Clubs Celebrate End of Summer Program with Spirited Events
The end of summer program means so much to Club members, staff, parents and supporters. It is a time for each Club to highlight the culmination of hard work, time, talent and learning. At the Walt Disney World Branch, members showcased the arts and culture from around the word with the help of international cast members from Walt Disney World’s EPCOT Center. Cirque du Monde worked with members again this year on creative entertainment performances. Now, school is back in session and another chapter of Club life begins, but no one will forget the fun time and the new experiences had during the summer of 2010!

Walmart Foundation Offers Bright Spot Reading Room at Universal Orlando Branch
The Universal Orlando Foundation Branch of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida has received a $10,000 grant to launch a new reading initiative that promotes both educational and leisure reading for adolescents.  The Walmart Foundation’s Bright Spot for Reading initiative for adolescent readers will help create a reading center, provide training for staff and encourage relationships to ensure the success of young members.

In total, 53 members are participating in the program and the Universal Orlando Foundation Club’s core youth development programs, including the education and career development program, will greatly benefit from the new grant. In addition, the internal Torch and Keystone Clubs will greatly benefit from the gift. Thank you to the Walmart Foundation and to Boys & Girls Clubs of America for helping to improve the quality of life for our Club members!

    

KaBOOM! and Walt Disney World Resort Help to Build Playground
The Walt Disney World Branch can now enjoy a playground to call their own. Thanks to the hard work of many local volunteers, KaBOOM! and the backing and support of Walt Disney World Resort, the Club has a safe and fun place for members to play. The playground design stemmed from the imaginations of local Club member and will greatly benefit the Pine Hills community. Thank you to everyone for helping to make our dream playground a dream come true!

 

Taco Bell Foundation for Teens Grant Helps Local Club Members

Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida and its Universal Orlando Foundation Branch is being recognized with a $10,000 grant from the Taco Bell Foundation for Teens to fund real world experience programs that help encourage them to stay in school and consider future career possibilities.  As one of 250 organizations to receive a portion of the $1.8 million grant from the Foundation, the Universal Orlando Foundation Branch will host a career-oriented teen summit at the University of Phoenix in Orlando, Florida with workshops based on popular television reality shows focused on education. The Club will also embark on College tours including visits to Florida State and FAMU.

Thank you to the Taco Bell Foundation for Teens for believing as well as investing in our Club members. With your help, our teens have the potential to become the best and brightest community leaders of tomorrow!

Universal Orlando Foundation Branch Receives Culinary Program Support!

The Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau Inc. recently presented a check for $12,500, from its 14th Annual Membership Golf Tournament, to Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida.  The tournament was title sponsored by GES Global Experience Specialists and was held on April 19, 2010 at Orlando’s Waldorf Astoria Golf Club.  The funds raised will go to benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida and their Universal Orlando Foundation Branch’s Club Cafe Culinary Arts Program, which exposes youngsters to the culinary arts while teaching them work and life skills. Thank you to our friends at the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau Inc. and to everyone who took part in the golf tournament for your generous gift.

Club Members “Shine On” Thanks to Disney Gift:
Walt Disney World Resort and its prize patrol presented BGCCF board chair Robert Utsey with a $100,000 Disney Helping Kids Shine Grant this spring to aid in our efforts of serving children in need across Central Florida. Many thanks to Disney for helping us to continue providing life-changing youth development programs to children in need across Central Florida.

Battle of the Brokerages 2010
Through heavy rainfall, the co-ed tournament went on as planned thanks to the determination of our teams. Club members welcomed players and guests, while Pat Bates, Altamonte Springs mayor graciously threw out the first pitch at the 8th annual event generously hosted again this year by the City of Altamonte Springs’ Merrill Park.

Thank you to all of investments firms and suppliers from the following teams for kindly giving of your time, funds and athleticism in support of this year’s event: Merrill Lynch Central Florida, Merrill Lynch Winter Park, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, Raymond James & Associates, Inc., SunTrust Investment Services, UBS, and Wells Fargo. Our 8^th team, “The Investors,” also included representatives from twenty additional companies.

Special thanks to this year’s volunteer co-chairs Steve Fricke and Steve Schelling. Their leadership and guidance these past few years are what help to make this unique event possible.

Congratulations to Morgan Stanley Smith Barney for taking home this year’s championship trophy.  Top fundraising honors go to Raymond James and Associates, Inc. for raising $3,825, and the spirit award was designated to Merrill Lynch Central Florida. Thank you to all of our teams for helping us raise a net total of $15,987.

 

Ross Stores, Inc. Support West Sanford Branch and Power Hour Program
Committed to helping youth excel academically and graduate from high school, Ross Stores has awarded the West Sanford Branch in Seminole County $6,000 to help upgrade the Club’s Learning Center, as well as purchase important educational materials and tools needed to operate the growing Power Hour Program. A part of BGCCF’s Education and Career Development core program area, Power Hour is a comprehensive and interactive homework help and tutoring program designed to raise the academic proficiency of Club members ages 6-18. Thank you to Ross Stores, Inc. for supporting the academic needs of our Club members!
 

   

Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard Gives Back
Known not only for his skills on the basket ball court but for his support of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, Dwight Howard donated $20,000 to our Walt Disney World Branch including a $5,000 shopping spree at the Mall at Milennia’s Finish Line Athletic Store for a few lucky Club members. The donation came as a part of Dwight’s DeVos Community Enrichment Award where the DeVos foundation grants funds to the award recipient to dispense to the charities of his choice. Thank you to Dwight Howard for choosing Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida and for your continued generosity and support. Go Magic!

      

Battle of the Brokerages 2009
The 7th Annual fundraising Softball Tournament was another huge success, garnering nearly $16,000 for our youth development programs and year-round operations. Many thanks to our volunteer co-chairs, Steve Fricke and Steve Schelling (pictured below) and to all of our participating teams from the following financial institutuions: Banc of America Investments Services (winning team!), Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Raymond James & Associates, SunTrust Investments, UBS, Wachovia Securities, and a team of independent investors.

Annual Meeting 2009
On February 12, we celebrated our successes and accomplishments of the past year, as well as all of the special people who helped to make it all possible. Highlights of the evening included the installation of our 2009 Board Members & Officers, the passing of the gavel from 2008 Board Chair Mike Hatcher to Gary Kaltbaum, our 2009 Chair. Awards were also given out to Board Member of the Year, Robert Utsey, Volunteer of the Year Josh D’Amato and to our Branch Board of the Year, Brevard County. Congratulations to all!

Gary Cain and 30-year Board Member Bob Calcutt


Volunteer of the Year Josh D’Amato and BGCCF’s Anna Dieuveuil

Special thanks to Audio Visual Innovations, Inc. and the Grand Bohemian Hotel for their support and generosity.

Tupperware Brands Foundation Spearheads Mentorship Program
Tupperware Brands Foundation celebrated with “SMART Girls” program members of the Osceola Branch at a special graduation ceremony marking the completion of a ten week mentor-based program. A heartfelt thank you to everyone at Tupperware for their support and ongoing dedication to our mission and youth development programs offered at all of our Clubs year-round.

SunTrust Florida Gives Back to the Local Community
Boys & Girls Clubs of America board member Ken Griffey Jr. accepted a generous donation from SunTrust Florida President and CEO, Tom Kuntz, on behalf of five Boys & Girls Clubs chapters across the State of Florida, including Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida. We are grateful for this much needed $10,000 gift that will go directly to supporting our programs and Club members. Thank you SunTrust Florida!

Samsung & Bennetts Make a Club Connection
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida was the second stop on a nationwide Samsung Electronics bus tour that was kicked-off Super Bowl weekend. Members had the chance to board the specially designed RV showroom, as well as tour our guests through one of our local Clubs. Thank you to our new friends at Samsung Electronics and Bennetts Business Systems for their kind product donation!