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 2009 will inspire your inner connoisseur to explore the different flavors of the world.

Sunday, April 26, 2009,
6 to 9 p.m. at the Kierland Commons (northwest corner of Scottsdale Road and Greenway Parkway). Individual tickets to Taste 2009 start at $150 and can be purchased online at www.taste2009.com. Underwriting and sponsorship packages are also available.

Also experience Champion's Dinner Celebration: A black-tie dinner and auction honoring community champion Dr. William Pepicello, University of Phoenix president, on Saturday, April 11, 2009, 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 or visit www.taste2009.com.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix and its family celebrated the grand opening of the Jerry Colangelo Branch this past Thursday, March 19.

The Jerry Colangelo Branch is the newest addition to the Boys & Girls Club family and boasts over 24,000 square feet of space which will serve more than 2,200 youth each year. Attending the grand opening were Jerry Colangelo; Vice Mayor Tom Simplot; Rick Weltz, President and COO of the Phoenix Suns; the Suns Gorilla; and other major Club sponsors as well as community members.

With annual rates at $30 per child, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix provides much needed relief to our Valley’s struggling families. Recent cuts in government after-school programming and increasing unemployment rates have made the Club even more critical as a safe haven where families can send their children to receive homework assistance, a free meal, and sports programming.

The new Club is located at 1755 North 34th Avenue, Phoenix AZ 85009. Read what the Arizona Republic has to say about the Club, click here to read an article on the Jerry Colangelo Branch.

Our promise to youth is to provide a safe, positive place and to have a significant impact on their lives: 57% of alumni said the Club saved their life; 90% of alumni graduate from high school.

Thank you to all the sponsors, donors, and volunteers who made this grand opening possible!

"...And the winner is....Breanna Corey from the Swift Kids Branch!" announced NBA star and Club Alumnus Shaquille O'Neal at the Today's Kids, Tomorrow's Stars event sponsored by UTI (Thanks Shaq!)

When Breanna took the podium to accept her award and give a short speech, there was a feeling in the audience that they were witnessing a legendary event. Indeed they did-- more than 1,200 people in attendance helped the event net $1.70 million for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix.

Thank you to everyone who helped support these efforts by donating and/or volunteering at Today's Kids, Tomorrow's Stars. Breanna will now move to the state Youth of the Year competition, which will take place on Tuesday, April 19. We wish you the best of luck and much success Breanna!

Board Member Henry was committed to his Boys & Girls Club and shared his excitement whenever he could. However, his reach was far greater than that.

Henry loved to work in his rose garden and would always chat with his neighbor, Gladys. Henry would talk about the children at the Club and the satisfaction he received from being a club supporter. He invited Gladys to visit the Club many times but Gladys never got around to it.

Much to everyone's surprise, when Gladys passed away, she left a bequest to the Boys & Girls Club! You can imagine the surprise, but more importantly, the satisfaction that Henry had on learning of his neighbor's support. She lived the Boys & Girls Club excitement through her neighbor who told her of the hope and opportunity provided to each child at the Club.

It certainly pays to stop and smell the roses. You also may want to make it easy and convenient to have a bequest included in your will. If you would like more information on how to do this, please call (602) 954-8182 or e-mail Brad Kuluris at bkuluris@bgcmp.org.

Wondering what the Boys & Girls Clubs is all about? Looking for a free family activity? Then stop by the "Club in the Park/Triple Play Festival" at Encanto Park on March 28.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix will transform Encanto Park into a giant outdoor Boys & Girls Club complete with Teen Center, Education Center and Food! Bring your children on March 28 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to Encanto park for a chance to learn more about the Boys & Girls Club as well as enjoy activities facilitated by several special guests.

Activities will also include a dynamic wellness program called Triple Play which demonstrates how eating right, keeping fit and forming positive relationships add up to healthy lifestyles for youth.

This is a great opportunity to enjoy the beautiful weather, free food, and fun activities!

This past February the Valley saw a multitude of basketball stars as it hosted the NBA All-Star Weekend.

Basketball All-Star LeBron James took this opportunity to visit the Ed Robson Family Branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix and cut the ribbon to a new playground he donated.

LeBron partnered with State Farm in order to construct this playground.

“A playground is an important place for kids to play, have fun and hang out with friends and family,” said James, who won his second All-Star MVP last year in New Orleans.

Read more about this event in the Arizona Republic by clicking here.

Thank you to LeBron James, State Farm, Landscape Structures, No Fault Sport Group, and all the volunteers who made this playground possible.

Club kids across the Valley participate a wide variety of programs at the Club everyday. For more information on celebration activities and times call the Club nearest you.

March 22-28
Clubs across the nation will be celebrating and honoring National Boys & Girls Club week. We invite you to join us during this very important week. Visit your nearest Club and learn how we are helping young people BE GREAT!

March 28
All branches of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix will participate in the Club in the Park Triple Play Festival. The event is aimed at sharing important health tips with kids and family members as well as showing the community how a Boys & Girls Club operates. The event will take place at Encanto Park in Phoenix from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

April 2-5
Teens from across the nation will convene in Atlanta, Georgia, for the National Keystone Conference. Each year Keystone members gather in a different city to develop leadership skills, exchange ideas, debate and discuss current issues, and make friends. A total of six teens from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix will be participating.

April 4 - 5
America's original 3-on-3 basketball tournament, Gus Macker, makes its second visit to the Valley. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix. To register online or for more information visit www.macker.com

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 - A PRE-TASTE CELEBRATION
April 11, 2009
Westin Kierland Resort & Spa

35TH ANNUAL TASTE 2009
April 26, 2009
Kierland Commons

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

Kid of the Month Rosa Dominguez

Rosa is a 13-year-old who attends the Swift Kids Branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix. She first joined the Glendale Branch and then switched to the new Swift Kids Branch when it opened. She has been a Club member for the past three years and has been participating in all the programs the Club has to offer.

Rosa is a member of the Torch Club, a leadership development group for young kids, and is looking forward to graduating to become Keystone member.

Her leadership and positive attitude makes her a strong role model for the other members of the Club which is why she was recognized as kid of the year for her branch in 2008. The Swift Kids Branch would not be the same place without Rosa Dominguez! Due to her outstanding character and leadership, we are proud to name Rosa as the Fox Sports Arizona Character Counts Kid of the Month. Congratulations, Rosa!

Executive Council member and President Elect Bill Borders has been a volunteer for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix since 2003.

This year, Bill is serving as the Taste 2009 Chairman and he is certainly on top of things having learned the ropes the past five years as part of the Taste Committee.

Bill is the President of ARC Construction in Scottsdale, which specializes in commercial construction. He lives in Phoenix with his wife Jessica and their two children.

His enthusiasm and commitment to the kids and the Clubs are to be commended. We are proud to recognize Bill Borders as this month’s Volunteer of the Month.

Thank you so very much for your great leadership and conviction, Bill!