News at Boys & Girls Club of the Ozarks - Branson and Forsyth Missouri

News

CLUBS RECEIVE GRANT FROM BANK OF AMERICA

MARCH 9, 2011 - The Boys & Girls Club of the Ozarks was honored to receive a grant in the amount of $2,500 from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, Inc. The funds, which were requested to benefit the daily operations of all three locations in Taney and Stone Counties, were presented by Ryan Lynch, Assistant Vice President and Banking Center Manager, and John Lawyer, Assistant Vice President and Branson Banking Center Manager.

STONE COUNTY NATIONAL BANK SUPPORTS REEDS SPRING CLUB

FEBRUARY 25, 2011 - The Boys & Girls Club of the Ozarks’ Reeds Spring location was the recipient of a $250 gift from Stone County National Bank. The contribution will be used to support the daily operations of the after-school program located in the Reeds Spring schools. Steven Mills, the Reeds Spring Club Director, says that the program serves nearly140 youth each day after school dismisses. As part of the program, kids in grades K-6 receive a nutritious snack, help with their homework, as well as fun, structured programs in the areas of arts & crafts, sports and recreation, technology and more.

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB HONORS OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEERING DURING NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH

JANUARY 24, 2011 - During the weekly character education assembly at Forsyth Elementary School, the Club praised Lyla Girth for completing over 100 hours of volunteer service in 2010. The FirstPLACE! character trait for the month of January is "Commitment," and no one exemplifies commitment more than "Mrs. Lyla" as she is affectionately known around the Boys & Girls Club's Forsyth location. After all, she has volunteered at the Club off and on for more than thirteen years!

People often ask Girth why she spends so much time volunteering - especially with kids - and she is quick to reply, "I'm 77 years old and still have a lot to offer. What I do with my time is far more productive than going home and falling asleep in my chair. After all, 'The Price is Right' gets boring!" She knows that for some people, working with youth can be intimidating. "People need to understand that you don't have to have a degree or formal training to mentor kids. You just need to be able to sit with them and really care about them," she says.

Through a program funded by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Office of Justice Programs, the Boys & Girls Club of the Ozarks has begun recruiting adult volunteers to serve as mentors for Club members through the end of 2011. All volunteers are required to complete a volunteer application and pass a comprehensive background screen in order to work directly with kids. A volunteer orientation is provided in order to answer questions and match volunteers with the area or project that best suits their interests and schedule.

ARVEST BANK SUPPORTS BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS

Greg Baker, Community Bank President, and Sue Eudy, Hollister Branch Manager, with Arvest Bank were on hand at the Branson location of the Boys & Girls Club of the Ozarks Tuesday, September 14 to present Club members with a gift of $2,500. Arvest Bank, in conjunction with the Walton Family Foundation, recognized the Boys & Girls Club as an outstanding local charity by supporting its Fine Arts & Technology and Character & Leadership Programs at the Branson, Forsyth & Reeds Spring locations.

“This kind of community support is invaluable in continuing the work we do with young people everyday,” said Autumn Porter, the Club’s Executive Director. “What makes it even more special is that Greg and Sue have both served as members of our Board of Directors in the past. They have first-hand knowledge of the impact that we have in the lives of kids and families across Taney and Stone Counties

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB MEMBERS HELP "JESUS WAS HOMELESS"

Recently, kids from the area Boys & Girls Club of the Ozarks helped to decorate paper lunch bags for Jesus Was Homeless, an organization that passes out over 390 sack lunch "Happy Meals" each week to weekly motel and extended stay residents. "We like to personalize each of the bags with a happy face. It makes a great ice breaker when you are giving out free food and the kids added to that with their original artwork," said Amy Stallings, co-founder of Jesus Was Homeless.

RECEIVES $10,000 GRANT FROM THE WALMART FOUNDATION

Thanks to a new partnership between Boys & Girls Club of America (BGCA) and the Walmart Foundation, Boys & Girls Club of the Ozarks' Shirley M. Schaefer Unit in Branson has received a $10,000 grant to launch a new reading initiative that promotes both educational and leisure reading for adolescents.

The "Bright Spot for Reading Initiative for Adolescent Readers" will help create a Reading Center, provide training for staff, and encourage intercommunity relationships to ensure the success of our members. Becky Trott, Program Director for Branson, says that she and the employees who work directly with teens were busy getting materials purchased, quiet and comfortable spaces ready, and nailing down the details involved in launching the Reading Center program for when the after-school program began. "We are very excited," said Troutt. "I had several teens who worked with me to help design the programs, who chose the books, and helped plan what will actually be accomplished this year." "The Walmart Foundation's Bright Spot for Reading Initiative is essential in preparing youth for academic and life success," continued Autumn Page, Executive Director. "We are grateful to the Walmart Foundation for the opportunity to create an environment that will encourage and allow our teens to enjoy and develop an affinity for reading."

Forsyth Club kids greeted patrons outside the Applebee's in Branson on Thursday evening, May 20, 2010, as part of the Dine to Donate fundraiser. During this fundraiser, patrons had the opportunity to donate to the Boys & Girls Club of the Ozarks through their dining experience.

FOSSIL FUN FOR FORSYTH KIDS

Recently, the Forsyth staff met with Bruce Herschend, owner of Talking Rocks Cavern, to pick out items for the new Science Center at the Forsyth Club. Mr. Herschend kindly donated over $400 worth of various rock and fossil samples. He has partnered with the Forsyth Boys & Girls Club in a three-year program to include free tours of the caves, use of the trails surrounding Talking Rocks Cavern, and opportunities for their Club members to dig up some of their own rocks and minerals. Some of the older Club members will be instructed on rock climbing.

An opportunity to participate in an experiment, originally designed by NASA, which was used to find life in a cave peviously considered devoid of life, was also extended to their Club members. They will be able to conduct some of those same experiments, as part of Talking Rocks' new scientific program.

LOCAL WOMAN LEAVES LEGACY OF SUPPORT FOR AREA YOUTH

The Boys & Girls Club of the Ozarks receives generous estate gift. The owners and operators of the Branson Mercantile for 23 years, Charles and Helen Winston first came to the area because of their entrepreneurial spirit and a love of the Ozarks' outdoors. Once they decided to make Branson their full-time residence in 1955, they soon came to know and love the people in the community, and made a priority of giving back both their time and resources.

Many firends and neighbors loved Helen, a long-time volunteer of the First Baptist Church and the Taneyhills Library Thrift Shop, during her 54 years in the Branson area. Her compassionate nature was never more evident than with the estate gift of $180,000 she left to the Boys & Girls Club of the Ozarks upon her passing in September 2009. Joe Reish, the Winston's nephew and a local businessman, presented the Boys & Girls Club with Helen's gift.

While Helen had donated to the Boys & Girls Club of the Ozarks many times over the years, she had kept her plans for a large final contribution a secret. "I had the privilege of visting with Mrs. Winston on several occasions, but her most generous gift came as total surprise and a huge blessing to the Board of Directors, staff and kids at the Club," said Autumn Page, Executive Director.

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