Don’t miss world-renowned pianist and Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix alumnus, William Joseph, as he takes the stage at Mesa Arts Center on November 7, 2009.

William has released two critically acclaimed albums produced by legendary music impresario David Foster and has thrilled audiences around the world with his youthful, contemporary take on classical music. Enjoy a video of William Joseph's unique playing style here.

For more details, or to purchase tickets for this one-night-only special event, please click here.

Get ready for the 14th Annual Mayors’ Challenge Golf Tournament. Join Mayors and businesses of the West Valley to support the Tri-City West/Thornwood Branch with a day of golf, food, and fun. Tee off with special guest, NFL Hall of Famer and Arizona native, Randall McDaniel.

Saturday, October 24th, 2009
The Wigwam Golf Resort & Spa
300 Wigwam Boulevard, Litchfield Park
7:00 a.m. Registration
8:00 a.m. Shotgun Start

Greens fee, golf cart, range balls, and lunch are included. Sponsorship opportunities start at just $300. For more information on the tournament click here or 602-954-8182.

Thanks to the generosity of employees at the University of Phoenix/Apollo Group, kids in need at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix received new supplies and backpacks to start the school year off right! Through their Back to School Supply Drive, employees collected enough supplies to help stuff more than 150 backpacks!

Thanks, University of Phoenix/Apollo Group!

WOW, the Board of Directors, their family and friends took a record 130 kids from 12 Clubs shopping at their annual Back to School Shopping event on August 19th at Paradise Valley Mall.

With great discounts from JCPenney and Dillards this year, the shoppers were able to provide the kids with clothing and shoes to help make the start of a new school year very special.

Thank you to all of our donors who made this year’s Back to School Shopping event an amazing success.

This past Friday, September 11, all 12 clubs hosted events for the annual Day for Kids. Each Club planned a unique get-together for Club kids and their families to connect with the community and build strong family bonds. These community events included everything from carnivals to open houses, with the Swift Kids Club hosting a Blood drive.

A special thank you to St. Mary’s Food Bank and all of the volunteers who made Day for Kids a huge success.

Have you ever attended a Boys & Girls Club? If so, we invite you to join our Boys & Girls Clubs Alumni Association.

We cultivate lifelong relationships with alumni members and provide financial support to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix and its club members to ensure that the next generation is one we can be proud of, one that will make a difference in the world, one we can believe in.

For more information on joining the Alumni Association send an email to esmith@bgcmp.org or call 602-954-8182.

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

September 1-17
Keystone Club members will be collecting water bottles and new socks to donate to the Phoenix Rescue Mission. This drive is part of a state-wide effort to help the Valley's homeless.

September 1-29
Kids from the Warner A. Gabel Branch are learning the secrets of fishing. Every Tuesday during the month of September, a professional sports fisherman will take Club kids to Tempe Town Lake for a fishing adventure. He will be teaching the kids how to cast a line, reel ‘em in and make money doing it.

September 18-20
Seventy-one teens from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix will be attending the annual State Keystone Conference at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale, Vestar Branch. At the conference, teens will have the opportunity to connect with other Valley youth and hear from exciting speakers.

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

Saturday, September 26, 2009
Shea Village Lanes 6:30 PM
2-Person Teams—So bring your significant other!

$200 per couple/$600 per team of six
Food and cocktails included.

Sponsorships available. Email cschissel@bgcmp.org or call 602-954-8182 for more information.

Hurry! Time is running out! Donate two pairs of new jeans and enjoy the glamorous Phoenix Art Fusion event.

September 30, 2009
The Phoenix Art Museum
Time: 5:00 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.

A portion of the jeans donated will benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix. For more information follow this link.

Join us as we celebrate the best things the lone-star state is famous for…down-home BBQ, football and of course free Texas Hold’em.

Sunday, November 8, 2009
Graham Central Station
12:30 p.m. Registration
$50 registration fee

Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, call (602) 954-8182 or email rpierson@bgcmp.org.

Kid of the Month Terasi

Fifteen year-old Terasi was born in Tanzania, Africa in a refugee camp during the war and immigrated to America 11 years ago.

Terasi loves America and said “this country is like heaven.” He has been an active member of the Club for three and half years and has participated in just about every sport activity offered.

He loves playing basketball, but is also a great soccer player and plays baseball every year in the Club’s baseball league. Terasi also helped his team win the championship game in the Club’s basketball league.

Terasi is an active Keystone Club member and volunteers at his Club and school.

Due to his outstanding character and leadership, we are proud to name Terasi as the FS Arizona Character Counts Kid of the Month. Congratulations, Terasi!

Since joining the Board of Directors in 1996, Wayne Allcott has been an active part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix family. Not only does he serve on the Board of Directors, but he also volunteers with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix Foundation as an advisor and trustee. In fact, Wayne has served on so many committees, there’s not enough room on this newsletter to list them all!

Wayne is always reaching out to help the organization in any way possible. We are truly grateful for his never-ending willingness to volunteer his talents to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix and we thank him for many years of service and look forward to the many more years to come.

Valerie Green is a retired teacher. She has been a careful saver and has a number of certificates of deposit.

Valerie: Over the past three years, the return on my CDs has declined significantly. I am interested in a secure return.

Valerie’s friend had set up a gift annuity with the local Boys & Girls Club. Valerie thought that perhaps a gift annuity would be helpful for her.

Valerie: I called the local Boys & Girls Clubs and asked about a gift annuity. I was very pleased to discover that based upon my age, a gift annuity would pay 8%. Plus, there would be a good tax deduction and part of the income would be tax-free. After finding out how easy it is to set up a gift annuity, I transferred $20,000 from a CD that had matured into a charitable gift annuity.

If you would like to set up a bequest benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix, please call (602) 954-8182 or e-mail Brad Kuluris at bkuluris@bgcmp.org.