Do Something & Staples Team-up for School Supply Drive

DoSomething.org and Staples are teaming up with teen actress and recording artist Bella Thorne for the 5th annual Staples for Students national school supply drive, to help kids in need staplesforstudents.org). The drive encourages young people from metro-Boston to collect school supplies and drop them off at their nearest Staples store now through September 15th. School supplies collected will benefit youth at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester to equip them with tools they need to achieve academic success in time for the new school. All supplies and donations will be distributed to the Club to ensure they get into the hands of deserving youth. The Staples for Students school supply drive supports B.G.C.A.’s mission to help young people return to school prepared to learn and achieve great futures. Local Staples stores accepting school supply drop-offs include: 757 Gallivan Blvd., Dorchester, MA, 120 Main St., Ames Plaza, Weymouth, MA and 729 Bridge St. (Rt. 3A), Weymouth, MA. “I’m excited to help motivate fellow teens to make a difference in their communities,” said Bella Thorne.  “There are so many kids in America who return to school without basic school supplies, and I’m thrilled to team up with Staples and DoSomething.org to encourage teens to lend a hand.” To kick-start the campaign, Staples will donate $125,000 worth of school supplies to the program this year.  In addition, Staples customers can get involved by donating $1 or more at any Staples store, with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting local Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester students. Since 2008, the campaign has raised more than $2 million for hundreds of thousands of students in need throughout the country.  Past celebrity influencers have included Jordin Sparks, Ciara, Nikki Reed and the cast of Pretty Little Liars. “We are truly inspired by what teens and our customers across the country can accomplish for the millions of children unable to afford basic school supplies,” said Alison Corcoran, senior vice president of retail marketing at Staples.  “With help from celebrities like Bella Thorne and support from DoSomething.org, we can send kids back to school with the tools they need to succeed.” The Staples for Students campaign is offering easy, innovative and new ways for teens to get involved in this year’s programs.  By visiting staplesforstudents.org, teens can get all the information they need to take action. “Here at DoSomething.org we don’t just say, we do,” said Nancy Lublin, CEO and Chief Old Person at DoSomething.org.  “Actions speak louder than words, and we are determined to speak volumes when we team up with Staples for the 5th year on a campaign that gives young people the power to rock social change, really make a difference among their peers and take action in their very own communities.” For information on our Fall Education programs including Homework Help, One-to-One Tutoring and our small group programming, please contact Emily Capurso at ext. 2320.

Summer Job Programs Conclude
In late August participants in our various employment positions through the Career Launch program concluded their summer job experience. Thanks to our valued partnerships with the Boston Youth Fund, the Boston Private Industry Council and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholars program, teen members were placed in positions on-site at our three service locations. In all, nearly 110 teen members were part of the Career Launch program this summer. We offer a special thanks to all of the organizations who stepped forward to provide these positions for our deserving teen members. For teens seeking school-year positions within the Boys and Girls Club and the local business community, Club staff will be on hand to assist with resumes, applications and interviews. The Career Prep component is just one of many programs for teens that will be offered this Fall. For information on any of our upcoming Fall programs for Teens please contact Queenette Santos at ext. 3120.

Fall Fine Arts Programs
Registration for the approaching series of Fine Arts classes being offered this Fall is currently ongoing. On Mondays we will offer Beginner Photography at 3:30 p.m. as well as Intermediate Photography at 5:30 p.m. (must have competency in Photography to register). On Tuesdays look for Art Explorations at 3:30 p.m. (ages 5-6), Beginning Painting at 4:30 p.m., Intermediate Painting at 5:30 p.m. and Comic Book Art at 6:30 p.m. (ages 10-12). For Wednesdays we will offer Art Explorations at 3:30 (ages 5-6), Beginner Sculpture at 4:30 p.m. as well as Claymation at 5:30 p.m. Our Thursday schedule will include Art Sampler Classes at 3:30 p.m. (ages 7-9) and at 5:30 p.m. (ages 10-12) as well as a T-Shirt Design Class at 6:00 p.m. (for teens). On Fridays we will offer Recycled Art (ages 7-9) at 3:30 p.m., Creative Drawing at 4:30 p.m., Intermediate Sculpture at 5:30 p.m. and a second Recycled Art Class (ages 10-12) at 6:30 p.m. These classes are in addition to our “Learn To” Art Classes (ages 3-5) on Mondays at 12:00, 1:00 & 4:30 p.m. and Thursdays at 1:00 and 4:30 p.m., Open Art weekdays at 2:30 p.m. and drop-in Gamesroom Art for ages 5-12 that will be offered weekdays at 4:30 p.m. For more information on our Fall Fine Arts programs please contact Donna Seery at 617- 288-7120, ext. 1320.