Boys & Girls Club Holds Member Recognition Night

Last Thursday night the Club closed out the school year program with our 38th Annual Member Recognition Night Dinner. Over 300 club members, parents, elected officials, staff and board members were in attendance as members were recognized for their participation throughout the various program areas.

After a dinner created by Patriot’s Kids Café Director, Maureen Cooper and her staff, followed by a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem by Club Member, Michelle Beazley, Maureen Peterson, Past President of the Board of Directors, presented the Youth of the Year finalist Awards to: Sean O’Donnell, David Barry, Bernard Barbosa, and Marissa Sneed (Youth of the Year). Marissa also represented her fellow award winners at the Statewide Youth of the Year judging held in Fall River in May.

Next up were the Program Director Awards, the top award in each program area. These award winners were: Social Recreation – Jocelyn Sammy; Aquatics – Ciara Murphy; Athletics – Bernard Barbosa; Walter Denney Youth Center – Nora Hernandez; Art – Najwah Nelson; Education – Jessica Batista & Ismael Balde; Music – Manny Brandao and; Teen Center – Karim Harris.

We then launched into program awards for Athletics (Summer & Fall), Education, Fine Arts, Music, and Social Recreation followed by the Club’s Band – The Era, performing two songs. We then closed the night with awards for Athletics (Winter & Spring), our Walter Denney Youth Center Unit, The Teen program, Aquatics and a salute to all of our graduating Senior Class members.

Congratulations to all of the members recognized on this night for their leadership, participation and sportsmanship. We would also like to thank our friends at The Greater Boston Food Bank for their help providing dinner, as well as the following members of the Club’s Band, The Era, who provided the entertainment for the evening: Sachi Vicente, Joshua Phillips, Dashawn Borden, Manny Brandao, Patrick Connolly, Shane Kelly, and Emily Carvalho.

Jr. Police Academy
The Social Recreation program will be offering a special opportunity for club members ages 8 to 12 to participate in the Jr. Police Academy program. In collaboration with the Boston Police Department, the Academy will be held the week of August 6th and will run on a 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. schedule. The Academy offers participants a chance to visit sites related to the field of law including a courthouse, a jail and police headquarters as well as offering fun activities such as a Duck Tour, bowling and the movies. The Academy also gives members a chance to see what it is like to be a Police Officer and to meet officers from the local station.

The week-long Academy will be open to the first 10 invited members returning a signed permission slip and please note, there is no cost to participate. For information, please contact Social Recreation Director, Zack Solomon at ext. 2121.

Senior Class Night Event
On Wednesday, July 25th, as part of the Safe Summer Streets program, we will hold a special event for our incoming Senior Class. This group of members will be invited to a workshop with Tania Glinski, an Admissions Representative from U-Mass Boston to be held on the Campus. The workshop will help the members of the Senior Class prepare for this very important year, ensuring they are aware of all the steps needed to move their educational goals forward. We will review the college application process, discuss the S.A.T. exams, financial aid, scholarships, visiting schools and more. The workshop will be followed by an ice cream social for all participants.

In September, this group will be invited back to the Club to meet with the Club’s Education Director. At this meting participants will learn of the activities being offered within the College Bound program during the upcoming school year designed to assist them throughout the admissions process. For more information please contact Education Director, Emily Capurso at 617-288-7120, ext. 2320.

Walter Denney Youth Center News
Our Walter Denney Clubhouse, located in the Harbor Point community has also kicked off the summer program this week. The on-site program for ages 5-12 will operate on a Monday to Friday schedule from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. through August 15th. Meanwhile, our teen members will be provided nightly transportation to take part in the Safe Summer Streets program which will take place in our Marr Clubhouse from 5:00-11:00 p.m. on a Monday to Saturday schedule. Special events include bus trips to the Museum of Science (7/11), the Hanover Movie Theater (7/18) and the Carousel Family Fun Center (7/25). For more information please contact Unit Director, Queenette Santos at ext. 3120.