. When preparing for college, SLIP allowed me to receive specialized tutoring for the ACT test and even allowed me to complete a second internship in my field of study, psychology. SLIP has always been there for me and ensured that I had all the tools I needed to be successful. I truly would not be the attorney that I am today had it not been for the exposure and training I received from the St. Louis Internship Program.”

MORE RESULTS:

More than 98% of SLIP interns graduate high school and go on to college or other post-secondary training programs

Over 75% increase in work readiness and career development skills

Interns complete 60 hours of work readiness training

100% participating students feel better prepared for post-secondary planning

Over 4,200 Interns have completed value added internships while building their professional network

Annually, more than $300,000 of interns wages are recycled back into our regional economy as interns become productive, tax-paying citizens

Companies interested in partnering with the St. Louis Internship Program or students wanting to participate, contact Shanise Johnson at shanise@bgcstl.org or bgcstl.org/slip for more information. To view photos from the 30th Celebration, click here.

Great Futures Moment – Golf Tournament a Success

GREAT FUTURES MOMENT

JIM BUTLER MEMORIAL GOLF CLASSIC RAISES OVER $325K FOR CLUB KIDS & TEENS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to the committee, sponsors, players and volunteers who joined us at Norwood Hills Country Club for a day of golf supporting Great Futures for BGCSTL youth at the Jim Butler Memorial Golf Classic! Over $325,000 was raised for Club kids, teens and programs!

At the tournament, two Herbert Hoover Club teens, 17 year old Kiari E. and 12 year old Kanani E. were presented with the Jim Butler Sportsmanship Award, established in honor of the namesake of this year’s golf tournament as a testament to his dedication to the mission to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis and the children and families we serve. Thanks to the generosity of the Butler/Sowers Family and Jim’s friends throughout the area, his legacy will live on through this annual award to inspire and enable our youth to achieve their full potential. The winners also received a $500 scholarship.

To view more photos from the event, click here.

Women’s Leadership Circle Snaps – Karen Middleton

 

WLC Wednesday SNAPS!
This week we’re giving snaps to Women’s Leadership Circle leader Karen Middleton. She grew up in Saint Louis and remembers taking swim lessons at the Club.

Occupation: Bonds Trader
Favorite Children’s Book: The Velveteen Rabbit
Favorite Snack: Chocolate covered strawberries
Pets: Pearl, 7-year-old Shih Tzu

Advice to yourself: Stay in the moment (you never know when a moment becomes a precious memory)

What do you want women to know about the WLC?
I want women to know that the WLC is an organization comprised of smart, creative, and driven women who are determined and committed to uplifting and improving the lives of the children of the Boys & Girls Club of greater St. Louis.

What is your favorite event, or memory from a WLC event?
My favorite event so far is our signature Table For 4 event held this year at The Ritz Carlton. The energy in the room was electric and our mission was clear…to give from our hearts so we can meet the needs of deserving and talented kids who simply need an opportunity to showcase their abilities.

Why do you support Boys & Girls Club of STL?
I support the Boys and Girls Club of St. Louis because I feel we are all here to serve and help those who we encounter on our life’s journey. For me, that looks like giving myself, my time, and resources to better the lives of our youth.

Interested in learning more about the Women’s Leadership Circle? Contact Failona Collins, Failona@bgcstl.org.

2022 Recognition Event & Alumni Hall of Honor

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis Honors
Alumni, Board Members, Community Partners & Staff
at Annual Recognition Event
New Inductees into the Alumni Hall of Honor

ST. LOUIS (June 8, 2022) – The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) is proud to announce the 2022 Annual Recognition event honorees and Alumni Hall of Honor inductees! Each year the staff, board members, volunteers and supporters are acknowledged and celebrated for their commitment to the Boys & Girls Clubs as well as the kids and teens that we serve.

The 2022 BGCSTL Alumni Hall of Honor inductees are L to R Marquis Walker, Darnell Walker, Kia Brimer, Dr. Flint Fowler (President, BGCSTL), Tia Brimer, Anthony Stallion, MD (accepting on behalf of his brother, Mark Stallion) and Eric Rhone (accepting on behalf of her husband, Angela Rhone). The Hall of Honor recognizes outstanding alumni for achievements in their respective fields, commitment to leadership, serving our community’s youth, contributions to the St. Louis community and for living out the mission of the Boys & Girls Club. To view more photos, click here.

Additional categories and honorees for the evening were as follows (award descriptions below):

Richard H. Amberg Award Recipient – David Aplington (Presented to a Board member whose leadership and commitment has a profound impact on the Club’s ability to achieve its mission.)

Capture the Vision Award – Ascension Charity Classic (accepted by Nick Ragone) – presented to an individual or organization who demonstrates their devoted service to the Club through tireless innovation.

National Award of Merit (Individuals and organizations outside Boys & Girls Clubs that have provided outstanding support to local Clubs or the Movement.)

Dr. Chauncey E. Granger, Hazelwood East High School Principal
Cameron A. Coleman, Larimore Elementary School Principal
Grey Eagle Distributors, David Stokes
Heartland Coca-Cola, Travis Sarich & Matt Bynum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service to Youth Award – Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis Staff
(Board, volunteers and staff who have rendered long and devoted service (five years or more) to the Boys & Girls Club Movement.)

Five years:
Teri Bascom
Angel Jackson
Marla Jeffries
Regina Knapp
Melody Majeed
Brandy Sandford
Krystal Smith

Ten years:
Keisha Caruthers

Thirty years: Brenda “Joyce” Jones

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service to Youth Award – Board and Life Trustees (Board, volunteers and staff who have rendered long and devoted service (five years or more) to the Boys & Girls Club Movement.)
David Aplington – 5 years
Gregg Berdy, M.D., F.A.C.S. – 5 years
Jennifer Call – 5 years
Mark Darrell – 5 years
Clive Grannum – 5 years
Michele Sowers – 5 years
Mark Stallion – 5 years
Keith Lueking – 10 years
John Biggs, Jr. – 25 years

BGCSTL President, Dr. Flint Fowler (reflecting on the annual event which has always been close to his heart) said, “It is an honor and privilege to recognize so many wonderful staff, volunteers and supporters for what they do to help our kids. It is particularly gratifying to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of our amazing alumni and the contributions they now bring to the community because of the Club’s impact on their lives. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis is shaping the future of St. Louis by promoting the positive development of children and teens.”

About Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis
The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. BGCSTL provides after-school, teen, sports and summer programs to youth across the Bi-State Region while also providing a safe place for them to learn and grow. The Clubs serve youth across the region at twelve locations, including (Adams Park Club, Boys & Girls Club of Bethalto, Boys & Girls Club of Lovejoy, Hazelwood Elementary School Club, Herbert Hoover Club, Mathews-Dickey Club, Normandy High School, O’Fallon Park Club, Riverview Gardens Club, Roosevelt High School, Hazelwood Southeast Middle School Club and the Teen Center of Excellence). We also operate Mentor St. Louis and the St. Louis Internship Program.
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2022 Table for Four Recap

Table for Four Event Raises Funds to Support Boys & Girls Club Youth
TWO Teens Honored with Award for Volunteerism & Leadership

Youth of the Year Awarded a Full Ride Scholarship

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis held its annual Table for Four event on April 14, 2022 at the Ritz Carlton St. Louis. The luncheon, themed, Women Leading the Way, attracted nearly 500 guests and raised over $140k to support programs for girls at the Clubs. Proceeds from this event support activities and experiences designed to help girls develop healthy lifestyles, positive self-esteem and make good decisions.

During the event Mathews-Dickey Club member LaiJeon W. and St. Louis Internship participant Angelia V. won the Joan Ellyn Silber Award for Volunteerism and Leadership, which included a $1,000 scholarship for each! It’s the first time two winners have been selected!

LaiJeon W. is a sophomore at Whitfield School and has served 87 volunteer hours at her school, church Northside Community School and her Club. At the Club she works as a volunteer with the St. Louis Green Machine, helps with community food distribution, assembling care packages and meal kits as well as assistant to the basketball coordinator. Lai Jeon said “The thing I enjoy most about Mathews-Dickey is the automatic feeling that I’m at home and the people there are my family. I love how the Club gives out so many opportunities and is a place for people to grow and flourish in many different fields. I feel honored especially to know that my actions and leadership roles have been acknowledged and even better rewarded. I’m very grateful to have received this award and inspired to do even more.”

Angelia V. is a senior at Hazelwood West High School and has served 110 hours for various after school events, including being her school’s head after school tutor. “Through SLIP I was given the opportunity to learn essential skills for the work place and an internship in a fascinating field I would have never experienced without SLIP’s support. I was able to learn the satisfaction of designing elaborate projects with my coworkers and being able to present them in front of an audience. I will never forget the infinite lessons I learned that summer.” And, of winning the award, she added, “I am looking forward to putting this award to use at WashU where I plan to learn to design technology that helps people. I am beyond grateful to be receiving this award, and I look forward to seeing the changes I am able to make in peoples’ lives through it. Thank you!”

During the event, the BGCSTL 2022 Youth of the Year, Lailah G. was gifted with the Presidential Scholarship (a full ride) to Harris Stowe State University by our Guest of Honor Dr. LaTonia Collins Smith! Table for Four co-chair Laura Herring & Family also pledged to gift her a $5000 scholarship (matching the previously gifted Youth of the Year scholarship by Wanda and Michael DeHaven)! Laura & Lauren Herring are also giving two $500 scholarships through Impact Group Foundation for the girls who did not win the thousand dollar Joan Silber scholarship.

Special thanks to our emcee, Michelle Li (KSDK Anchor & Reporter), guest speaker Joan L. Luby, MD, co-chairs, Karen Jordan| Dentons US, LLP, Lauren Herring| Impact Group and Purvi Maniar| Norton Rose Fulbright and the Table for Four committee for their support of the event. Special mention to Blue Door sponsors Ameren, Dentons, Edward Jones, Impact Group, Object Computing and USBank. To learn more about this event, visit bgcstl.org/tableforfour or for more info on how Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis supports kids and teens around the country, visit bgcstl.org. To view photos from the event, click here.

Table for Four Event/Media Alert 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

REQUEST FOR COVERAGE

EVENT ALERT

 Contact: Shuntaé Shields Ryan

shuntae@bgcstl.org or 314-335-8009

“Women Leading the Way” at Annual Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis

Table for Four event

April 14, 2022 at the Ritz Carlton

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis will hold its annual Table for Four event on April 14, 2022, 11 am – 1 pm at the Ritz Carlton. The luncheon, themed, Women Leading the Way, attracted nearly 350 guests last year and raised over $120k to support programs for girls at the Clubs. Proceeds from this event support activities and experiences designed to help girls develop healthy lifestyles, positive self-esteem and make good decisions. The inaugural Joan Ellyn Silber Award for Volunteerism and Leadership, which includes a $1,000 scholarship, will also be granted during the event.

Featured guests and speakers include Youth of the Year Lailah Green, BGCSTL President Dr. Flint Fowler, KSDK Anchor & Reporter Michelle Li as emcee, Joan L. Luby, MD as guest speaker and co-chairs, Karen Jordan| Dentons US, LLP, Lauren Herring| Impact Group and Purvi Maniar| Norton Rose Fulbright.

Special thanks to Blue Door sponsors Ameren, Dentons, Impact Group, Object Computing and USBank. To learn more about this event, visit bgcstl.org/tableforfour or for more info on how Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis supports kids and teens around the country, visit bgcstl.org.

Event Listing Format:

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis

Table for Four

Thursday, April 14, 2022

Ritz Carlton St. Louis (100 Carondelet Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63105)

11 am – 1 pm

Bgcstl.org/tableforfour for ticket, table and sponsorship information.

The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. BGCSTL provides after-school, teen, sports and summer programs to youth across the Bi-State Region while also providing a safe place for them to learn and grow. The Clubs serve youth across the region at twelve locations, including (Adams Park Club, Boys & Girls Club of Bethalto, Boys & Girls Club of Lovejoy, Hazelwood Elementary School Club, Herbert Hoover Club, Mathews-Dickey Club, Normandy High School, O’Fallon Park Club, Riverview Gardens Club, Roosevelt High School, Hazelwood Southeast Middle School Club and the Teen Center of Excellence). We also operate Mentor St. Louis and the St. Louis Internship Program.

BGCSTL Announces 5.2M Gift from MacKenzie Scott

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
REQUEST FOR COVERAGE

Contact: Shuntaé Shields Ryan
shuntae@bgcstl.org or 314-335-8009

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis Announces 5.2M Gift from MacKenzie Scott
Donation part of significant $281 million investment in Boys & Girls Clubs around the country

ST. LOUIS (March 17, 2022) – Today, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis announced a gift of $5.2M from MacKenzie Scott. This significant support is part of a larger collective gift of $281 million to 62 local Boys & Girls Clubs and Boys & Girls Clubs of America, one of the largest individual donations in the organization’s 160-year history.
As one of the nation’s largest youth-serving organizations, Boys & Girls Clubs play a significant role in the lives of more than 4 million young people each year. More than 4,700 locations anchored in communities across the country create life-enhancing opportunities for kids and teens to thrive – providing safe places, caring mentors and essential skill-building after school and during the summer.

Boys & Girls Clubs are built with a foundation of inclusion and a sense of belonging, offering ways for youth to achieve their full potential in a safe environment while having fun. Clubs offer homework help, STEM learning, sports and recreation, the arts, life-enhancing leadership opportunities and more.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis President Dr. Flint Fowler says of the gift, “We are grateful for the significant investment from MacKenzie Scott and appreciate her recognizing the value of having a Boys & Girls Club in the lives of kids and teens. This will help us address the significant financial obligations we have in achieving our mission to impact the lives of more youth in our community.”

“Gifts like this are rare and have incredible impact. It’s a historic moment for our organization and the Clubs that received MacKenzie Scott’s significant support,” said Jim Clark, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “We know now, more than ever, that with the right support system, positive mentorship and opportunities, kids can thrive. Thanks to this generous gift, Boys & Girls Clubs can continue to reach even more youth, as we support millions of kids and teens on their journeys to great futures.”
Today, young people face an unprecedented number of obstacles to their success and wellbeing. Studies show that a lack of access to technology, positive mentors and guidance, food insecurity and other critical factors can cause long-term setbacks and trauma for millions of young people.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis does whatever it takes to help kids, families and communities close the opportunity gap, ensuring young people have access to experiences and opportunities that change their lives for the better.
To learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis and to support kids and teens around the country, please visit bgcstl.org.

The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. BGCSTL provides after-school, teen, sports and summer programs to youth across the Bi-State Region while also providing a safe place for them to learn and grow. The Clubs serve youth across the region at twelve locations, including (Adams Park Club, Boys & Girls Club of Bethalto, Boys & Girls Club of Lovejoy, Hazelwood Elementary School Club, Herbert Hoover Club, Mathews-Dickey Club, Normandy High School, O’Fallon Park Club, Riverview Gardens Club, Roosevelt High School, Hazelwood Southeast Middle School Club and the Teen Center of Excellence). We also operate Mentor St. Louis and the St. Louis Internship Program.

St. Louis Companies Needed to Place Interns

The St. Louis Internship Program is building a pipeline of diverse 21st century talent.

This summer, the offices of St. Louis’ best businesses, nonprofits and organizations will be home to more than 100 hardworking and talented high school students. The St. Louis Internship Program (SLIP), a key part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, creates valuable summer internships proven to increase work readiness and develop professional skills, all while building a diverse and reliable talent pipeline.

Nation-wide, businesses recognize the importance of actionable social purpose and are working to become socially responsible corporate citizens. SLIP’s unique approach to expanding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the workplace is a mutually beneficial partnership with business leaders who inspire these young workers by example. The powerful combination of mentoring and coaching cultivates a generation of diverse future leaders who are fully engaged in creating success for employers and advancement in our community.

With the pandemic came a labor/skills shortage that is disrupting businesses across the globe. Workers are looking for organizations that offer meaningful work and opportunities to make an impact. SLIP offers St. Louis area businesses the opportunity to advance their efforts toward corporate citizenship while benefitting from a trained, cost competitive and well-supported workforce.

SLIP empowers students to take critical steps toward meaningful careers. Key to its success is the careful selection and matching of students and employers so that both can maximize the experience. SLIP not only aims to offer students a wide range of job placements, the 30-year-old program is committed to training students to provide excellent service. To ensure job readiness, the students complete an intense, ten-week training focused on professional etiquette, workplace communication, problem solving, professional conduct, networking, resume writing, interviewing and other soft skills. Interns are then placed with business partners where they perform professional-level work, ranging from clerical tasks to research, greeting clients, covering reception duties, data entry, scanning and organizing documents, client projects and more. Each student/employer is assigned a Summer Career Coach who serves as a team liaison. Career Coaches regularly check in with supervisors to evaluate job performance and determine which skills students can develop in order to be more effective at their jobs.

SLIP’s goal is to provide hope and opportunity to high school students in financial need through paid summer internships, intensive employability training, and year-round college and career planning. In partnership with businesses and organizations, SLIP is building the St. Louis community by developing a motivated, well-trained and talented future workforce.

Here is where you come in. The SLIP team continuously works to recruit new employers, while retaining partners from previous years, to hire our interns for the summer. Leading St. Louis business partners include Emerson, Polsinelli PC, Cushman & Wakefield, Lashly & Baer, RubinBrown, SM Wilson, BAMSL, Unleashing Potential, Armstrong Teasdale and Anders CPA.

To join the innovative, impactful and cost-effective SLIP Summer 2022 intern program, contact Lisa Brunts, Workforce Development Recruiter at lisab@bgcstl.org or Shanise Johnson, Director at shanise@bgcstl.org. For additional information, visit bgcstl.org/slip.

JaLisa Wines is the 2017 Youth of the Year

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) is proud to announce the 2017 Youth of the Year winner JaLisa Wines! Being named Youth of the Year is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can receive. A premier youth recognition program, it recognizes outstanding contributions to a member’s family, school, community and Boys & Girls Club.
jalisawines

As the new Youth of the Year and ambassador for Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, this 17 year old Herbert Hoover Club member is a true example of an extraordinary young woman for her leadership, service, academic excellence and dedication to live a healthy lifestyle. Now that she’s won the honor, JaLisa says, “I want to motivate youth to achieve their goals by implementing programs that will positively change society.” She is a senior at Confluence Preparatory Academy and plans to attend Truman State University to become an Accountant.

JaLisa was selected from a group of eleven finalists who shared their story of perseverance and dedication to their family, Club and community before a panel of judges who chose the winner. In addition to being crowned the title at BGCSTL’s Great Futures Gala, she also received a $2500 scholarship.

“The Youth of the Year honorees are shining examples and living proof that great futures start at Boys & Girls Clubs. We are so proud of all of our Youth of the Year participants who took the time to complete this challenging and worthwhile process. All possess the ability and ambition to be successful leaders,” said Dr. Flint Fowler, President, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis.

To view or share the Youth of the Year video highlighting all of the finalists, click here.

 

St. Louis Realtors Host Boo Bash at Herbert Hoover Club

After a successful Back-to-School event where the St. Louis REALTORS® Association and its affiliates purchased backpacks and school supplies for over 1,000 youth ages 6-18, they were on to the next opportunity to place smiles on the faces of Boys & Girls Clubs youth! boobashwebThanks to the association and its volunteers for coming together Halloween weekend to build a haunted house, buy materials and collecting/buying candy treats for over 500 members at BGCSTL Herbert Hoover Club this past Halloween night. To see video from the Spooktacular event, click here.

 

UPS ROAD CODE PROGRAM TEACHES BGCSTL TEENS SAFE DRIVING

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis is extremely grateful to UPS Foundation for supporting the issue of distracted driving for teens with their UPS Road Code program. Over 200 teens from our Clubs have been able to experience this life-saving program that helps them make smart decisions on the road. In Missouri alone, 80% of car crashes involve distracted driving; Missourians younger than 25 make up 30% of those fatalities or find themselves in need of a local attorney similar to these attorneys in Springfield IL. UPS Road Code equips our teens with the education needed to avoid life altering situations.

The program includes pre and post-tests to gauge their safe driving knowledge, 2-4 hour learning sessions and one of the teen favorites, behind-the-wheel simulators that give them real life, on the road driving scenarios! BGCSTL teens are itching to drive, and UPS Road Code helps them do that safely!roadcode

As part of the National Teen Driver Safety week, an event was held at our Herbert Hoover Club where 100 teens signed commitments to drive distraction free & Mayor Francis Slay proclaimed 10/13 teen safe driving day!

UPS Road Code and BGCSTL were featured on KPLR’s “The Pulse” thirty minute program with Shirley Washington. To view the segment, click here.

 

BGCSTL FERGUSON CLUB MEMBERS PERFORM AT NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis Ferguson Club members Danielle and Troy were selected to perform for over 400 Boys & Girls Clubs professionals at the National Midwest Conference in Louisville, Kentucky this past week! Danielle was also chosen to participate on a teen panel. #greatfutures #BGCSTLproud

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View Troy’s performance, here. View Danielle’s performance, here. See Danielle & Troy’s duet, here.

BGCSTL WINS NEW SPORTS EQUIPMENT

Thanks to Good Sports, McDonald’s and Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis members have received 922 pieces of equipment, including football helmets, soccer balls and goals, sports apparel, track spikes, jump ropes, playground balls, footballs and more. The total value of the donation was $15,414.39 and will impact close to 2,000 area kids.

BGCSTL received the equipment as the Grand Prize award winner of the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group’s Let’s Play initiative. The competition was launched to provide kids in the St. Louis community with the sports equipment they need to be active. The Let’s Play Challenge invited McDonald’s restaurant employees in the St. Louis community to nominate deserving youth-serving area organizations that they felt would benefit from a donation of brand new sports equipment.

During the event where the equipment was unveiled to BGCSTL Herbert Hoover Club members, all of the community partners involved spoke while kids participated in active games, such as soccer and flag football, to break in the new equipment.

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CLARITIN RENOVATES BGCSTL HERBERT HOOVER TENNIS COURTS

Bayer’s Consumer Health Division, the makers of Claritin®, the #1 selling non-drowsy allergy brand, teamed up with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to help youth enjoy the benefits of being outdoors. The makers of Claritin funded the makeover of outdoor spaces at Clubs in three cities across the country, including St. Louis! The new initiative encourages play and creates active spaces for youth.

Their donation covered the cost to renovate and update the tennis courts at BGCSTL Herbert Hoover Club! Improvements included repairing the damaged fencing and gate, filling the cracks, resurfacing, new netting and US Open style colors on the court.

Long known for our efforts to encourage healthy lifestyles for members, we will use these courts to teach the game of tennis and promote fitness.

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FERGUSON CLUB MEMBERS PERFORM AT SHELDON CONCERT HALL

Boys & Girls Clubs of Ferguson members Troy, Danielle and Mariah were presented with the opportunity to participate in a recent Arts & Faith St. Louis High School and College Student Video Contest. Each submission required participants to submit a video that expressed their hopes on how to create a more harmonious St. Louis. At the same time, a group of Club members, including Troy, had been given an assignment during their Boys & Girls Club Music Studio session to write a song about love or unity – everyone picked love – except for Troy.

This group of powerful and talented teens wrote, performed and taped an original song to submit for the contest. The song, “Hold On”, was performed by Troy Staten and written in association with the Club’s Music Studio and Project L.A.M. under the direction of two time Grammy award winner Alonzo “Zo” Lee and songwriter Antonio Dunn.

Turns out Troy won the competition and the opportunity to perform his song live at the Arts & Faith St. Louis 10th anniversary 9/11 interfaith commemoration in music at The Sheldon Concert Hall! He was also featured as one of the “Harris Heroes” on KMOV News 4 and on HEC-TV. To view the KMOV news clip, click here.

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VOLUNTEERS WHO MAKE OUR IMPACT POSSIBLE—THANK YOU, STEVE BLOOM

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis recently celebrated the retirement of Board Chair Steve Bloom of Enterprise Holdings where he served as President of Enterprise Fleet Management and Senior Vice President of Enterprise Car Sales. He is also wrapping up his time as our Chief Volunteer Officer. Steve and his wife Kelly have been tremendous champions for the Club – contributing their time, resources and talent for more than ten years. In addition to his services as Board Chair, he led our agency through a successful name change, co-chaired our annual fundraiser All That Jazz (now known as Great Futures Gala) that provides life-changing opportunities for our kids, and encouraged dozens of his friends and associates to support our work. Since Steve is a huge hockey fan, we couldn’t think of a better way to send him off to Colorado than with an authentic jersey and hockey stick signed by St. Louis Blues right winger, Vladimir Tarasenko. Thanks Steve for making life better for many! We will miss you!

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DONORS WHO MAKE OUR IMPACT POSSIBLE—THANK YOU!

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis is grateful to announce the recent contribution from an anonymous donor in the amount of $70,000 to support general Club operations. Although the donor is unknown, the impact of their gift will be evident in the lives of the children we serve. For more information on how you can support the Boys & Girls Clubs, contact Ruth Lederman.

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Community Partner, St. Louis REALTORS®, Helps Turn Back-to-School Celebration into Back-to-School Solution

Facing a critical shortage of backpacks and school supplies to accommodate the more than 6,500 children across all county and city school districts served by Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, we turned to St. Louis REALTORS® and its nearly 8,000 members to help raise the necessary supplies our youth would need to succeed in school this fall. Without hesitation, St. Louis REALTORS and its members purchased hundreds of backpacks and thousands of school supplies, which were distributed to more than 500 children on July 28 during one of the Clubs final Triple Play Days at its Herbert Hoover Club located at 2901 N. Grand Avenue. As part of the event, several Club youth helped stuff the backpacks for their peers. View the adorable kids in the video below. Click here to see the full video.

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Club Members Visit New Busch Stadium Build-a-Bear

Two Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis – Twillman Club members were the first to experience the new Busch Stadium Build-A-Bear Workshop location. They had a “bear-y” good time with former Cardinals pitcher Kyle McClellan as he helped them build bears from start to finish including selecting their attire, accessories, voice, heart and more! Click here to see the full video.

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Youth of the Year, Shaila Jones, Throws First Pitch at Cardinals Game

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis Youth of the Year, Shaila Jones, experienced throwing out the 1st pitch during a Sunday night Cardinals game. As part of the Build-A-Bear Workshop themed night at Busch Stadium, which included a bear giveaway, the Build-A-Bear team was also offered the chance to throw out the first pitch but rather than have one of their reps do it, they wanted to extend this opportunity to one of our Club youth! Build-A-Bear also made it possible for Shaila’s parents and family to enjoy this experience and the game with her as well! Click here to see Shaila throw the ball.

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ZAC FOUNDATION TEACHES CLUB MEMBERS WATER SAFETY

Over 100 BGCSTL Herbert Hoover Club members are now more confident when it comes to swimming and more familiar with lifesaving water-safety skills thanks to ZAC Camp!

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A Club Member shared about the camp, “ZAC Camp has given me confidence! Now when my family asks me to go swimming on the weekend, I’ll be excited to go instead of shy away from it!”

To continue the remarkable legacy of 6-year-old Zachary Archer Cohn who drowned in a drain entrapment in 2007, Conn.-based water safety organization The ZAC Foundation teamed up with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis to bring the Foundation’s award-winning ZAC Camp to five to nine-year-old’s through its grant program. The ZAC Camp program combined in-pool swimming lessons, safety classes with First Responders, and classroom curriculum based on tenets of water safety taught in a children’s book co-authored by Zachary’s parents – The Polar Bear Who Couldn’t, Wouldn’t Swim. By week’s end campers were equipped with critical tools to lead them on the path to safe swimming, including: fundamental stroke training, emergency preparedness and response, and basic lifesaving techniques.

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SUMMER CAMP TEENS LEARN SAFE DRIVING TECHNIQUES
Congratulations to the 11 Normandy High School members participating in the BGCSTL Be Great Graduate program on their graduation from the UPS Road Code program yesterday! UPS Road Code is a free national program educating teens on safe driving techniques.The program focuses on various safety principles, from basic instructions to the consequences of risky behaviors such as talking on cell phones, texting or drinking while driving. Members practice what they learn on driving simulators which feature a computer screen that serves as a windshield to the programs interactive animation, a steering wheel, gas and brake pedals.

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