WITHIN REACH 2016 ANNUAL REPORT PUTTING HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY WITHIN REACH Sometimes life’s obstacles seem insurmountable, especially if you are a child or teen from the inner-city where so many live in poverty, have unstable housing, live in food-insecure households and even face violence. For these youth, the things you and I take for granted often seem out of reach—safety, nutritious meals, academic TRUSTEES support, positive role models, a pathway to college and a career. With help from our caring donors and partners, Boys & Girls Clubs is able to put these resources within Christopher S. Abele* Richard R. Pieper, Sr. Barry Allen James R. Popp* the reach of kids who need them. In fact, your support enabled us to serve nearly Bevan K. Baker Robert B. Pyles 42,000 youth in 2016. James T. Barry III David F. Radtke* David A. Baumgarten Kristine A. Rappé* Linda Benfield Bethany M. Rodenhuis The following pages will introduce you to Ester, Anthony and a family from our Thomas H. Bentley, III Mark Sabljak William R. Bertha Richard C. Schlesinger Carver Club, just a few of the individuals who are thriving thanks to the resources Thomas M. Bolger Allan H. Selig you have made accessible through the Clubs. Their success stories are a reflection Elizabeth Brenner John S. Shiely OFFICERS Brian Cadwallader Thelma A. Sias of the support you have poured into the Clubs. Every donation, volunteer hour and Tonit Calaway Patrick Sinks offer of partnership becomes an opportunity for Boys & Girls Clubs to be a lifeline Tina M. Chang Daniel Sinykin Susan Ela G. Spencer Coggs Guy W. Smith* for the young people we serve. Russell M. Darrow, Jr. Judson Snyder Chair Jack A. Enea Thomas L. Spero* Peter Feigin John W. Splude We hope our 2016 annual report gives you a sense of how your passion for Scott Wrobbel Edward A. Flynn Mary Ellen Stanek* Milwaukee’s youth is literally saving lives. It also demonstrates the resilience and Alexander P. Fraser +James F. Stern 1st Vice Chair John Galanis* +M. Beth Straka promise of our youth and an underlying optimism for what the future holds as this Nan Gardetto Mara Swan next generation of leaders emerges with a village of supporters behind them. David Gay Alfonzo Thurman Robert L. Mikulay Charles B. Groeschell +Ronald A. Troy 2nd Vice Chair +Patrick Hammes Harris Turer Thank you for being that village. Yours are William C. Hansen +Derek L. Tyus Thomas J. Hauske, Jr. John Utz the hands and hearts putting opportunity William Fitzhugh Fox +John Heimsch Gordon J. Weber within the reach of the kids who need it Vice Chair/Legal Jack Herbert Gregory Wesley Renée Herzing Arthur W. Wigchers most. Thanks to you, we are A Club for Katherine Hust James B. Wigdale* Every Kid who needs us. Brian Morello Charles V. James* Madonna Williams Treasurer Jerome M. Janzer James L. Ziemer Jeffrey A. Joerres Anne Zizzo Craig Jorgensen Diane Zore* Tracey Joubert David L. Bechthold Sarah Wright Kimball +Denotes 2017 addition Secretary Michael Lappin *Denotes Past Chairs Steven L. Laughlin* Susan Ela, Board Chair Keith R. Mardak Vincent P. Lyles Maureen A. McGinnity We remember our President & CEO Daniel F. McKeithan, Jr.* Board of Trustee +Blake D. Moret member, Bronson Cory L. Nettles Haase, who passed Keith D. Nosbusch away after many years Wayne C. Oldenburg of devoted service to Guy A. Osborn* our youth. Vincent P. Lyles, President & CEO 2 ACADEMIC & CAREER SUCCESS Tracy Boothe is a single mother of six, and as all parents know, time with your children is at a premium. Tracy gets home from work every day in time to clean up around the house, feed her kids and ensure they get to bed at a reasonable hour. Making sure her children get the extra help necessary to excel in school is a significant challenge. Thankfully, four of Tracy’s children attend the George Washington Carver Academy Boys & Girls Club, where they actively participate in MarVan Scholars. This academic If you want your program extends the learning day by giving K-8 students more time devoted to MarVan Scholars reading and math after school. “To have the extra help when they get out of school, kids to excel, engaged in academic that’s big,” Tracy says, crediting the Club’s staff for providing the additional “boost” activities for more than she might not be able to otherwise give to Limmie (7), Elizabeth (8), Marianna (10) 55,000 HOURS and Tonajha (13). Boys & Girls Last year, Marianna had perfect attendance at school and completed 257 activities Clubs are safe in the Edgenuity Odyssey online learning tool, which presents academic challenges based on each student’s personal benchmarks. This happened after she already places for your received an award in the summer for her success in MarVan Scholars’ pilot year. kids to go and Meanwhile, Tracy’s younger children Elizabeth and Limmie also made great 80% OF MEMBERS improvements. Elizabeth averaged 84% in her 153 completed Odyssey activities, be comfortable reported the Clubs eclipsing the program’s 70% goal by a wide margin. And in just one semester as a helped them MarVan Scholar, Limmie improved his reading assessment grade by 200 points. and succeed. FINISH HOMEWORK on time As for Tracy’s oldest Carver Club member, the proud - Tracy Boothe mother saw significant gains in Tonajha’s math scores thanks to MarVan Scholars. Senator Herb Kohl sponsored a trip to Washington D.C. last summer for excelling MarVan Scholars students, and Tonajha was among the first picked to represent the Carver Club. At 13, she’s 100% HIGH SCHOOL already looking forward to engaging in our Graduation GRADUATION RATE Plus college access and success programs! among Graduation Plus participants since 2007 These academic improvements influenced each child’s behavior, as well. Tracy witnessed each of her previously- timid children become leaders at the Club thanks to the kindness of Carver staff. “If you want your kids to excel, Boys & Girls Clubs are safe places for your kids to go and be comfortable and succeed,” Tracy says. 4 CHARACTER & LEADERSHIP Gbemisola Ester Sonubi (Ester) was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and moved to the United States in 2011 after she and her family were carjacked at gunpoint. After arriving in the States, Ester enrolled at Brown Deer High School where she became very aware of her differences from her classmates—different dress, different food, different customs and a different language. Thankfully, she joined the Brown Deer High School Boys & Girls Club where the staff and other Club members welcomed Ester and quickly engaged her in a variety of programs to build her self-confidence, develop her leadership skills and support her academically. It became clear early on that Ester was going to seize every opportunity her Club membership afforded her. She became involved in Sista Pride, a leadership program for middle school and high school girls. She also became involved in a teen-led community service program called Keystone Club, where she was elected vice Being in the 84% OF MEMBERS president by her peers. According to Ester, “That actually helped me grow up more feel they can and become more responsible than I am before. It trained me to take charge.” Boys & Girls MAKE A DIFFERENCE As her involvement with the Club grew, so did her self-esteem. When an Clubs will really in their community entrepreneurship summit was offered offsite, Ester was the only person from her Club to attend. She joined other Club members for an all-expenses-paid trip to help you a lot Washington D.C. to learn about her adopted country’s history and government. She even taught health and life skills classes to younger Club members to help them because it has work through stress and find their self-worth. helped me in so 80% OF MEMBERS Unfortunately, Ester’s younger sister had a tragic report they have accident and faced permanent paralysis. As Ester improved at grappled with her sister’s misfortune, she had difficulty many ways. VOLUNTEERING concentrating in school, and her grades began to suffer. in their community That’s when the staff at Boys & Girls Clubs mobilized - Gbemisola Ester Sonubi behind Ester to provide the emotional support to help her cope and the academic resources to ensure she progressed in school. Ester insists that without the support of Club staff, she would have failed all of her classes and had to repeat her junior year. Thankfully, she excelled in school and her sister recovered. 1,638 CLUB MEMBERS participated in Keystone and Ester gives a lot of credit to the role the Club has played in her life. “Being in the Torch Club, taking part in Boys & Girls Clubs will really help you a lot because it has helped me in so many COMMUNITY SERVICE ways.” She has become a confident young woman who is comfortable in her own skin. Ester is currently enrolled in her freshman year of college at UW-Milwaukee. 6 ACCESS & SAFETY Anthony LaPoint started attending a Boys & Girls Club when he was in 5th grade. It wasn’t for the sports programs, the field trips or even the friendships. He came for the food. That was the year he didn’t have electricity at home. His mother worked all day, so in the summer he was on his own to prepare meals. The only way he could cook food was on the grill where he prepared noodles, fish sticks and pizza. He heard about the Boys & Girls Club in his neighborhood and started attending so he could eat properly cooked meals.