With the holidays fast approaching, we would like to thank YOU for your continuing support of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix.

Your support has empowered the futures of more than 31,000 youth Valley-wide through our ten clubhouse facilities, Dave Pratt Dental Clinic, and outreach programs. However, the need is much greater. Your support ensures that we can continue to provide the life-changing programs for our community's youth. Moreover, your donation to the BGCMP may qualify you for a state income tax credit of up to $200, and a $400 tax credit for married couples filing jointly.

Not just a deduction. . .but a credit! To receive this credit, taxpayers must itemize on their state income tax returns and have established a baseline year for charitable contributions. For more information, visit www.revenue.state.az.us or consult your tax advisor.

There are various ways you can donate to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix:

1.- By mail -Click here to download a donation form, fill it out, and mail it in today!

2.- Online - Click here and donate online by using your PayPal account. If you don't have a PayPal account, get one today. It's fast, free, and secure!

3.- By Phone - You can call our accounting staff at 602.954.8182 and they can process your credit card or checking information to make this process easy and secure. A receipt will be mailed to you for your records.

Don't let the holiday's pass you by--donate today!

Help make this holidays special for our Valley's deserving children by supporting one of the many holiday programs at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix.

For many, the holidays are a time of gift giving, a time to visit relatives, and a time to enjoy the festivities, but did you know that thousands of children at our branches might not receive a holiday meal or holiday gift, let alone experience the magic of the holidays outside their own neighborhood?

That's why it is so important that you help create special opportunities for our community's kids. If you would like to give a holiday gift for those in need, here are some ideas on how you can help:

ADOPT A FAMILY: The BGCMP has identified families in need and prepared a family information sheet identifying family size, food, clothing, and household needs. If you want to adopt a family, you can either do the shopping and deliver the items to the family (club staff will assist in coordinating delivery) or you can let us know how many family members you want to adopt and the club staff will do all the shopping and make the proper arrangements.

GIFTS FOR KIDS: Provide toys for children at the club. Each clubhouse hosts a holiday celebration and dinner in December. Our goal is to collect 2,000 new gifts to present to all the children who attend the holiday parties. Collect new toys with the help of your family, company staff, or civic organization. We are asking that the toys be suitable for children six to teen years of age. If you choose to wrap the gifts, please label with an appropriate age and gender.

SPONSOR A CLUB PARTY: Your monetary contribution will be greatly appreciated . . . and the club staff will do all the work! Your donation of $250 will purchase holiday decorations and a holiday tree for one clubhouse; $625 will buy enough food and presents for a family of five; $1,000 will provide an entire holiday dinner at one clubhouse or teen center; and $2,000 will purchase enough gifts for all the kids at one clubhouse or teen center!

If you or your organization want to help bring the magic into this holiday season for thousands of deserving children, please call Duane Nelson (602.954.8182 ext. 220) at the BGCMP. Thank you!

Join business and community leaders Jerry Colangelo, Jerry Moyes, and Ed Robson for a star studded night at the "Today's Kids, Tomorrow's Stars" event sponsored by UTI.

The event will feature a fabulous evening of fine food and an exciting live auction and a silent auction. The event culminates with one youth being named the Youth of the Year of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix.

Save the date and join us on Saturday, February 24, 2007, at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa.

For more information on tickets or sponsorship opportunities please call 602.954.8182 or email llesniak@bgcmp.org.

With more than 1,000 guests and 10 amazing Youth of the Year nominees, this is an event you won't want to miss! Seating is limited, so call today! 

If you are age 70 1/2 or older, new legislation now allows you to make cash gifts up to $100,000 a year from your traditional or Roth IRA to qualified charities without incurring income tax on the withdrawal. This is good news for people who want to make a charitable gift during their lifetime from their retirement assets but have been discouraged from doing so because of the income tax penalty. The provision is effective for tax years 2006 and 2007 only, so you must act by December 31 to take full advantage this year.

Contact our Development office at 602.954.8182 for more information.  

Source: The Insider, August 2006 - Boys & Girls Clubs of America 

After a lengthy and extensive renovation, the doors of the Spencer D. & Mary Jane Stewart Branch are finally ready to reopen. The completely renovated Clubhouse, located at 6629 W Clarendon Avenue in Phoenix will be opening on Monday, December 11.

A pre-opening ceremony was held at the renovated facility on December 8, 2006. Present at the ceremony where local community members as well as Board of Directors members and those that were involved in the project.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix would like to give special thanks to the following individuals and their organizations for making this project possible:

The City of Phoenix; Ted Ferris and the Arizona Sports & Tourism Authority; Haley Balzano and Exclaim Design; Michael Raushenberger, Robert Castoro, Chris Bailey and the Howard S. Wright Construction Co. And, of course, all of the donors and supporters who helped make this project a dream come true for the kids and the community. Thank You!

The staff at FSN Arizona recently helped celebrate the holidays by organizing a toy drive titled "Duel in the Desert Preview Party" at the Fox Sports Grill. Sun Devil and Wildcats fans alike attended the event to show their school pride as well as donate a toy for the kids at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix.

Anyone who donated a toy received a raffle ticket to possibly win a variety of great prizes including a catered suite for 16 at a Phoenix Coyotes game.

"Duel in the Desert" not only helped raise dozens of brand new toys for the Club kids but it helped spread the joy of the holidays among their families.

Thank you FSN Arizona for your continuing commitment to our community's youth and for helping the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix make this a very special holiday season!

The Clubs have holiday parties scheduled at all locations as well as December-vacation activities. The listed events are samples of activities at the Clubs: 

Sunday, December 10
Selected girls from all ten branches of the BGCMP will participate in a brand new program called "It's a Girl Thing" in which each girl is paired with a responsible community leader to participate in a variety of group activities.

It's a Girl Thing is a menthorship program designed to help tweens have the self confidence to make positive choices that will impact the rest of their lives. Participating mentors are:

• Linda Pope
• Christi and Makaira Warner-Beyer
• Laurie Florkiewicz
• Ruth Lavinia
• Patsy Livi
• Jane Christiansen & Catherine Marshall
• Carole & Nikki Moreno
• Sandy Tryznadel
• and Paige & Ashton Wheeler

Both the girls and their mentors are praising the program.

Monday, December 11
Kids from all ten branches of the BGCMP will be receiving holiday cheer as volunteer members of the Branch Development Board take them holiday shopping. Kids will receive much-needed winter clothing as well as spend meaningful time with responsible adults.

Thursday, December 14
Members at the Jerry & Helen Wisotsky/Peoria Branch will be learning about the dangers of methamphetamines in the Meth Smarts Program. Through a variety of educational activities, kids will learn how to say no to the use of meth which is increasingly becoming a popular drug in the state.

Thursday, December 21
Boys and girls at the Glendale Branch will celebrate the holidays in style with a club-wide party. Santa Claus will be making a surprise stop at the Club to distribute toys to the kids. Members will also be participating in a cookie decorating activity while enjoying hot chocolate. For kids that like to share their talents, holiday-theme karaoke will provide backup for those brave singers.

Call your local Club for more information and a complete schedule.

TODAY'S KIDS, TOMORROW'S STARS
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa

PRE-TASTE EVENT
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Westin Kierland Resort & Spa

TASTE 2007 "THE ART OF FLAVOR"
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Kierland Commons

POST-TASTE 2007
Sunday, April 22, 2007 (immediately after The Taste)
Westin Kierland Resort & Spa

For more info on these events, call 602.954.8182 or visit www.bgcmp.org 

Imagine taking 100 kids to a Lacrosse game at the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale. The logistics associated with parking, entering the facility, seating, and then making sure the kids are enjoying the game...Well, now you don't have to thanks to the Arizona Sting's "Sting-A-Thon."

The Sting-A-Thon allows you to buy season tickets for club kids at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix and you don't have to worry about anything else because Club staff will take the kids to the games. By participating in the "Sting-A-Thon", your name as a sponsor will be displayed on the Arena's huge screen, you will have the great feeling of providing underserved kids with opportunities they might not have otherwise enjoyed. To find out more please simply click here.

Echos Blevins with FSN Arizona reporter Kevin McCabe

For as long as she can remember, Echos Blevins has been a member of the I.G. Homes Branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix. At the Club, she receives help with her homework, she also receives a daily meal, and she has a safe place to go in the middle of an often troubled neighborhood.

At age 17, Echos is a solid student, a leader in her community, and a gifted athlete. At her young age, Echos has been invited to the Jr. Olympics in the 4x100, 4x800, and 4x400 relay categories. In 2003, she finished 8th place at the National Jr. Olympics in the 4x800. And for the second time, she has earned the Arizona State Track Championship. Echos tenacious spirit has helped her set some high goals.

Echos wants to become a pediatrician to help improve children’s lives while also being financially independent. She plans on attending medical school while competing in the Olympics…Her record in both school and track show that she has the determination to accomplish her goals.

This year, Echos was selected as Youth of the Year for the I.G. Homes Branch, and we are sure to hear more about her accomplishments in the future. Echos is proud to represent the I. G. Homes Branch as this month’s Character Counts Kid of the Month.

The BGCMP is proud to recognize business and community leader Suzee Smith-Everhard as the volunteer of the month. Suzee has been a volunteer at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix since 2000 serving in various committees and as a member of the Board of Directors.

Suzee serves as the Director of Community Relations and TeleVideo for Cox Communications Arizona. In this role, she is responsible for community relations, community outreach, corporate citizenship, special events, and community sponsorships.

Cox Communications has been a major sponsor and supporter of "Today's Kids, Tomorrow's Stars" since the event's inception. Through Suzee's hard work and determination she has helped pave the way for Stars' success, even chairing the event this year, which was the most successful year ever for this event.

Most recently, Suzee was a fundamental supporter and organizer of "Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow," which was the 60th anniversary celebration of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix and the groundbreaking of three new Clubs!

Suzee's commitment, passion, and creativity are unparallel in her pursuit to help make life better for our community's children.  

Thank you, Suzee, for your dedication to help improve our community!