On May 15th, come check out the grand opening of this new local business called Swim Spot. They are generously donating 15% of all sales during their Grand Opening event from 6:00-9:00pm to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica so come check out some suits for summer and support a great cause! Check out this event on Facebook.

Who can say no to pancakes, eggs & bacon for a good cause?

On April 28th, Harvard Alumni volunteers and Club members & staff came together to cook & serve a breakfast feast to raise funds for the kids’ trips to England & Africa, where they will do community service, experience unique cultures, visit historical sites & explore new territory. After filling tummies with delicious bacon, pancakes, eggs & fresh-squeezed juice from Bolthouse Farms, we raffled off Disney tickets, a bike and toys for the kids. In the end, the kids raised an outstanding $1100 during this event! View pictures of this event.

All proceeds will help fund four teens traveling to South Africa and five teens going to England this summer where they will have once-in-a-lifetime experiences in civic service & exploration abroad.

Our biggest thanks to Harvard Alumni for their outstanding contribution to this fundraiser!

If you would like to contribute to this cause, please contact Christina Coles at christina@smbgc.org or (310)361-8500.

Honoring Monsignor Lloyd Torgerson & the St. Monica’s School & Parish for their generous support of the Club and our community.

Last year, our 36th Annual Auction was a resounding success, raising nearly $500,000 for Club programs. View pictures of last year’s event.

This event is our largest source of unrestricted funding, which helps to ensure we can continue to enhance and expand our programs to the youth of our community. Its success depends upon the support of the community. Here are some ways you can help:

• Attend the event: Tables and single tickets are available online or by contacting Janis Morse at (310) 361-8523 or janis@smbgc.org.
• Donate live auction items valued at $1,000 or more, or silent auction items valued up to $999. Contact Christina Coles at Christina@smbgc.org or (310) 361-8500, or complete this contribution form and return it via email  (christina@smbgc.org) or fax to (310) 458-8857.
• Sponsor the event:  A number of sponsorship packages are available with varying levels of marketing and branding opportunities. View our sponsorship levels, buy a sponsorship, or contact our Director of Development Janis Morse at janis@smbgc.org or (310) 361-8523 for more information.

On Wednesday, March 7, 2012 at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica, JAMS Branch, members were recognized by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) & the Staples Foundation for their outstanding civic citizenship. The competition’s win, which is based on a variety of components, began with the coordination of a six to eight week service learning project and will be completed by a one-day service event, concentrating on lessons such as hard work and charitable giving.

The $5,000 prize was presented by Staples representatives and will help facilitate their winning service-learning project, “Pencils and Soap So Kids Can Cope”. This project focuses on helping local homeless children and bridging together members of the community. Other components of the J.A.M.S. winning application ranged from a Heal the Bay project to learn about environment and personal responsibility to a club-wide discussion of local issues called the “Be Great Debate”.

In conjunction with the cash prize, the Staples Foundation graciously awarded an all-expenses-paid trip for two Club members and an advisor to participate in the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Annual Keystone Conference held this year in Fort Worth, Texas on March 22-24. You can view pictures from the Keystone Conference on Facebook. 

Congratulations to all of our Torch Club members and special thanks to the Staples Foundation for all of their support!

We are seeking a highly motivated, organized and capable multi-tasker with 3 to 5 years of experience in senior management with a similar youth service organization. The candidate must be capable of staff training, motivation and evaluation, program development, execution and evaluation. They must be proficient in Microsoft Office, Publisher, Power Point and Excel. Must have exceptional written and oral communication skills. They must also have a valid California driver’s license, Class B or C.

For a full job description, please click here.

To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to virginia@smbgc.org.

This a paid internship opportunity which also comes with a choice of an educational award in the amount of $1,174, or an end of service stipend in the amount of $287.

To apply, please visit the Corporation for National & Community Service (AmeriCorps) website and fill out an application.

Skills/Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university or equivalent experience.
• Knowledge of accounting principles as they relate to grant administration.
• Knowledge of and comfort with funder databases, MS Office, Adobe, other relevant software and online grant application systems.
• Knowledge of foundations and the corporate community, especially those who invest in youth programs.
• Ability to manage timelines, multiple grant deadlines, work independently and as a team member.

To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to virginia@smbgc.org.

On Wednesday, March 7, 2012 at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica, JAMS Branch, members were recognized by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) & the Staples Foundation for their outstanding civic citizenship. The competition’s win, which is based on a variety of components, began with the coordination of a six to eight week service learning project and will be completed by a one-day service event, concentrating on lessons such as hard work and charitable giving.

The $5,000 prize was presented by Staples representatives and will help facilitate their winning service-learning project, “Pencils and Soap So Kids Can Cope”. This project focuses on helping local homeless children and bridging together members of the community. Other components of the J.A.M.S. winning application ranged from a Heal the Bay project to learn about environment and personal responsibility to a club-wide discussion of local issues called the “Be Great Debate”.

In conjunction with the cash prize, the Staples Foundation graciously awarded an all-expenses-paid trip for two Club members and an advisor to participate in the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Annual Keystone Conference held this year in Fort Worth, Texas on March 22-24. At the conference, they were honored amongst their peers and enjoyed all the conference had to offer. You can view pictures from the Keystone Conference on Facebook. 

Congratulations to all of our Torch Club members and special thanks to the Staples Foundation for all of their support!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Santa Monica, Calif., March 12, 2012 – On Sunday, March 18th, Green Brooms Music Academy will host a $10 Music Lesson Day with all lesson proceeds going to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica’s Music Education Program.

The all-day event will give students the chance to take a 30-minute private or semi-private lesson with instruments ranging from cello to ukulele, and drums to mandolin. Additionally, Green Brooms has pledged a follow-up gift to the SMBGC: It will match the amount of the event’s proceeds with an in-kind donation of instructional materials and music education training.

“We have always had a high regard for the work of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica,” says Manuel Lozano, co-owner of Green Brooms. “The $10 lesson day is our way of giving back to a worthy organization and at the same time helping to encourage an interest in music education.”

Lozano expects the special event lesson day to sell out because it will draw students of all ages and experience levels. The event will offer something for veterans and novices alike: a clarinet student might want to try her hand at guitar, for instance, while a musical beginner can finally take that long-postponed introduction to piano or voice.

“We are grateful to organizations like Green Brooms for their generosity, because their gifts help us fund our own arts and music education programs. We especially appreciate Green Brooms’ commitment to share state-of-the-art instructional materials and music education expertise with our teaching staff.” says Aaron Young, President and CEO of The Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Monica.

This is Green Brooms Music Academy’s second fundraising event with the SMBGC. The music academy has an active history of community service. In the last year alone, Green Brooms has underwritten more than $9,500 worth of lessons, materials and music scholarships and has supported school fundraising events with donations at several of their silent auctions.

“At Green Brooms, our goal is to make music accessible to everyone, regardless of age, experience or background,” explains Lozano. ”Whether someone aspires to be a professional musician or simply regards music as a vital creative outlet, we want to extend the gift of music education.”

WHAT: $10 Lesson Day at Green Brooms Music Academy.  30-minute private and semi-private lessons include piano, voice, guitar, violin, ukulele, bass, standup bass, flute, mandolin, drums, cello. All proceeds to be donated to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica.  Space is limited; reservations required:  310-310-2623.

WHEN: Sunday, March 18th, 10 AM-4PM
WHERE: Green Brooms Music Academy, 1445 Sixth St. Santa Monica (between Broadway and Santa Monica Blvd.)

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).

About Green Brooms Music Academy
Founded in 2008, Green Brooms Music Academy, serves children and adults, largely from Santa Monica, Venice, Pacific Palisades, and the West Los Angeles areas.  Green Brooms Music Academy was created to be a place where anyone, no matter his or her age, experience or interests could come to receive the gift of music.  In a short time, Green Brooms has become Los Angeles’ premier community music school offering a variety of lessons and classes for children and adults in a professional and intimate setting. For more information, visit us at www.greenbrooms.com, or follow us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/greenbrooms)

Contacts:

Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica

Christina Coles, Development Coordinator

310.361.8500

Christina@smbgc.org

Green Brooms Music Academy

Manuel Lozano

310-310-2623

manuel@greenbrooms.com

Five AmeriCorps members have been assigned to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica’s CollegeBound program. Their role is to cultivate the relationships necessary to sustain the future development of the program and give our students opportunities for academic, professional and personal enrichment. This year, during AmeriCorps week (March 10 -  18) we would like to recognize the commitment of each of our five AmeriCorps members by highlighting their work.

• Francesca Aspromonte, the CollegeBound Outreach & Events Coordinator, helps to organize events in the teen center, organizes tours of college campuses and manages social media outreach for the program.
• Johnathan Shapiro, our Resource Development Coordinator, works closely with our Grants Director to write grants which help sustain the CollegeBound program, as well as identifies tools that will enable our students to succeed in high school and beyond.
• Jossimar Fuentes is our Digital Media Specialist. He helps with website design and manages the technical aspects of marketing and advertising initiatives for the program.
• Kevin Franco, our Expansion & Resource Coordinator, works to recruit, train and manage new volunteers, and also works to secure partnerships with community organizations.
• Vanessa Lopez is our Academic Advancement Coordinator and she is helping to set up a satellite CollegeBound program at our JAMS branch.

We are so pleased to have our VISTAs with us – and are grateful for the impact they have on our organization!