ANTHEM BLUE CROSS FOUNDATION GIVES $6,500 IN GRANTS TO BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SANTA MONICA

Grants provided for expansion of the Health & Wellness Program Triple Play

Santa Monica, Calif., February 20, 2012 — As childhood obesity rates continue to climb in America, Anthem Blue Cross Foundation is partnering with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to instill healthy habits in children. The foundation provided two grants totaling $6,500 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica (SMBGC) to help teach youth healthy habits for their bodies and minds. Both grants are part of $66,000 in grants to various Boys & Girls Clubs in California to expand Triple Play programming, Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s health and wellness program proven to demonstrate how eating right, keeping fit and forming positive relationships add up to a healthy lifestyle.

Anthem Blue Cross Foundation provided a $5,000 Healthy Habits grant to SMBGC, which is used to continue to teach Club youth the importance of healthy eating habits and being physically active. SMBGC also received a $1,500 grant for a Gamesroom Tournament to bring Club members together for fun competitions that challenge their minds and build friendships.

A part of Triple Play, the Healthy Habits program includes curriculum-based and cooking classes to encourage healthy habits while explaining the importance of nutritious food – with ingredients coming from SMBGC’s newly built edible garden. In addition, Club staff conduct healthy eating and body image discussions in the teen program. The Club constantly promotes healthy eating choices by providing nutritious snacks and meals to members. SMBGC’s Healthy Habits programming will continue into the summer.

Thanks to Anthem Blue Cross Foundation, SMBGC also held its First Annual Triple Play Gamesroom Tournament on November 19, 2011. The day was filled with fun, competition, sportsmanship and friendship. Members of SMBGC’s Main, Pacific and JAMS Branches and members from BGC of the Foothills (Monrovia) competed in Ping Pong and Pool for 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place medals. The overall winner of the festival, BGC of the Foothills, was awarded the Triple Play Championship banner.

“We’re thrilled to have the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation as a co-sponsor of the Triple Play program and thank them for the work they are doing to make sure that we are continuously able to bring the program to our youth,” says Aaron Young, President and CEO of SMBGC. “Anthem Blue Cross is truly committed to improving the health of kids and families, and the grants provided to Boys & Girls Clubs make an immediate, positive difference in the lives and futures of our Club members.”

A recent study of more than 2,000 children ages 9-14 who attend Boys & Girls Clubs showed that Triple Play succeeded in getting them to exercise more, eat healthier foods and feel better about themselves. Triple Play kids increased to 90 percent of the federally recommended amount of daily exercise, which is 60 minutes a day for children, while their peers outside the program decreased to 78 percent.

All grants provided by Anthem Blue Cross are part of a three-year, $5 million commitment from Anthem Blue Cross’ parent company foundation to Boys & Girls Clubs of America to promote youth health.

To see Facebook Photos of our Games Room Tournament & Healthy Habits Garden click here!

About Triple Play

Triple Play, a Game Plan for the Mind, Body and Soul, is Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s proven health and wellness program.  Supported by founding sponsor Coca-Cola and co-sponsor Anthem Blue Cross Foundation the program encourages Club members to eat healthier (mind), become more physically active (body) and increase their ability to engage in healthy relationships (soul). Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) launched Triple Play in 2005, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services and with support from The Coca-Cola Company. A two-year study of more than 2,000 children ages 9-14 showed that Triple Play succeeded in getting them to exercise more, eat healthier foods and feel better about themselves. The study found that Triple Play kids increased to 90 percent of the federally recommended amount of daily exercise, which is 60 minutes a day for children, while their peers outside the program decreased to 78 percent. To date, Triple Play has helped more than one million kids learn the importance of physical activity and proper nutrition. In 2011, the WellPoint Foundation joined BGCA and Coca-Cola as a Triple Play sponsor. Learn more about the program at www.bgca.org/tripleplay.

About The Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica

Founded in 1944, Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica currently serves approximately 7,000 youth through memberships and community outreach.  They come from all over Los Angeles County, largely from Santa Monica, Venice, West Los Angeles and Inglewood.  Members pay a $20 annual fee for access to all Club amenities and programs that span across education, leadership, recreation and more.  The Club operates with the objective of serving children from all backgrounds, regardless of economic circumstances – ensuring that youth ages 7 to 18 have a safe and nurturing environment to develop socially, succeed in school, stay physically active and prepare for positive futures.  For more information, visit us at www.begreatsantamonica.org, or follow us on Facebook (facebook.com/smbgcfan) and Twitter (twitter.com/SMBGC).

About Anthem Blue Cross Foundation

Through charitable grant making, the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation LLC, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Association promotes Anthem Blue Cross’s inherent commitment to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in communities that the company serves. The Foundation focuses its funding on strategic initiatives that address and provide innovative solutions to health care challenges, as well as promoting the Healthy Generations Program, a multi-generational initiative that targets specific disease states and medical conditions. These include: prenatal care in the first trimester, low birth weight babies, cardiac morbidity rates, long term activities that decrease obesity and increase physical activity, diabetes prevalence in adult populations, adult pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations and smoking cessation. The Foundation also coordinates the company’s annual associate giving campaign and its parent foundation provides a 50 percent match of associates’ campaign pledges. ® ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross names and symbol are registered marks of the Blue Cross Association.

About Anthem Blue Cross

Anthem Blue Cross is the trade name of Blue Cross of California.  Anthem Blue Cross and Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance Company are independent licensees of the Blue Cross Association. ® ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross name and symbol are registered marks of the Blue Cross Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance Company is available at www.anthem.com. Also, follow us on Twitter at  www.twitter.com/healthjoinin, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HealthJoinIn, or visit our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/healthjoinin.

Contact:

Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica

Jennifer Vides, Director of Development

310.361.8520

JVides@smbgc.org

This is only made possible thanks to the support of people like you, who choose to Back a Youth by sponsoring the cost of sending a child – or children – to SMBGC for a year, a month or a week. Consider:

• Each $20 gift will Back a Youth for one week (52 cover one year)
• Each $84 gift will Back a Youth for one month (12 cover one year)
• Each $168 gift will Back two Youths for one month (12 cover one year)
• Each $1,000 gift will Back a Youth for one year

Please support our Back-a-Youth campaign today.

What does your support pay for?

In 2011 we upgraded our aging facilities, which serve as the foundation for our organization, and continued the process of enhancing our programs, which help us to grow the educational, civic, athletic and leadership abilities of our young people. In 2012, we’ll focus our efforts on improving our ability to make an impact on the young people who come to our Clubs. Initiatives include continuing to expand and improve our programs including College Bound and Be Great Graduate, expanding our child development training for our Club staff, and adding new sites so that we can reach more young people across the L.A. area.

We are grateful for your support – it is critical to our success.

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 6, 2012 – David Ramirez was named the 2011 Youth of the Year (YOY) for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica (SMBGC) before more than 350 guests at the 44^th Annual Youth of the Year Awards Celebration & Banquet. The 17 year-old Club member was selected from among four extraordinary local youth in recognition of his outstanding contributions of service to the Club and his community, and his exceptional leadership among his peers. As Youth of the Year, David will serve as the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica’s youth spokesperson in the community.

“The annual YOY banquet is truly a very special occasion for us to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of each of our nominees, their commitment to serve the community and their ability to overcome difficult circumstances,” said Aaron Young, President and CEO of SMBGC. “We congratulate David Ramirez – and his fellow nominees – on their achievements. David is a shining example of a young person who has made outstanding contributions to the Club and his community and has overcome many obstacles to become the leader he is today. He is a living proof that great futures start here, at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica.”

As Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s premier youth recognition program, the Youth of the Year program honors deserving Club members for their academic and/or personal achievements, leadership skills and outstanding contributions to their community as well as overcoming personal challenges and obstacles. David will compete in March for the title of YOY for L.A. County – and potentially beyond – and will be eligible to receive scholarships along the way.

David Ramirez is motivated by the need to pave a smoother path for his younger sister and make his hard-working parents proud. David overcame a number of challenges – including obesity, low self-esteem and a lack of academic focus to name a few – in large part because of his self-awareness and burning need to succeed. He is actively involved in both the Pacific and Main Branches at SMBGC, participating in programs including CollegeBound, Keystone and Leaders in Training. A 17 year-old senior at Santa Monica High School, David aspires to attend USC and one day become CEO of a Boys & Girls Club.

Fox Sports Radio Host and Club supporter Deb Carson hosted the celebratory event.  Guest speaker Mary Firestone offered words of encouragement and inspiration.  Sponsors including the Kiwanis Club of Santa Monica, the Pacific Youth Foundation, White & Company Insurance Inc., Frank & Gwen Schwengel, and Loren Bloch & Ping Ho provided scholarships for many of the youth recognized at the banquet.

If David Ramirez wins at the County competition, he will receive a scholarship and can move on to State, regional and national Youth of the Year competitions. Five regional winners will advance to Washington, D.C., to compete for the title of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National YOY. The national winner will receive an additional scholarship of up to $50,000 and will meet the President of the United States in an Oval Office ceremony.

About The Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica

Founded in 1944, Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica currently serves approximately 7,000 youth through memberships and community outreach.  They come from all over Los Angeles County, largely from Santa Monica, Venice, West Los Angeles and Inglewood.  Members pay a $20 annual fee for access to all Club amenities and programs that span across education, leadership, recreation and more.  The Club operates with the objective of serving children from all backgrounds, regardless of economic circumstances – ensuring that youth ages 7 to 18 have a safe and nurturing environment to develop socially, succeed in school, stay physically active and prepare for positive futures.  For more information, visit us at www.begreatsantamonica.org, or follow us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/smbgcfan) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/SMBGC).

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David’s parents are a hard-working couple from Mexico whose lives revolve around ensuring a brighter future for their family.  His mother dropped out of elementary school to help her family sell bread, and his father – who was abandoned by his parents at a very young age and was raised by his grandparents – was unable to finish fourth grade. While David’s parents worried about the day they would no longer be able to help their children with their homework, they made education a priority. They instilled in their children the notion that with determination and hard work they could have a brighter future

Early on in his life, David accepted his parents’ challenge to dream big and succeed. He has overcome a number of challenges – obesity, low self-esteem, a lack of academic focus and more – in large part because of his self-awareness and burning need to make his family proud. He knew these challenges were unnecessary distractions and worked hard to fix then.

Along the way, David’s mother became very ill and his parents were laid off from their jobs. David was not dissuaded and instead became a pillar of strength for his sister.  By focusing on his intentions and not wavering from his responsibilities as a role model, caretaker, homework helper, and emotional foundation for his younger sister, David became a source of great strength to his family. Assuming responsibility became a regular part of his life throughout the years and, in return, David’s family helped to strengthen his convictions along the way.

Despite all of his responsibilities at home, David is a youth leader at church and in the Keystone and Leaders in Training programs at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica. He excels at school, and participates in CollegeBound to ensure he goes to college after he graduates from high school this year. Exhibiting a maturity far beyond his age, David sees his life experiences as an opportunity for his sister. “I want to lead her through the trail that no one cleared for me. I want her to have more opportunities than I did. That’s why I encourage her. That’s why I push myself,” he says.

The truth is that David is a role model to many SMBGC Club members – not just to his sister. And he doesn’t only make his parents proud. He makes us proud, too.  David proceeds to the County-level Youth of the Year competition, where he will compete against youths from other L.A.-area Boys & Girls Clubs.  He will also serve as the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica’s youth spokesperson over the coming year.

Congratulations, David.

View photos or our 2011 Youth of the Year Celebration & Banquet on Facebook.

On Sat. Feb. 4., the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica will celebrate the achievements of our Club’s exceptional young people at our Annual Youth of the Year (YOY) Awards Banquet.  The backgrounds, stories and achievements of our four nominees are representative of the diverse community of young people at our Clubs. Get to know them here!

Stephanie Hernandez: A senior at Palisades Charter High and a long-time member of the Club, she is awaiting acceptance to several CSUs and plans to follow in her grandmother’s footsteps by becoming a Registered Nurse. Read more.

Marcel Mitchell: A senior at Santa Monica High and active member of the Club for 3 years, he has been inspired by his experiences at the Club to explore a career in field of child development. Read more.

Olatope Oladipupo (“Tope”) is a senior at Culver City High, has been a Club member since she was 9, and plans to pursue a degree in psychology from a UC school. Read more.

David Ramirez: A senior at Santa Monica High who has been with the Club for more than 9 years, he plans to pursue a degree in business with an emphasis in non-profits at USC so he may one day run a Boys & Girls Club of his own. Read more.

The YOY program highlights the impact mentoring from a caring adult has on a young person’s life, celebrating the character, service orientation and leadership of our young people.  The winner of the SMBGC YOY competition will be announced at the banquet, and will then be considered among other youths from L.A. county Boys & Girls Clubs to compete at the regional and national level of the BGCA Youth of the Year competition. We will recognize all of our nominees at the banquet, as well as other exceptional Club youth.

To learn more, sponsor or attend the YOY banquet, contact Jennifer Vides (310-361-8520 or jvides@smbgc.org).

Date: Saturday, February 4th, 2012

Time: 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Place: Sheraton Delfina Hotel, Santa Monica

After all this excitement, the Santa Monica CollegeBound team was invited to the Boys and Girls Club of San Marcos. There, they were greeted by the Branch Director, President,  Board and Keystone members as they enjoyed a night of fun-filled activities, including a friendly game of Dodge ball,  and bonded over a pizza dinner.

From Friday, January 20- Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012

Download a flier to share with others

Read more about the Youth of the Year Program

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Northern Trust´s Tickets Fore Charity program allows non-profit organizations including ours the opportunity to sell tickets to this event. SMBGC will receive 80% of the proceeds of each ticket you buy from us, and the remaining 20% benefit the L.A. Junior Chamber of Commerce Charity foundation. Ticket prices are: Daily Grounds $30, Weekly Grounds $80 and Weekly Clubhouse $275. Buy your ticket now and support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica!

Visit the Northern Trust Open website tor more information about the tournament and the players. Questions? Contact Jennifer Vides at (310) 361-8520 or JVides@smbgc.org.

Pre-teen community service club helps other youth in need through “Linking Hearts and Hands” service initiative, sponsored by Staples Foundation

 Santa Monica, Calif., December 28, 2011 – The Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica announces the launch of a community children-helping-children campaign, ‘Pencils and Soap so Kids Can Cope,’ spearheaded by the J.A.M.S. branch Torch Club – a character and leadership program for Boys & Girls Clubs members ages 11-13. This campaign is a part of a national project developed with Staples Foundation, ‘Linking Hearts and Hands,’ which is designed to strengthen Torch Club Members’ knowledge of the needs of children.

The SMBGC John Adams Middle School branch – located at 2441 16th St in Santa Monica – is collecting toiletries and school supplies to be donated to homeless children in the community via the Ocean Park Community Center. Those interested in making a donation can do so by bringing new toiletries and school supplies to the Club location between the hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Dec. 30, 2011. This is the 3^rd year the Torch Club has collected toiletries for homeless children; school supplies were added this year because there is a need for these items among the Santa Monica homeless population.

 “It’s a priority for us to teach our young people the importance of helping others in need,” said Erika Mitchell, Branch Director for the SMBGC J.A.M.S. branch. We chose Pencils and Soap so Kids can Cope as our project because our efforts can help children – and involve the community in the process, too.”

 SMBGC is one of many Clubs across the world participating in the Linking Hearts and Hands service initiative. The project is a partnership between Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) and Staples Foundation, which has made a multiple-year financial commitment to support the Torch Club program, as well as Clubs across the country.

 The Torch Club National Service Project is a competition held annually to encourage service that addresses an important issue. Members across the country chose the theme of “children helping children,” and through their participation they learn the value of giving back and seeing a project to its completion. BGCA and Staples Foundation will offer 45 cash awards of $500 each to Torch Clubs that implement successful projects. Five additional Torch Clubs will have the chance to win – through a judging process – additional cash prizes of $2,500 (first place), $1,500 (second place), $1,000 (third place) and two $750 prizes for honorable mentions in the project’s awards competition.

About the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica

Founded in 1944, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica currently serves approximately 7,000 youth through memberships and community outreach.  They come from all over Los Angeles County, largely from Santa Monica, Venice, West Los Angeles and Inglewood. Members pay a $20 annual fee for access to all Club amenities and programs that span across education, leadership, recreation and more. The Club operates with the objective of serving children from all backgrounds, regardless of economic circumstances – ensuring that youth ages 7 to 18 have a safe and nurturing environment to develop socially, succeed in school, stay physically active and prepare for positive futures.  For more information, visit us at www.begreatsantamonica.org, or follow us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/smbgcfan) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/SMBGC).

 About Boys & Girls Clubs of America

For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (www.bgca.org) has changed and saved lives, enabling young people to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, some 4,000 Boys & Girls Clubs serve some 4 million children and teens through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in neighborhoods throughout the country and on U.S. military installations worldwide, providing a wide variety of youth development programs conducted by trained, professional staff. Key programs emphasize academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 57 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta.

 About Staples Foundation for Learning

Founded in 2002, Staples Foundation for Learning has contributed to nearly 1,000 global, national and local charities that provide educational opportunities and job skills for all people, with a special emphasis on disadvantaged youth. Staples Foundation for Learning builds lasting relationships with world-class organizations including Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Ashoka, Earth Force, TakingItGlobal, and the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City.  The foundation is the private charitable arm of Staples, Inc. and is an integral component of Staples Soul, which recognizes the connection between long-term business success and the impact Staples has on associates, communities and the planet. For more information about the foundation and Staples Soul, please visit www.staplesfoundation.org and www.staples.com/soul.

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Santa Monica, Calif., December 1, 2011

Through Macy’s Thanks For Sharing campaign, shoppers are encouraged to charge a one-time enrollment fee of $25 to their Macy’s credit card. In turn, a portion of this fee will be donated to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica, plus customers receive a 10 percent reward on most of their credit card purchases.

“We are extremely grateful for the Macy’s Thanks For Sharing campaign since so many of the young people we serve need the most, but have the least,” said Aaron Young, President and CEO of SMBGC.  “We believe there is no better investment than our nation’s youth especially when it comes to ensuring their academic success, which is so essential to the prosperity of our community.”

According to the Education Research Center, only 69.6 percent of public school students graduate from high school on time with a diploma. BGCA’s graduation strategy – Every Member, Every Year – aims to ensure that all Club members progress to the next grade level on time each year.

Club staff do this by discussing the importance of education and high school graduation; recognizing academic successes, including homework completion, grade improvement and progression; and implementing educational programming that teaches members new skills and reinforces those needed to be successful in school. According to a 2010 study by Damooei Global Research 90% of alumni of L. A.-area Clubs graduated from high school.

Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Macy’s share the belief that out-of-school time is an important factor in the overall education equation and the retailer’s donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica will ensure a great future for the community’s young people.

About The Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica

Founded in 1944, Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica currently serves approximately 7,000 youth through memberships and community outreach.  They come from all over Los Angeles County, largely from Santa Monica, Venice, West Los Angeles and Inglewood.  Members pay a $20 annual fee for access to all Club amenities and programs that span across education, leadership, recreation and more.  The Club operates with the objective of serving children from all backgrounds, regardless of economic circumstances – ensuring that youth ages 7 to 18 have a safe and nurturing environment to develop socially, succeed in school, stay physically active and prepare for positive futures.  For more information, visit us at www.begreatsantamonica.org, or follow us on Facebook (facebook.com/smbgcfan) and Twitter (twitter.com/SMBGC).

About Macy’s Thanks For Sharing Campaign

Macy’s Northwest’s and Southwest’s campaign will benefit Boys & Girls Clubs in the states of: Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. The Thanks For Sharing Campaign is scheduled to conclude on December 31.

Since 2002, Macy’s customers and employees have contributed more than $9 million to local Boys & Girls Clubs in Macy’s Northwest and Southwest Regions.