As a new year begins, we want to reiterate how grateful we are for your unwavering membership and resilience over the past two years. The pandemic has affected all of us at a personal level, and while we are optimistic that better days lie ahead, it's important to recognize that people are still hurting, discouraged and simply worn out by it all. In times when you've needed strength and inspiration, you turned to your Boys & Girls Club, and we hope you found some happiness.
We have so much good news to share with you. Even and especially now, it is not an exaggeration to say, "THIS year will be our best yet!"
Wishing you and yours the BEST New Year, Molly O. Hornbeak, Director
Make way for the bulldozers - the New Playground will be installed this spring!!
A heartfelt thank you to the many donors who have supported the Playground Fund since June. We particularly recognize a donation by Mrs. Cynthia Willett in memory of her late husband, Mr. Dwaine Willett.
We look forward to inviting each one of you to the Playground Dedication later this spring!
Great News
Literacy Program Includes Christmas Plays
It is a wonderful testimony to the Literacy Staff that they create an environment where readers who need a little help - get a little help and THRIVE. These wonderful young people put on a Christmas Play for Ms. Molly and other staff before Christmas. We are so proud of them!
Meet a Club Member: Josephine, age 7
"Reading is my all-time favorite thing to do at the Boys & Girls Club."
Volunteer in the Garden! Our Garden Club is so active and many volunteers and Club members ensured it would be ready to come back to in the new year.
Showcasing Teen Activities
What is the Youth of the Year competition? This is the Boys & Girls Clubs of America's highest honor that a Club member can achieve, and is the signature effort to foster a new generation of leaders, fully prepared to live and lead in a diverse, global and integrated world economy.
In the 21st-century world and workplace, leadership skills such as communication, goal-setting and teamwork are essential for everyone - especially young people preparing to meet the challenges of adolescence and adulthood. This grassroots idea began in 1947 and has evolved into a comprehensive leadership development program, a series of competitions at the Club, then local area, then state, then region and finally, at the national level.
Young persons who demonstrate the leadership and commitment that it takes to receive the Youth of the Year (YOY) honor are nominated by staff members and volunteers. With parent permission, the candidates then develop resumes, prepare for interviews and fill out a comprehensive application from the national Boys & Girls Clubs of America. The Boys & Girls Club of Bluffton candidates for YOY are hard at work on their applications. We could not be more proud of the young people who make this Club so special.
Thank you to YOY mentor volunteers Nancy Stermer, Gary Davis, Margaret Johnson and Ebony Gadson. Congratulations to our 2022 YOY candidates: Lily Jackson, Xavier Toles and Annaliese Breeze.
Call Pamela Castle, Teen Director, for more information at 843-757-2845.
It's time to sign up for these great programs - click the logo to visit our website and discover the opportunities for teens at The CLUB!
Community Outreach
Christmas Drive-Through Serves over 500 Families
Click the link to see all of the wonderful donors who made sure that Christmas was a magical time for the Bluffton community!
Thank you to the Bargain Box of Hilton Head. They have provided a $10,000 grant for SCHOLARSHIPS for Club members in need. We appreciate your support so very much!
Why do Scholarships matter?
Due to inflation and rising labor costs, the program fees for the Boys & Girls Club of Bluffton were increased during the pandemic. While this may not pose a problem for some families, for others, it is a budget-buster. Scholarship donations allow us to help families who need us the most discreetly.
Please consider a donation today! With local rents rising 43% just in the past year, even two-income families are feeling the pinch in their wallets. Your donation will ensure that Club fees are affordable for all.
Thank you in a special way to Operation Colleton River, for again supporting a special Christmas Party JUST for the teens. We appreciate your generosity!
Volunteer Spotlight:
Mr. Paul Hoyte and Ms. Nancy Stermer are long-time volunteers who have made a huge difference in the lives of Club members. As Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus, they warmed the hearts of all of our young Drive-Through families. They also organized the Hearts for Carts initiative, arranging for volunteers to purchase groceries for Club families in need based on lists provided by the families. Further, they have provided strong support for our Explorers' L.E.A.D. program field trips such as the Day on the Water and the new Day of Aviation Careers. We are honored to call them friends!
