WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 22, 2010) – Members of the Washington D.C. law enforcement community joined with Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) for the “Be Mentored, Be Inspired, Be Great: A Celebration in Honor of National Mentoring Month” held January 21, 2010 at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington FBR Branch at THEARC in Washington, D.C. The event provided an overview of the Mentor relationships within the organization, complete with guest speakers, including current Mentors and Club Members, and even a tour of the facility.

See our "Press Releases" section on this page to get the full story!

FROM WASHINGTON BUSINESS JOURNAL:
Washington Business Journal - by Tierney Plumb Staff Reporter

Tuesday, January 12, 2010, 2:01pm EST | Modified: Tuesday, January 12, 2010, 2:10pm

As promised, D.C. has scooped up three clubs run by Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington that might have otherwise disappeared.

D.C. proposed to buy the three clubs for $20 million last June, citing the need to keep recreational and educational services for kids alive in D.C. The 122-year-old Silver Spring-based organization had a tough year in 2009, responding to a drop in memberships and public and private donations by shuttering some under-utilized clubs and cutting 10 percent of its full-time staff.

The clubs and buildings that got a government owner are the Frank R. Jelleff Branch at 3265 S St. NW; the Mary & Daniel Loughran Clubhouse No. 10 at 2500 14th St. NW; and the Eastern Branch at 261 17th St. SE, which has been closed since August 2007.

“The result of this transaction is to provide Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington with the financial infusion needed to continue uninterrupted nationally recognized youth development programs, to thousands of at risk youth, at over 20 locations throughout the D.C. metropolitan area,” said BGCGW CEO Pandit Wright, a former senior executive at Discovery Communications, in a statement.

A competitive bid process will take place for providing services to the city-owned clubs, which could be BGCGW.

“We eagerly anticipate participating in the RFP process and are confident that our scope of comprehensive programs will be given serious consideration for future periods,” said a spokesman for BGCGW. “In the interim and until such RFP announcement is made, we will continue to provide services at BGCGW clubs throughout the metro including those that have recently been purchased by the district.”

tplumb@bizjournals.com

FROM THE WASHINGTON POST:
By Christy Goodman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Dominique Harris, left, works with kids during at a Boys & Girls Club clinic in Northeast Washington. (Toni L. Sandys/the Washington Post)
Thursday, January 7, 2010

Dominique Harris, senior safety and captain of Temple University's football team, split the group of children at the Richard England Clubhouse No. 14 Boys & Girls Club in Northeast Washington into teams last week.
"Do you know how to play defense?" Harris asked Pascale Shears, 8. She looked at him.
"That is your man," he said pointing to another young Boys & Girls Club member. Harris tossed the ball into play. Pascale didn't move, but she was smiling.
Harris and eight of his teammates -- who lost, 30-21, to UCLA in the Eagle Bank Bowl at RFK Stadium the next day -- visited his old stomping grounds at the Boys & Girls Club for community service.
"I have a lot of memories here, a lot of memories," said Harris, a 2005 graduate of H.D. Woodson High School, who elicited cheers when he told the kids he grew up "right up the street."
Chester Stewart, Temple's sophomore quarterback, also got cheers when he told the 50 kids at his feet that he was a 2007 DeMatha Catholic High School graduate.
The visit was one of several events surrounding the second annual Eagle Bank Bowl to boost community awareness and volunteerism around the sporting event, said Maria Rudolph, co-founder of the bowl.
"For us to be more successful, we need the Washington, D.C., community to take part," said Rudolph, who presented the kids with 250 tickets to the game and goodie bags of T-shirts, posters and footballs. "How special is it for these kids to meet Dominique Harris, who went to school a stone's throw away from here and is now the captain of the Temple team? He's an amazing young man."
Harris, who hasn't returned to the club in years, started his sports career within those walls and happily greeted former coaches and friends who were in the bleachers.
Alonzo Whitener, 65, a former coach when Harris attended the club and now an aide, remembered the hometown football star as "a string bean."
"When he started playing [football], it was like he was made for it," Whitener said. "He was first string right from the jump."
Now Harris was back to teach the kids some of the skills he uses on the football field. There was some backpedaling, throwing, catching, a few end-zone celebration dances and a lot of laughter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnA50S6thdo

President Obama w/Club Members at #14: 12-21-2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
While most of us were digging our cars out of the snow or shoveling sidewalks, Club members of our Richard England Clubhouse #14 in Northeast D.C. were enjoying their time with the President of the United States! President Obama paid the Club an unannounced visit, and the children got a once in a lifetime chance to be a part of something amazing. He read to Club members from "The Polar Express", shared with them the true meaning of Christmas, and even shared special holiday cookies baked by White House chefs!
If you could spend YOUR snow day with the President, what would you read together?

Read what the Washington Post had to say: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/21/AR200912...

BUY A SUBARU, DONATE TO BGCGW!

In the market for a new car? If so, consider purchasing or leasing a new Subaru! From Nov. 21, 2009, through Jan. 4, 2010, for every new Subaru sold or leased, a $250 donation will be made to the consumer’s choice of five charities – one of which is Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington has been selected to benefit too! Consumers may select their charity through Jan. 31, 2010.

So, new car buyers: Share the Love!

BGCGW and Deloitte LLP teamed up to bring the WannaBe Workshop Series to Clubhouse #2. The first workshop was held on Friday, November 6, 2009. The children were engaged in fun activities while learning about various careers and what it takes to get there, including education and training.