Now there's a great new way to help kids in need here in the Valley: The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix Visa Rewards Card!

For every new account opened, the Club will receive a donation, as well as a percentage of all the purchases made by our cardholders-even on everyday purchases!

You'll show your support for the Boys & Girls Club every time you show your card. You will receive reward points as well as 1% cash back on all your transactions. Now that is cool!

Visit www.bgcmp.org to apply for your card today!

Keystone Club members from our Jerry & Helen Wisotsky/Peoria Branch were awarded the 2009 Teen Outreach Award by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America at the National Keystone Conference.

This top honor was given to the Club in recognition of their outstanding work organizing and running a teen job fair to help young adults find summer jobs. Thanks to the hard work of our Peoria Keystoners, more than 150 teens were able to find jobs!

Now you can help the Boys & Girls Clubs while enjoying Peter Piper Pizza. From May until September 30th visit you favorite Peter Piper Pizza in the Valley and ask for the Boys & Girls Club Special. What do you get? You receive a Large 1-toping pizza and an order of bread sticks for only $11.99. Also you get the satisfaction of knowing that for every order placed, Peter Piper Pizza will donate $2.00 to help support the Clubs in the Valley.

Find your nearest location and help the Club today...while eating some great pizza. Click here for a list of locations.

Putting a new spin on the classic "career day," over 100 members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix participated in Pizza With the Pros. The event offers kids the opportunity to share pizza with various professionals and interact with them to learn more about career options.

Many young members have a hard time planning a next step after high-school. The 12 professionals participating in Pizza with the Pros helped inspire kids to pursue career tracks such as police officer, nurse, counselor, fire fighter, veterinarian, lawyer, and more.

Thanks to all the professionals who participated in this event for sharing their experiences with our Club members. This year's event was awesome!

During their first 10 years of marriage, Al and Marion had developed a personal mission - supporting children who need help the most. Forty-five years later, Al and Marion are still giving and are looking for a way to further their support while also considering their retirement needs.

Recently, they attended a presentation at their local Boys & Girls Club and heard about a new service- the charitable gift annuity program. "We were excited to learn that there was a way for us to continue our support for the Club, provide for generations of kids to come, and receive guaranteed income we need for our remaining retirement years."

For more information on how you can make a difference please call
(602) 954-8182 or email Brad Kuluris at bkuluris@bgcmp.org.

Hey sports fans, SPP Sports is excited to announce the launch of the Phoenix Sports Fans Choice Awards, on Friday, June 12th.

Each year outstanding athletes in the state are honored, and this year the inaugural Sports Fans Choice Awards Show is being launched in Phoenix.

An Outstanding Team Achievement Award will be presented to the Arizona Cardinals, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award for Jerry Colangelo, with many other specials surprises planned. Four Boys & Girls Clubs members will also receive the Jr. Achievers Award that same day.

There will be a star-studded cast with more than 30 athletes in attendance, and great sports comedy, with net proceeds benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix! For your chance to attend the event listen to KTAR Sports 620. To cast your vote click here!

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.

May 29-June 2
This summer, 60 BGCMP Club Kids will receive the opportunity of a lifetime by attending Camp Swift on scholarship. Kids from each of the 12 Clubs, ages 9 to 11 years old will have the chance to experience one of the best camps in the state. Camp Swift, a private, exclusive summer camp, has become nationally recognized for its leadership and character development training and has involved BGCMP members since its beginning.

June 10
BGCMP Teen members will participate in a field trip to Chase Field to watch the Arizona Diamondbacks play against the San Francisco Giants. The field trip is part of the RBI baseball program, sponsored by Major League Baseball. Each Teen Center will bring approximately 10 teens to the game which is made possible by Arizona Diamondbacks Managing General Partner Ken Kendrick.

June 16 - 22
A group of 20 Club kids will participate in the Summer Enrichment Program at NAU in Flagstaff. The program is a week-long summer science/math/exploration camp for youth going into 9th-12th grades. Kids will be working directly with scientists on a 1 to 4 counselor ratio and taking various field trips to related sites. They will also be staying at the NAU dormitories to get a true university experience.

June 22 - 25
During June, 10 Club members will visit Lake Michigan as part of their Camp Klinger tour. Last year, attending members had a great time wake boarding, boating, tubing, and swimming - truly a once in a life time experience for many of them. This trip is made possible by the Lee and the Lavidge Families...Thank YOU!

July 17
Ever thought about what it's like for Hollywood directors to see their films on the big screen? Dozens of kids will have a similar opportunity as they participate in the 2nd Annual Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix Film Festival. Entries will be divided by age categories and the kids will be in charge of creating the plot line, selecting the shots, and acting.

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

Real golfer’s don’t mind the heat—and they love the challenge of the game. If you’re one of these golfers, then join us for the hottest golf event this summer. You can golf and challenge your buddies to help out the kids at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix, at the Legacy Golf Resort, rich in heritage and history.

Friday, June 26, 2009
6:30 a.m. registration
7:30 a.m. shotgun start
The Legacy Golf Resort
6808 S. 32nd Street, Phoenix

Greens fee, golf cart, range balls, lunch and Award Festivities are included. Sponsorship opportunities start at $300. For more information on the event please click here or call (602) 954-8182.

Kid of the Month Chloe Johnson

Chloe is energetic, enthusiastic, talented -- a natural born leader. She is 14 years old and has been attending the Herbert Kieckhefer Branch for about 5 years.

At the Club, she is considered a “classic athlete.” She plays on the Club’s floor hockey, flag football, girls volleyball, and basketball teams. Last summer, she 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 Smart and the Science Fair. She is incredibly helpful and younger members look up to her.

Chloe is proud to represent the Kieckhefer Branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix as this month’s FS Arizona Character Counts Kid of the Month.

Rebecca Velarde is a volunteer at the Warner A. Gabel Branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix. Rebecca volunteers in all areas and is actively engaged with the Club members playing different games with them or spending some meaningful one-on-one time with them.

Through her contacts Rebecca recently went above and beyond and developed a partnership between the Club and the City of Phoenix Housing Department. She encouraged the PRIDE (Phoenix Residential Investment Development Effort) committee to support sending at least 40 children to the Gabel branch next fall.

Thanks to her efforts she secured a safe environment for children in the East Housing Complex to attend next year.

Thank you Rebecca for your leadership and dedication!