News - Colorado Boys and Girls Club Alliance

News

COLORADO BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS HIGHLIGHT IMPORTANCE OF OUT-OF-SCHOOL LEARNING
Presentation to Colorado lawmakers outlines challenges facing Colorado youth and opportunities to support their academic (and personal) success

March 9, 2011 — During a joint meeting Wednesday of the House and Senate education committees at the state Capitol, Colorado Boys & Girls Clubs highlighted the important role out-of-school learning opportunities play in children’s academic success.

Colorado, along with other states, is facing a high school dropout crisis. Last year, 72 percent of the Class of 2010 graduated. That number plummets among some Colorado minorities, with graduation rates for American Indians at 50 percent; Latinos, 55 percent; and African Americans, 65 percent.

However, studies show that non-academic experiences, especially during the summer, can support success during the school year, including higher grades and test scores. According to the Afterschool Alliance, more than half of the ninth grade achievement gap between lower- and higher-income youth can be explained by unequal access to summer learning opportunities during the elementary school years.

Colorado Boys & Girls Clubs are located in low-income, rural and underserved communities statewide and offer a range of programs year-round designed to ensure that all club members graduate from high school on time, ready for a post-secondary education and a 21st-century career. These programs include a dropout prevention program; homework help and tutoring; and a program based on research showing that students do better in school when they spend non-school hours engaged in fun, academically beneficial activities. Boys & Girls Clubs has been recognized as a “model program” by the National Dropout Prevention Center.

Congratulations to Elizabeth Velasquez, 2011 Colorado Youth of the Year

Gov. Hickenlooper, Elizabeth Velasquez, Rep. Riesberg

Elizabeth Velasquez has been named the Colorado Youth of the Year by Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA). As the new Colorado Youth of the Year, she is eligible for a four-year scholarship at several Colorado colleges and universities and will receive a $3,000 scholarship from Anadarko, a $1,000 college scholarship from Tupperware, a $1,000 scholarship from 7-Eleven, a laptop from College in Colorado and a $250 gift card from JCPenney.

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB DAY FOR KIDS A BIG SUCCESS; HUNDREDS OF PARENTS AND KIDS CELEBRATE STATEWIDE

Lowes_DFX Oct. 4, 2010 — Hundreds of parents and kids turned out Sept. 25 for the Colorado Boys & Girls Club Day for Kids, an annual event highlight value of meaningful time between caring adult and children.

Did you miss out on the fun? Click here to view photos from two of our events, Ignacio’s Third Annual Neighborhood Day at Shoshone Park and Weld County's Day for Kids events held in collaboration with Lowe’s Home Improvement and their safety fair.

Through Day for Kids, Boys & Girls Clubs are encouraging every Coloradan to play a part in ensuring a brighter future for our young people by getting involved and becoming more engaged in a young person’s life.

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS DAY FOR KIDS SET FOR SEPTEMBER 25; COLORADO CLUBS PREPARE FOR FUN-FILLED DAY CELEBRATING KIDS

Sept. 22, 2010 – Boys & Girls Clubs throughout Colorado are teeing up to celebrate “Boys & Girls Clubs Day for Kids” (BGC Day for Kids), an annual event highlighting the value of meaningful time between caring adults and children.

While many Americans recognize the link between spending meaningful time with their kids and the tough issues facing young people, they say they don’t have the time, skills or resources to do as much for their children as they feel they should. Through Day for Kids, Boys & Girls Clubs are encouraging every Coloradan to play a part in ensuring a brighter future for our young people by getting involved and becoming more engaged in a young person’s life.

Here is a listing of events (all events are free) in Colorado:

Avondale Sept. 25, 2010, 12:20 p.m. - 4 p.m., Avondale Elementary School, 213 E. U.S. Highway 50. Activities will include lunch and refreshments, tours, fun games and prizes and much, much more! For more info, contact the Avondale Clubhouse at 719-947-4112.

Fort Collins Sept. 25, 2010, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Front Range Village  near I-25 at Ziegler & Harmony Road. With music and prizes, this day includes face painting, bungee trampoline, climbing wall, giant mural, teen Guitar Hero contest and more!

Greeley Sept. 25, 2010, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Lowe's Home Improvement, 2400 47th Ave. This day will include food, bounce houses, sports activities, safety demonstrations, arts and crafts, games, music, prizes and more!

Pueblo Sept. 25, 2010, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., Sprague Clubhouse, 2601 Sprague Ave. Activities will include lunch and refreshments, tours, fun games and prizes and much, much more! For more info, contact the Sprague Clubhouse at 719-404-0033.

Salida Sept. 29, 2010, 2:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., 340 E. 5th St. More than 20 exhibits and activities, including a bicycle rodeo, health screenings, wilderness awareness, first aid, lots of helpful resources for living well and great giveaways. For more info, contact Angela Damman at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 539-4746.

YOUTH OF THE YEAR KRISTEN CASIMIER FEATURED IN THE DENVER POST

Governor Bill Ritter, Attorney General John Suthers, Colorado Youth of the Year Kristen Casimier, and Lt. Governor Barbara O'Brien

"Striving students all prize-worthy" by Tina Griego