2013 Annual Report to the Community Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver
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2 1 FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS, BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF METRO DENVER HAS BEEN OFFERING LIFE-CHANGING PROGRAMS FOR KIDS. THROUGH DEDICATED STAFF, NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PROGRAMS THAT FOCUS ON THE WHOLE CHILD, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, WE ARE POSITIVELY SHAPING THE FUTURE FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. 2 PAGE TWO MEET US 01 LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN 03 WHO WE ARE 03 WHAT WE DO PAGE FIVE OUR KEY OUTCOMES 07 ACADEMIC SUCCESS 09 CHARACTER & CITIZENSHIP 11 HEALTHY LIFESTYLES PAGE THIRTEEN 2013 SUMMARY 15 FINANCIALS 16 LEADERSHIP 21 LOCATIONS 23 DONORS 31 VOLUNTEERS 1 HELPING KIDS. BUILDING COMMUNITIES. 2 WELCOME TO THE CLUB LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD Dear Friends, It doesn’t have to be this way. Poverty is a Did you know that last year, only complicated problem, but the Clubs’ solution 53.7% of the low-income kids who is simple: we create a safe and healthy were supposed to graduate in Denver environment where kids can come when school is out to get the support they need actually graduated? to overcome all the challenges of poverty. Whether that means getting a balanced meal That means that there were almost 2,000 and shoes that actually fit, exploring new young people across the district who didn’t interests like photography or rocket-building, get the support they needed to break the cycle or working with a caring adult on financial of poverty; nearly 2,000 young people who aid applications for college, the Clubs are entered into adulthood already burdened with capable of providing each child with the lower earning potential, increased risk for unique combination of resources, opportunity addiction and disease, and discouraged about and guidance that they need to thrive. Every their ability to change their situation. single day, our talented, professional staff members welcome more than 2,000 Club Can you imagine growing up without the members into Clubs across the metro area, chance to play on a soccer team? Without where kids are inspired and empowered to do a parent at home during dinner? Without their best in school, make healthy, responsible trips to the museum or the zoo? Without an choices and get involved in their community. adult you trust to bug you about getting your homework done? Sadly, many of the families Club members join teams, not gangs. They do we serve at Boys & Girls Clubs just don’t have homework, not drugs. They speak up and take the time or resources to provide the experiences part, instead of dropping out. and opportunities that not only help a child learn, but – more importantly – that help Poverty has the power to influence nearly him love to learn. When parents are busy every aspect of a child’s life; fortunately, so HELPING KIDS. working two jobs, working a night shift or does Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver. running a single parent household, kids from low-income families often find themselves Warm Regards, fending for themselves when the school day BUILDING COMMUNITIES. ends. Unfortunately, many of them end up unsupervised, in front of a television or out and about in neighborhoods where they’re more Max Caulkins likely to encounter violence and crime and Chairman of the Board less likely to find healthy food options and safe places for play. WHO1 WE ARE When the school bell rings at the drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and other healthy habits that will stick with end of every day, thousands of risky behaviors. We also know that them throughout their lives, and metro Denver kids pour out of in our community, children are become persons of solid character. classrooms and into their after facing obstacles more challenging BOYS & GIRLS school routines. For some, this than ever before. Kids from low- We are there for kids when they CLUBS OF METRO means heading home where they income families are six times more need us most: after school, during are met by a parent who helps likely to drop out of school, and 41 the summer and even during the DENVER them with homework before percent of kids across Denver are school day. driving them to basketball practice overweight or obese – a number and piano lessons. For other kids that continues to steadily increase Our membership is open to all in our community, after school year after year. youth ages 6-18, and for just $2 8 options are far less certain, stable annually, our Club members have and safe. To address these troubling issues, access to a wealth of programming Free-Standing Club Boys & Girls Clubs provides our that has the power to positively Facilities At Boys & Girls Clubs, we know members with opportunities to shape and change their lives. the hours between 3:00-6:00 p.m. engage in programs that help them are the peak hours for juvenile achieve academic success, take crime and experimentation with charge of their health by building 7 School Based Sites WHAT WE DO 3 School Day How do we best serve our Club programs to our Club members. By the time our Club members Intervention Programs members and set them up for By tracking participation and reach high school graduation, it successful futures? results, we are able to continually is our goal that they not only are evaluate our effectiveness for persons of good character, but are First and foremost, we ensure that positively shaping their young also equipped with the tools and every child who walks through lives and fine-tune our targeted knowledge they need to succeed 1 Club doors is having his or her program structure. in college or a career and to take Extended Learning basic needs met. By collaborating responsibility for their own well- Opportunity Site with families, schools, and other We aim to tackle some of the being. partners in the community, Clubs largest problems facing our are able to provide children a families and kids, and we know we No other organization supports safe space – an environment for can’t do it alone. By collaborating the whole child more than Boys & 1 learning and growing – and a with hundreds of organizations, Girls Clubs of Metro Denver. warm meal. staying flexible with our approach, Summer Camp Outside and responding to the ongoing Ward, Colorado Each Club is staffed by experts needs of the families we serve on in youth development. These the ground in their communities trained professionals deliver a every day, we are able to offer well-rounded menu of nationally- targeted, intentional programming recognized, locally-developed that impacts the whole child. 2 The Quick Facts OUR CLUB MEMBERS 90% Are economically disadvantaged, qualifying for free or reduced lunch. 90% Are of racial or ethnic minority. 48% Live in single parent homes or with a non-parent guardian. A SAFE PLACE For just $2 a year, kids have access to a variety of enriching programs and a safe place to spend their time. 1 CHANGING LIVES Our dynamic model allows us to respond to each child’s unique needs. 2 OUR KEY OUTCOMES 7 2013 Annual Report To The Community Boys & Girls Clubs Of Metro Denver ACADEMIC SUCCESS MASTERING ONE’S ABCs Mastering the ABCs is far more important than we ever knew. Over the last 15 years, researchers have uncovered that dropping out of high school is less of a sudden act, and more of a gradual process indicated by three key factors over time: • Attendance • Behavior • Course Performance (grades) These indicators allow us to evaluate where our Club members are on their journeys through education. Trained staff members work with kids to address factors contributing to absences, find the root of troublesome behavior and work to correct it, and help kids with their homework. Our programs allow members to expand on what they learned during the school day by exploring, experimenting, getting creative and learning to apply their knowledge in a way that will help them succeed in the real world. TEANDRA’S STORY Teandra always knew she would work with animals. This December, when she walked across the stage to receive her Masters in Animal Science from Tennessee State University, she recognized the moment as an accomplishment that was 10 years in the making. When she was 14 years old, Teandra started at Boys & Girls Clubs where she began the pursuit of her dream to be a veterinarian. She organized Club volunteer opportunities at animal shelters, became involved as the president of the Club’s leadership group, and worked to secure the prestigious Daniels Fund Scholarship for post high school education. “The support I got from Boys & Girls Clubs and the staff members was incredibly influential in not only my high school experience, but also moving on to college and graduate school,” Teandra says. “The knowledge I gained at my Club gave me the foundation and confidence I needed to pursue my education and my dreams.” 2013 Annual Report To The Community Boys & Girls Clubs Of Metro Denver 8 e The Quick Facts ACADEMIC SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOM America’s Dropout Crisis: 1:3 high school students will not graduate on time. Students from low income families are 6x more likely to drop out of school. 93% of Club members involved in leadership programs graduated high school or earned a GED. OUR IMPACT Club programs encourage kids to pursue their dreams by first conquering their education. 9 2013 Annual Report To The Community Boys & Girls Clubs Of Metro Denver The Quick Facts BUILDING CHARACTER IN CLUBS & THE COMMUNITY For at-risk kids, the idea of getting involved or lending a hand can feel scary or pointless.