A Special Week for Special Kids

A Special Week for Special Kids

BGCOP opened its doors for a week and celebrated National Boys & Girls Club Week, April 7 – 13 with a host of exciting and enriching activities. More than 200 people visited the Club and participated in the fun.

During the week, Club youth and their families created anti-bullying tote bags, took part in a Legos competition and created artwork that depicts a healthy lifestyle. Kids played classic board games, got involved with clean-up activities around the community, and participated in essay and Scrabble-a-thon competitions. At the end of the week, the kids were recognized for their participation at an awards ceremony.

The Club also held special guided tours for community members on Friday, Apr. 12 so that they could see first-hand all the wonderful activities happening at the Club every day.

Breakfast serves up great futures

Breakfast serves up great futures

More than 215 people attended our 11th Annual Great Futures for Kids Breakfast helping the Club to raise more than $80,000. The breakfast on March 21 at the Residence Inn by Marriott in Oxnard, also kicked off the Club’s Great Futures for Kids fundraising campaign with a goal of reaching $500,000.

Keynote speaker Erik Wahl entertained and enlightened the crowd, which included local business and civic group representatives, community members and officials. Wahl, an internationally recognized graffiti artist, challenged the audience to find the creative energy they had as children. During his 45-minute presentation he painted three painting while sharing the message that people are capable of so much more than they think they are.

Wahl donated the paintings –which are not available for purchase–back to the Club for future fundraisers.

The Club’s Youth of the Year Paloma Guzman welcomed the crowd via video conferencing from an out-of-state leadership conference where she’s representing the Club. Club alumni Perry Ludy, a 1969 Youth of the Year, is an accomplished businessman and author. He shared his life-changing experiences as a Club member with the attendees as he implored the audience to give back by sponsoring a youth.