Featuring flavors from Italy, Japan, Germany, France, South America, and Spain, the list is almost endless. Food and wine from particular regions often complement each other. Whether you prefer gourmet delicacies or enjoy a great wine tasting, Taste 2008 will inspire your inner connoisseur to explore the different flavors of the world.

Sunday, April 6, 2008,
6 to 9 p.m. at the Kierland Commons (northwest corner of Scottsdale Road and Greenway Parkway). Individual tickets to Taste 2008 start at $150. Underwriting and sponsorship packages are also available.

Also experience: Champion's Dinner Celebration: A black-tie dinner and auction honoring community champion Mike Gallagher on Saturday, March 22, 2008, 5:30 p.m. to midnight, at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa (northwest corner of Greenway Parkway and Kierland Boulevard.) Tickets to the Champion's Dinner start at $500 each. If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities or tickets, please call (602) 954-8182.

"...And the winner is....Jarmarkus Anderson from the I. G. Homes Branch!" announced MLB Commissioner Bud Selig at the Today's Kids, Tomorrow's Stars event sponsored by UTI. When Jarmarkus took the podium to accept his award and give a short speech, there was a feeling in the audience that the event had broken new records. Indeed it did-- more than 1,200 people in attendance helped the event net $1.95 million for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix.

MLB Commissioner Bud Selig was also awarded the "Champion for Youth" award in recognition of his efforts on behalf of Boys & Girls Clubs children for more than a decade.

The event was made possible by the countless volunteers, donors, and the community that came together to help the kids at the Boys & Girls Club. We wish to thank Universal Technical Institute (UTI) for supporting our youth serving as the title sponsor of this very special event. We also wish to thank the following primary sponsors:

• Mrs. Jemeille Ackourey
• Arizona Diamondbacks
• Arizona Physicians IPA/UnitedHealthcare
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona
• Mr. & Mrs. Scott Coles
• Dawson Companies, Ltd.
• Mr. & Mrs. Budd Florkiewickz
• Major League Baseball
• Mr. & Mrs. Arte Moreno
• Mr. & Mrs. Bill Pope
• Buzz Sands and Sands Chevrolet
• Universal Technical Institute
• US Airways

Thank you to everyone who helped support these efforts by donating and/or volunteering at Today's Kids, Tomorrow's Stars. Jarmarkus will now move to the state Youth of the Year competition, which will take place on Tuesday, April 22. We wish you the best of luck and much success Jarmarkus!

Travel around the world and experience a variety of fine art all in one night without leaving the Valley: attend Global Gala 2008: Giving Is an Art.

In a culinary voyage, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix, through its volunteer group, the Branch Development Board, has put together a wide variety of enticing aromas and tastes for this event. Hosted at Rima Fine Art Gallery, the venue provides a collection of some of the finest original paintings and sculptures from established modern-day artists, all in the heart of Scottsdale's "gallery row."

Saturday, April 26, 2008
Cocktail attire reception & silent auction -- 6:30 p.m.
Live auction -- 8:30 p.m. 

Rima Fine Art Gallery 7077 E Main Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

For more information on sponsorship opportunities or tickets, please call (602) 954-8182.

Arizona's Channel 8 (PBS) is recognizing nonprofit organizations in the Valley at its inaugural "Be More Awards" luncheon and awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 14, 2008. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix has been nominated, but to win we need YOUR help!

Go online today and vote for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix for the People's Choice Poll. Simply click on the link below and cast your vote, it's that easy! You can forward to all your friends to inform them to vote too!

Help the Boys & Girls Clubs BE MORE! VOTE TODAY! click here!

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix received a grant from the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to test a pilot program at its Spencer D. & Mary Jane Stewart Branch. The program, titled “TNT DramaMatters,” focuses on increasing self-confidence, identifying and expressing emotion, improving speaking skills, and improving performance skills of Club members.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix was one of the 15 Clubs selected nationwide to test the TNT DramaMatters program before it is rolled out to more than 4,000 Clubs worldwide.

Drama education is a proven method of boosting academics and stimulating youth development. In fact, research shows it can be a powerful teaching tool in core learning areas including language arts, science, and math.

TNT DramaMatters is partnering with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to introduce drama education as a powerful tool to stimulate Club member achievement and help them reach their full potential in a safe environment.

For more information, please visit www.bgca.org.

The Clubs are gearing up for summer camp! See the registration schedule below. Just click on the name of the Club to find out more about that Club.

Glendale Branch
Registration start date: April 1

I. G. Homes Branch
Registration start date for existing 2008 members: March 31
Registration start date for new 2008 members: April 7

Herbert Kieckhefer Branch
Registration start date for existing 2008 members: March 17
Registration start date for new 2008 members: March 31

Harry & Sandy Rosenzweig and Louis & Elizabeth Sands Branches
Registration start date for existing 2008 members: March 3
Registration start date for new 2008 members: April 1

Spencer D. & Mary Jane Stewart, Woodrow C. Scoutten/Tolleson, and Warner A. Gabel Branches
Registration start date for existing 2008 members: April 7
Registration start date for new 2008 members: April 21

Tri-City West/Thornwood Branch
Registration start date for existing 2008 members: March 31
Registration start date for new 2008 members: April 14

Jerry & Helen Wisotsky/Peoria Branch
Registration start date for existing 2008 members: March 31
Previous summer camp members: April 7
First time to Peoria summer camp: April 14

There are a variety of other activities going on throughout the month. Call your local Club for more information and a complete schedule.

CHAMPION'S DINNER HONORING CHAMPION OF THE YEAR
MIKE GALLAGHER
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Westin Kierland Resort & Spa

TASTE 2008 - A WORLD OF FLAVOR
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Kierland Commons

POST - TASTE EVENT
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Barcelona Restaurant/Club

GLOBAL GALA 2008: GIVING IS AN ART
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Rima Fine Art Gallery

BRANCH DEVELOPMENT BOARD GOLF TOURNAMENT
Friday, June 6, 2008
The Legacy Golf Resort

For more info on these events, call (602) 954-8182 or visit www.bgcmp.org 

Kid of the Month Chloe Johnson with FSN's Jody Jackson

Chloe is energetic, enthusiastic, talented, and a natural born leader. She is very happy to have been selected as the FSN Arizona Character Counts kid of the month.

Chloe is 13 years old and an 8th grade student. She has been attending the Herbert Kieckhefer Boys & Girls Club for four years and is considered a “classic athlete.” She plays on the Club’s floor hockey, flag football, girls volleyball, and basketball teams. This past summer, Chloe was elected captain of her Club’s Mercury girls basketball team.

Aside from sports, Chloe loves to use the computer lab and play video games. She has also participated in other club programs including Meth Smarts and the Science Fair. She is a very respectful member and has excellent manners. Moreover, Chloe is incredibly helpful, and younger members look up to her.

Due to her outstanding character and leadership, we are proud to name Chloe Johnson as the FSN Arizona Character Counts Kid of the Month. Congratulations, Chloe!

Executive Council member Greg Reeve has been a volunteer for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix for the past four years. From 2004 through 2006 he served as the Executive Council's liaison to the Board of Directors.

This year, Greg is serving as the Taste 2008 Chairman and he is certainly on top of things having learned the ropes last year when he served as Assistant Chairman.

Greg is the General Manager and a partner of Charter Capital of Scottsdale, which provides customized financing solutions for equipment and technology acquisitions. He lives in Scottsdale with his wife Julia and their two children.

His enthusiasm and commitment to the kids and the clubs are to be commended. We are proud to recognize Greg Reeve as this month’s Volunteer of the Month.

If you are interested in learning more about volunteering, please visit our website at www.bgcmp.org or call Teresa at (602) 343-1210.