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2022 OF NORTHEAST OHIO
Stories about the kids and families you have helped.
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Youth of the Year
Sandusky teen wins BGCNEO honor for 2022
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Nevaeh Richardson was a shy kid when she first joined the Boys & Girls Club. That was seven years ago. Today, Nevaeh, 17, is a bubbly, confident young woman who was on the cheerleading squad and in a student leadership program at Sandusky High School. Nevaeh says her transformation was due in no small part to the experiences she’s had at the Club. “The companionship I felt at the Club taught me how to be a people person,” she says. Nevaeh’s leadership both at the Club and in the community was recognized in March when she was named the 2022 Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio’s Youth of the Year. BGCNEO is the largest Boys & Girls Club in the state, with 40 sites in Cuyahoga, Summit, Lorain and Erie counties. At her high school, Nevaeh, now a senior, participated in student government, National Honor Society and the Superintendent’s Executive Leadership Academy. In addition, she is an outfielder on the school’s softball team, a dancer and was on the cheerleading squad for football and basketball.
which assists third- and fourth graders in the Sandusky City School District. Vicki Slaughter, a Sandusky High School teacher and coordinator of the church afterschool program, described Nevaeh as “one young lady who is striving to always be at the top of her game. Her smile and positive attitude are addicting. Her inspiration to be the best she can be…is overwhelming.”
She credits Keystone Club – a Boys & Girls Club program – with sparking her interest in leadership.
Nevaeh says the Club “is my home away from home. You make friends, have great mentors – and it’s a lot of fun.”
Nevaeh also volunteers at Ebenezer Baptist Church’s Lifelong Learners Afterschool Program,
In the fall, Nevaeh will attend Kent State University with plans to a become pediatric nurse practitioner.
From the heart: Kids learn hands-only CPR Two out of three incidents of cardiac arrest happen in the home. Thanks to the American Heart Association, Equity Trust Company and donors like you, a group of Club kids in the fourth grade and up now know what to do in such an emergency. Desich Family Campus members recently learned hands-only CPR via a virtual session at the Lorain Club. Heart Association Heart Challenge Director Stephanie Westerh facilitated the training on-site and was joined by 10 American Heart Association volunteers from Equity Trust in the virtual session. Kids learned to do chest compressions, check pulses and when to alert medical professionals. “We provide a lot of learning opportunities for our kids,” Club Director Chris Penny says. “Hands-on training in CPR is one of those opportunities, and one day it might very well save a life.” Equity Trust has generously donated three CPR & First Aid in Youth Sports kits to the Club and worked closely with the heart association to do this lifesaving training session with our kids.
Sign up for the June 25 Race for Kids Join us for the June 25 Race for Kids, a 5k run and 1-mile walk at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. The event, which benefits Club kids throughout Northeast Ohio, includes all-day zoo admission. You can sign up today by visiting www.bgcneo.org or scanning this QR code. Early registration cost is $25 for the 5K run and $20 for the 1-mile walk (prices increase June 1). Registration is now open. Entrants will receive an official race T-shirt, post-race refreshments and access to an exciting Kids Zone in addition to zoo admission. Race-day registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. and all activities will end by 10 a.m., when the zoo opens to the public. Bridgestone/Credit First National Association is generously sponsoring the VIP Breakfast and GOJO Industries is our featured Registration Sponsor. There are still other sponsorship opportunities available. If you are interested in more information, contact Grace Marras at gmarras@bgcneo.org or (216) 306-3843.
First-time skiers have a blast on slopes Kurron, 9, learned something about himself in the five visits he and about a dozen other Club kids made to Brandywine Ski Area. He loves skiing. “This is the most fun I’ve had in two years,” he says, buckling his boots before his final session of the season. “It’s safe, but not too safe. My dream was to be able to ski down the biggest hill.” He didn’t quite reach that goal. But the skill displayed by Kurron as he made his way down one of Brandywine’s beginner slopes was impressive. Especially for a kid who had never skied before. The program, which involved Club kids from Akron and Barberton, was made possible by funding from the Katz Amsterdam Foundation and Vail Resorts, owner of Boston Mills/ Brandywine. It covered some clothing, equipment rentals, weekly lessons and transportation. “(The kids) talked about the cold the first week. After that, there was no mention of it -- they were having too much fun,” says Steve Wise Club Director Eboni Harris. Barberton Club Director Carleigh Dunnam recalled the comment of one novice skier who told her “I’m just glad to know I learned something new.”
Make a difference: Work for BGCNEO Do you know someone looking for a part-time job working with kids from 2-7 p.m. weekdays, with competitive pay and weekends off? If so, they should consider working for Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio. We currently have openings at existing Clubs in Cuyahoga, Summit, Lorain and Erie counties and at new locations in Euclid, Garfield Heights, Cuyahoga Falls and New London. Starting pay is $15 per hour, and our expansion means more opportunities for promotion. Candidates must be at least 18 years of age and able to clear a background check and drug test. To check out current openings and apply, visit www.bgcneo.org/careers or scan this QR code.
Kane Brown gives us home court advantage There is nothing like shooting hoops on your ‘home’ court. That’s what country music star Kane Brown did in February, hoisting up a few shots at the Broadway Club gymnasium he renovated. For Brown, the gym rededication event was also a chance to get in a little last-minute practice before playing in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game. Club member Honora R. interviewed Brown and asked him why he renovated the gym. “For me growing up, it would have been an awesome place to go, to stay out of trouble,” said the singer, who was captain of his high school basketball team. “So I just wanted this to feel like home for the kids who live in Cleveland.” The project involved replacing the entire gym floor, upgrading the audio equipment, installing new bleachers and putting in new backboards. We are so thankful for Kane’s generosity and willingness to help our kids. To watch Honora R.’s full interview with Kane, scan this QR Code or visit Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio’s YouTube channel.
Aug. 8 golf outing will benefit our kids Don’t miss out on your chance to golf for a great cause on Monday, Aug. 8. That’s when Golf for Great Futures, an outing benefitting the kids of BGCNEO, will tee off at Sweetbriar Golf Club‘s Legacy Course in Avon Lake. The event includes food, on-course games and prizes. Cost is $150 for an individual golfer and $400 per foursome. Registration for the event will open on June 1. For more information, visit www.bgcneo.org or scan this QR code. A few event sponsorship opportunities are still available. If you are interested or have any questions, please reach out to Grace Marras at gmarras@bgcneo.org or (216) 306-3843.
EVENTS
In conjunction with the NBA All-Star Game in Cleveland, NBA Cares and Kaiser Permanente Thrive funded an amazing project at our King Kennedy Club. The project included a new gym floor at the Cleveland Club as well as a soon-to-be-completed kitchen/wellness area. Thanks, NBA Cares and Kaiser!
Two hundred fifty Club kids across Northeast Ohio received new shoes and socks, thanks to the generosity of NBA player DeAndre’ Bembry, his AP World antiviolence foundation, the nonprofit Shoes That Fit and the Steve & Marjorie Harvey Foundation.
The Cleveland Cavaliers treated kids in our career readiness program to a fun-filled night at a Cleveland Monsters hockey game. As a part of the NBA All-Star Economic Empowerment Committee, kids participated in a program supported by BGCNEO and Youth Opportunities Unlimited of Cleveland in which each student was matched with a mentor from the Cavs organization. The goal is to allow the teens to get a closer look into the career experiences of the mentors.
Kids at our Broadway Club unveiled a drawing of a new $100,000 playground -- a playground they helped design. Lifestyle retailer DTLR is funding the new playground, and company officials were on hand for the unveiling. When the firm notified BGCNEO of its plan for the new space, Club Director Joseph Greathouse sought input on the design by asking the experts -- his own Club kids. The project will include new equipment, a rope challenge, rubber mulch padding, benches and an expanded playground area.
About 1,300 Club kids received new books thanks to the Cleveland Cavaliers Mobile Book Fair, presented by FirstEnergy Corp. Each child got to pick out two books for free. In-person book fairs took place at the Desich Family Campus in Lorain and the King Kennedy Club in Cleveland; other kids had books delivered to their Clubs after making selections online.
HIGHLIGHTS
Meijer announced it was donating $100,000 to BGCNEO, with the funds allocated evenly between youth programs in Cuyahoga and Lorain counties. It was part of Meijer’s $1.2 million donation to dozens of Boys & Girls Clubs serving its communities in five states. The retailer’s gift will fund development programs focused on health, academics and leadership for Boys & Girls Club members. Thank you, Meijer!
WKYC anchor Laura Caso toured the children’s garden at our Broadway Club with our kids and Farm Manager Alichia Bell. Under Alichia’s direction, Laura and the kids planted bulbs and chatted on a beautiful spring day. Look for footage from the day to be shown on WKYC promos in the coming months.
Our Opening Track music program has now expanded to 17 sites in Summit, Cuyahoga, Lorain and Erie counties. Akron area Club kids even scored their own hourlong segment on KidJam Radio. Opening Track helps integrate music into the everyday lives of children.
Kids at our Vermilion Club showed they know how to do Spring Break even when the weather doesn’t cooperate. They engaged in a host of fun activities to get ready for Spring Break, doing the limbo, playing with beach balls, getting ‘tattoos’ and enjoying ‘clam’ snacks.
We are so grateful to Verizon for awarding BGCNEO a $100,000 grant to support our workforce development, STEM and horticulture programming in Cleveland. Our kids will benefit from Citizen Verizon, the company’s responsible business plan for economic, environmental and social advancement.
Why I GIVE I have been honored to serve the kids at Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio as a Board Member since 2016. Giving and service are core pillars of my faith, and focusing my time, talent and treasure on the Club kids is how I believe I can best apply these tenets. Today’s youth are tomorrow’s family, neighbors, citizens, employees and employers, and community leaders. In my eyes, there is no finer organization to enable these outcomes. Our Clubs provide these children with the physical, emotional and intellectual nourishment to help them fulfill their potential. This is why I give to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio. – Rob Rothschild, Copley
Why I VOLUNTEER Building a good life starts when you’re a kid. Experiences like having role models, exploring friendships, figuring out what’s fun and what isn’t, learning how to learn, and discovering what you’re good at are all critical to healthy human development. The most fulfilling parts of my life occur when I’m helping others, especially kids, to advance toward those experiences. Very fortunately for me, I was able to find a way to contribute toward all of those experiences by volunteering with the Boys & Girls Clubs when I am in Northeast Ohio. That’s why I volunteer. – Juan Guzmán, Denver
Why I BELONG I have been a Club kid ever since I was in second grade. My overall Club experience has been awesome. It was a safe space and a home away from home. I learned to interact with my peers in a positive way, I built amazing relationships with Club staff and I had fun every day. I played on the volleyball team and won a championship. And while being in a teen site, we had a new takeaway every day. I look forward to my last year as a Club kid. – Lanai Barrett, 16 Saint Martin de Porres Club, Cleveland
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COMING UP May 21: Aspire! gala at St. George Fellowship Centre in Fairlawn June 25: Race for Kids at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Aug. 1: Taco Bell Charity Golf Classic at Barrington Golf Club in Aurora Aug. 8: Golf for Great Futures at Sweetbriar Golf Club in Avon Lake
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Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio 6114 Broadway Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44127 (216) 883-2106 www.bgcneo.org
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