OAKHURST – Boys & Girls Club of Oakhurst is teeing up to celebrate “Boys & Girls Clubs Day for Kids,” (BGC Day for Kids) a major annual family event highlighting the value of meaningful time between caring adults and children.
In Oakhurst, BGC Day for Kids will be celebrated Friday, Sept. 13, with parents and kids participating in an exciting event at the Club. For free!
From 3 – 6 p.m. that day the BGC will host an open house with fun outdoor games for the whole family. All activities are free to the entire community.
“This is the perfect opportunity for everyone to see the Club and learn more about what it does for kids, as well as to attract new kids to our growing membership,” says board president Melanie Barker.
The Club will also participate in the Heritage Days Parade to further celebrate Day for Kids on Saturday Sept. 21. For more information about the local event, visit Facebook.com/BGCOakhurst or call the Club at 642-4600.
Unlike most other industrialized nations, the U.S. is one of the few nations that does not have an official day set aside to honor its young people.
In a country ranked first in wealth and productivity, we do not have a day in which we recognize our most precious resource. While many Americans recognize the link between spending meaningful time with their kids and the tough issues facing young people, they say they don’t have the time, skills or resources to do as much for their children as they feel they should.
“We created Boys & Girls Clubs Day for Kids to foster stronger relationships between adults and children by educating them on the importance and value of spending meaningful time together,” says Ken Quenzer, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of Fresno County. “BGC Day for Kids provides an opportunity for parents and caring adults to reconnect and get re-energized about helping our young people reach their full potential.”
It’s no secret that America’s youth need our help. From academic failure and gang activity to poverty, drugs and violence, they face a daunting array of problems – with serious consequences and fewer safety nets at home and in the community. BGC Day for kids is one small step in rebuilding “villages” in our neighborhoods along with providing young people with skills and motivation and protecting them from dangerous problems they face every day.
Regardless of background, there are no boundaries to the potential of every child. In the same way, there are no limits to the many ways in which to spend meaningful time with a young person. To assist parents, practitioners and other caring adults, BGCA has created engaging educational resources to help them encourage and develop positive relationships with kids. A year-round web site, www.dayforkids.org, provides tools, resources and tips that support their interactions with young people.
For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (www.bgca.org) has been changing and saving young lives, providing hope and opportunity for kids who need them most. Today, some 4,300 Clubs serve some 4.8 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Known as The Positive Place for Kids, Boys & Girls Clubs can be found all across the country and on U.S. military bases throughout the world.
Clubs provide young people 6-18 years old with guidance-oriented character development programs conducted by trained, professional staff. In communities large and small, Clubs positively impact lives and help young people reach their full potential as productive, caring citizens.
Key Boys & Girls Club programs emphasize leadership development; education and career exploration; community service; financial literacy; health and life skills; the arts; sports, fitness and recreation; and family outreach.
In a recent Harris Survey of Club alumni, 57 percent said the Club saved their life. National headquarters are located in Atlanta.
Boys & Girls Club of Oakhurst is currently serving nearly 200 area youth with an average attendance of 50 per day.
The Club is in need of volunteers, particularly for tutoring during Power Hour, a homework assistance program, from 2:30 to 3:30 pm daily.
For more information, please contact Unit Director Peggy Decker at 642-4600 or visit our website at www.BGCOakhurst.com.
