50 YEARS OF GROWTH 2011 ANNUAL REPORT L E DEAR FRIENDS - TT ER At the conclusion of our 50th year in the metro With the addition of these mission-aligned programs, we Denver community, we could not be more proud F currently operate: of all that we have accomplished: 50 years of R OM TH OM providing hope, support and inspiration to 7 dedicated youth-serving Club facilities young people for whom, had it not been for the 7 school-based Club centers Clubs, those influences may have gone missing 2 specialized suspension-intervention program sites in their lives. 1 magical summer camp in the Indian Peak Wilderness E P More importantly, however, we are excited Phwew! As anyone who visits even ONE Club site says, that’s a lot RESI and inspired by what’s to come: a great future going on! But we’re not stopping there. In 2012, we’ll be working on for every single child in metro Denver. TWO new sites. In Commerce City, we’ll be laying down plans for D an expanded facility, and in Northeast Park Hill we’ll actually be EN That is why, even after 50 years, the Clubs breaking ground on a new Club site thanks to the unprecedented continue to grow, not only to new communities, and incredibly generous support of the Anschutz Foundation. This T but to new levels of impact. In our 50th year, we new site will be especially important to us, as it will erase the scar enrolled more than 12,000 members and provided of gang-related violence that led to the arson of the Holly Shopping 1,240,432 hours of targeted programming to Center, and replace it with the safety, positivity, and hope that help young people succeed in school, develop characterize our Clubs. healthy habits and become true leaders in their community. On any given day, our Clubs open Transformation and improvement in the lives of young people and their doors to young people who come to us to do the communities where they live are what the Clubs have always their homework in a safe, quiet comfortable spot, been, and always will be, all about. As we look forward with pride get a warm meal, talk with a caring adult, learn and hope to our next 50 years in the Denver community, we are digital photography, build a robot, play on a team, incredibly grateful to have the support of each individual and learn how to resist peer pressure, or just…be a kid institution that invests in our young people by supporting the Clubs. – joyful, energetic, curious and full of infinite With your help, we will pursue, with unwavering commitment, our potential for our community and our world. goal to reach every child who needs us the most. The summer of 2011 was particularly full of With gratitude for your past support and excitement for our growth, as we welcomed into our family the future partnership, we present to you the 2011 Annual Report Beacon Neighborhood Centers and the highly to the community. successful PACE (Promoting Academics and Character Education) program. JOHN P. ARIGONI THOMAS R. O’DONNELL PRESIDENT & CEO CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIREctoRS 1 2 WHO W Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver is a Clubs are accessible to everyone. Any young non-profit organization that provides young person, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, people ages 6-18 with a safe, positive place to ethnicity, or income can join the Club. spend time after school and during the summer. E Our proven, nationally-recognized programs ARE Fourteen neighborhood Clubs, two school-based develop the assets that youth need to succeed intervention programs, and an 80-acre residential in life and build great futures. & W HOW summer camp provide programs that help save and change the lives of more than 12,000 youth. Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver’s programs Boys & Girls Clubs’ programming helps youth are rooted in Youth Development Strategy, which achieve academic success, live healthy lifestyles assures that all members have positive experiences and develop good character and leadership skills. that contribute to a positive self esteem. The Youth Development Strategy is a strength-based approach E Clubs are strategically located in low-income whereby we nurture each member’s individual H neighborhoods where they are needed most, strengths. In doing so, we nurture the positive E and are accessible to all youth for a membership identity of each of our members, providing LP fee of just $2 per year. opportunities for them to succeed in everything they do, inside and outside of the Club. Since 1961, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver has been helping kids from tough neighborhoods Club programs are designed to instill a sense of… stay out of trouble, stay in school, and succeed in life. Competency – the feeling there is something they can do well. Clubs are places, actual neighborhood-based buildings, designed and dedicated solely for Usefulness – the opportunity to do something of youth programs and activities. value for other people. Clubs are open when they are needed most – Belonging – a setting where young people know after school and during the summer when they fit in and are accepted. kids have free time and need positive, productive outlets. Power or Influence – a chance to be heard and make an impact in the lives of others. Clubs are directed and staffed by trained youth development professionals who serve as role models and mentors. Volunteers provide key THIS IS WHAT WE DO. supplementary support. 3 4 K E Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver strives Y to deepen our positive impact on the young E people we serve. The Clubs implement five key L elements in our operations that have a lasting E M impact on Club members. EN A SAFE, POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPECTATIONS T At our Clubs, members acquire S Staff, facilities, program offerings, and age- appropriate settings produce continuity, physical, social, technological artistic predictability and a sense of safety. Clubs and life skills that open their lives to set clear boundaries and rules that provide a world of new possibilities. Club staff structure, define acceptable behaviors, and help members prepare daily for school, are consistently enforced by staff. establish better study habits, learn right from wrong to behave ethically, and FUN encourage members to pursue a post- secondary education. Staff members Clubs generate happiness, fun, and enjoyment consistently communicate and reinforce for members. Youth develop a strong sense high expectations of youth. of belonging through personal connections established with staff and peers. Young people have the sense that the Club is theirs when RECOGNITION staff members make the Club feel like a second Clubs prominently recognize home, fostering a family atmosphere. the accomplishments of members with incentives and awards, affirming SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS an intrinsic sense of self-worth and achievement. Staff members actively cultivate supportive relationships to ensure that every member feels connected and can forge friendships with peers. Staff members demonstrate warmth, caring, appreciation and guidance when interacting with members. 5 6 2011 BGCMD acquires ve Beacon Neighborhood Centers and two PACE intervention programs 2010 Jefferson County Branch opens at O’Connell Middle School in Lakewood 2009 Former pool space at J. Churchill Owen Branch is remodeled into Placido de Santiago Teen Center 2008 Darrent Williams Memorial Teen Center, remembering a Club alumni and Denver Broncos player, opens at the Denver Broncos Branch 2007 Robert M. Shopneck Branch opens, serving kids in Brighton Commerce City Branch opens at Kearney Middle School BGCMD member Shonnetta Henry wins the National Youth of the Year Award 2003 Denver Broncos Branch opens in Montbello neighborhood 2001 PACE Program begins as an alternative response to helping “problematic” students 2000 George M. Wiley Branch opens in Sunnyside neighborhood 1993 Lincoln Park Branch renamed William E. Cope Branch 1991 Girls allowed as Club members, organization renamed Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver (BGCMD) Literacy Campaign ofcially kicks off at BGCMD 1986 Community center in the Lower Highlands remodeled to become Steele Branch 1984 Boettcher Branch opens in Aurora in what was once a church 1972 Pool and ball elds were built at J. Churchill Owen Branch 1971 Lodge of the Pines Camp, now called Gates Camp, is donated to Boys’ Club 1970 Drug abuse experiments win award from the National Safety Commission 1969 Arthur E. Johnson Branch remodeled for use as a Club 1968 Members test effects of glue snifng on mice to demonstrate damages caused by drug abuse 1967 Lincoln Park Branch moves to current location at 808 Inca St. BEGINNINGS 8 1966 J. Churchill Owen Branch opens as the rst building built specically as a Boys’ Club 1965 Arthur E. Johnson Branch opened in what was a gymnasium of a Jewish Community Center 1964 Boy of the Year program begins Shortly after the Club opened, the impact of community saw the positive having a Club in their neighborhoods. In general, the arrest rates for juveniles were down. committing violent crimes dropped 90 Shoplifting in Lincoln Park percent, and the median age of those went from age 16 committing crimes to age 22. Arthur E. Johnson During the 1960s, the branches opened, and J. Churchill Owen and membership skyrocketed to nearly As the need for youth. 5,000 Denver quality afterschool programming became increasingly evident, Club and program growth continued. 1961 Lincoln Park Branch, rst Boys’ Club in Denver, opens Initially, talk of the first Boys’ Club began in 1937 by a group of in Denver local citizens who recognized the need outlet for young men in the for a positive drawn were community.