Youth Football Begins at Tulsa area Boys & Girls Clubs!

 Boys & Girls Clubs offer enriching after school activities to Tulsa area youth

 In addition to great after school activities, the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Tulsa offer a wide range of sports activities for children. 

Right now, we have football and cheerleading happending at our 3 urban Clubs.

At Mabee Red Shield, it's the Cowboys, with teams from 1st and 2nd grade (the Mighty Mites) all the way to 6th.

West Mabee Club is the Panthers and North Mabee is the Mustangs.

Check out these great action shots from last Saturday's game on the 24th.

The 3rd grade Cowboys vs the Trojans; a 25-0 win for the Cowboys!   Go Cowboys!

I love little kids in little uniforms!

To find out about upcoming sports and activies, you can follow each Club on their own Facebook page!

Mabee Red Shield

North Mabee

West Mabee

Sand Springs

Sapulpa

Broken Arrow

Viva la sports!
-Vicki

Back to School: Volunteer Needs

School is in session! Hearing this is music to any parent’s ears, to students…not so much. 

As we gear down and start getting our Boys & Girls Club members into a new routine it’s important to start establishing good habits. 

One habit that proves to be highly effective to improve students’ learning and retention ability is to have a study buddy or a homework helper to assist in what kids sometimes view as the mundane task of doing homework.  Study buddies or homework helpers are volunteers who assist our club members with homework assignments at any of our 6 Boys & Girls Club locations.

 A study buddy can help a student in many ways from just letting the child read out loud to you to you to reviewing basic math problems. As a volunteer tutor you can help as much or as little as you are comfortable with! 

There are lots of benefits for kids who have a study buddy!
•    Fewer distractions then in a traditional classroom.
•    Able to focus on a specific area of interest
•    Helps build confidence and self-esteem. Perhaps the single most important factor in learning.
•    Catch-up sometimes kids miss things in class, having a homework helper is the perfect way to review materials.
•    SHYNESS! Sometimes a kid who is shy will back away from asking questions in a classroom, having a tutor who is there just to help them makes it easier to ask questions.

14th Annual B&G Club Charity Golf Tournament A Success!

Camaro from Jim Glover

 A sports car, dozens of door prizes and a random pop-up storm are just a few of the exciting aspects of the 14th Annual Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Tulsa Golf Tournament. The event was held Monday, July 22nd at Tulsa Country Club.

Title Sponsor Jim Glover Chevrolet added a little extra fun to Hole #14: a 2013 Camaro 2SS Convertible to the person who could hit a hole-in-one. Although a few golfers came close, no one was able to claim the prize. Mike Lewis from Doerner, Saunders, Daniel & Anderson LLP did claim a prize that has many co-workers excited: a recliner from Mathis Brothers. Lewis says there are a few pregnant women in his office that plan to put the recliner in what will be a “mother’s room.” As a new mom myself, I love that idea!

1st Place Midfirst Bank team

There are always a few surprises at golf tournaments but no one expected Mother Nature to put a halt on the tournament just before the second flight took off. A storm came through and knocked down a few limbs and the QuarterShare Beef Sticks tent! Many of the players checked their iPhones and grabbed a few extra beverages before their play began about 30 minutes later. The players got to enjoy cooler temperatures for about another hour before the July humidity came back!

The smallest volunteers present.

Club members from all six Boys & Girls Clubs got to interact with the players both on and off the golf course. The 2013 event is the most successful, bringing in 43 teams, several new sponsors and close to $70,000 that will go directly to our six Boys & Girls Clubs!

Youth sports + grants = a winning combination!

Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs Wanna Play

Mabee Red Shield Cowboys, right

A few weeks ago, Boys & Girls Club Executive Director David emailed me about a grant opportunity for the Boys & Girls Club of Tulsa for sports programming. Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA)and Buffalo Wild Wings has an "All Star" program which offers mini-grants to Clubs that have existing football and cheerleading programs, or that want to start one. After looking at each of our six area Clubs-- from Broken Arrow to North Tulsa-- I submitted the West Mabee Boys & Girls Club in West Tulsa for the grant. It would be primarily used to  buy new sports equipment such as football helmets and pads.

Boys & Girls Club basketball

We're also going to be applying for a "Wanna Play" mini-grant through the Major League Baseball Association's partnership with BGCA. Wanna Play includes weekly activities and a field day!

We're excited about the late summer/fall sports programs at our Clubs- they are a great outreach tool to the community and are super beneficial for the kids. Sports teach so much about teamwork, having a good attitude, and also get kids engaged in healthy movement and exercise.

I'm excited to hear back on these grants in the coming weeks!

-Vicki

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If you'd like to help financially support sports' programs at the Tulsa area Boys & Girls Clubs, you can call our Director of Development, Lindsay Sparks at 918-587-7801 to directly donate.

If you'd like more information on volunteering or coaching one of the Club's teams, call our Volunteer Coordinator, Jenny McElyea, at 918-587-7801, ex. 113.

If you'd like to get your child involved in a team sport, call the Club Admin office at 918-835-6902!

Passport to Manhood

Jamar Giddings is second from right.

Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club's special program popular

What does "manhood" mean to today's youth? For many boys in West Tulsa, it means toying with dropping out of school early, seeking friendship and leadership in gangs, and experimenting with drugs.

But one man is setting a different example. West Tulsa Boys & Girls Club director, Jamar Giddings, is a mentor and friend to many young men, welcoming them into his Club, but also his home.
For the past several years, Jamar (who we last saw at the Youth of the Year awards banquet with the 2013 Youth of the Year Anthony Wilson) has lead a program called "Passport to Manhood" and supplemented the lessons of the program with lots of one-on-one time, modeling fatherhood and manhood at his home and with his church family.

Passport to Manhood teaches a variety of basic life skills and lessons cover topics like:

• banking and checking/savings accounts
• hygiene
• job skills/resume
• self-esteem
• etiquette
• relationships/girls/respect, etc.

Caleb Green

The Boys & Girls Club curriculum can be tailored to a specific age group audience, which is generally either Elementary/Middle School (ages 8-12) or Middle/High School (13-18).


In addition to 'lessons' and one-on-one time, Jamar has been good to engage community members to come speak to the Passport guys. He's drawn from a variety of professions, from international sports professionals like Kelvin Sangel and Caleb Green, to Club alumni who are lawyers and bankers, like Lee Jones, formerly with BOK.

Jamar Giddings playing basketball.

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Unfortunately, the curriculum that West Mabee has to work with is outdated (last purchased in 1999) and with new curriculum available, Jamar is hoping to relaunch the Passport to Manhood program and reach more boys than ever before. 

We hope to help him; just last week, I applied for a Passport to Manhood grant for all new curriculum and a program assistant. We won't hear back on the application for a few months, but we are moving forward with a basketball tournament with players from ORU to get kids over to the Club, and hopefully, get them on the right track to true manhood.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you would like to support Jamar's efforts to teach young men the art of being a man, you can call The Salvation Army Tulsa Area Command at 918-587-7801 to make a donation or donate online at: http://salarmytulsa.org/Home.

If you would be interested in speaking to a Passport to Manhood group on your area of expertise, call us! We would love to put you in touch with Jamar.

Please share this post with friends or family who may be interested in the program or in supporting the program!

-Vicki


 

Summer Day Camps in full swing

Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club members enjoying day camp
At the Mabee Red Shield Boys & Girls Club, members got a treat on Wednesday when supporters from JP Morgan Chase Bank representatives brought by summer supplies including water pistols,  Slip ‘n Slides, a wading pool, beach balls and pool noodles. Program Director Melissa Gruszeczki said the supplies fit perfectly with her once-a-week water games program called “Splash Into Fun.” The Mabee Red Shield members also swim once a week at Chandler Park or the Broken Arrow Boys & Girls Club.  In the photo at left, three club kids unpack the gifts as JP Morgan Chase bankers David Stratton and Kristin Bohanon watch.

At the Broken Arrow Boys & Girls Club, Director Janis Fraley said she has 153 kids in Summer Day Camp. The cost is $100 a week with a $5 deposit to reserve a spot. The club also requires the $45 annual membership fee that includes a T-shirt. This club takes kids on two field trips a week, to the movies, Incredible Pizza, Laser Quest, horseback riding, and even a float trip. Janis said one of the favorite features of Summer Day Camp is Fast Food Wednesdays, when parents who are tired of packing their child’s lunch can send money for the club to provide a meal from local fast food restaurants.

It’s hard to believe that Summer Day Camp in Sapulpa has already been going on for a month! Because none of the schools had to use snow days this year, several Day Camps started earlier than usual. Sapulpa Boys & Girls Club Director Jake Law said the club has lots of fun events and field trips planned. When I talked to him he was busy setting up “Tent Day” in the gym. He said kids bring in their tents and sleeping bags and set them up in the gym just as if they were outside. I love the creativity of our Boys & Girls Club directors!

Million-dollar fundraiser a kids’ affair

Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club members played the key role in William Booth Society Dinner

The Boys & Girls Club Chorus

I almost felt as if I were in a Boys & Girls Club. I saw some of my usual club buddies but instead of hearing shouts of "Take my picture Miss Sallie!" when I saw them, they stood quietly wearing their party manners, coats, ties, and dresses. I can't take one iota of credit for that, but it still made me proud. The 20th Annual William Booth Society Dinner, The Tulsa Area Command’s major fundraiser, featured Boys & Girls Club members from all six metro Tulsa clubs.

Mason Pritzlaff, BA Club

The first clue to the kid-themed evening was a beautiful display of Boys & Girls Club art and photography which guests viewed as they walked to the lobby of the Tulsa Convention Center. Members from the clubs greeted guests and answered questions about their artwork, but that was only the start. At 7 p.m. when the doors opened to the ballroom for dinner, guests walked through a gauntlet formed by the winners of the Youth of the Year contest. I walked through the gauntlet several times because it was just so much fun. When guests found their tables, the first thing they noticed was the unique centerpieces, designed by Mason Pritzlaff, a nine-year-old member of the Broken Arrow Boys & Girls Club.

When event co-chair Charlotte Edmundson was researching options for the event last summer, she toured all six of the clubs and landed on the idea of a kid-centered event. At the start of the dinner, a Boys & Girls Club Chorus sang “God Bless America” and “The National Anthem” before Boy Scout Troop 995 from the Broken Arrow Boys & Girls Club led the Color Guard.

Nakylyn Walters, W. Mabee

West Mabee club member Nakylan Walters gave the welcome speech because Charlotte had met him when he took the stage at a club dinner she attended. “After all the adults and youths spoke and we were getting ready to leave, Nakylan unexpectedly asked to speak and took the stage to say what the club meant to him. He was the youngest one to speak at that dinner, and  I knew then that he was the one to give the welcome because I wanted to give him the biggest stage we had,” Charlotte said.

Youth of the Year Tulsa Anthony Wilson from the West Mabee Boys & Girls Club gave a speech in front of the crowd of almost 800 guests and guest speaker Bob Costas. How’s that for pressure on a 17-year-old? Anthony's come a long way since I first interviewed him and he seemed incredibly shy.

Anthony Wilson

But he was almost as poised as State Senator Jabar Shumate, who grew up in the North Mabee Boys & Girls Club and preceded Anthony with his testimonial. The fundraiser grossed $1,075,849. Much of the funding will go to help members of the Boys & Girls Club in addition to others who need it most. For a wonderful slide show of the event created by Tulsa World photographer Cory Young, click here. And don't miss the photo of Nakylan dressed up in his coat and tie! -Sallie
 

Start planning for summer!

 Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs need Day Camp volunteers

Water gun fights, spending all day at the movies, exploring museums, hanging out with a great group of kids all day while providing fun and entertaining learning experiences...

What do all these things have in common?

Learning to putt

This is the average day of a summer camp volunteer at a Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club!

Exploring exhibits at Philbrook

 Our Day Camps are open from early morning until evening and we always need extra hands to help us ensure the kids are having the best summer ever!

Picking out books

We have Clubs located in Tulsa, Sand Springs, Broken Arrow and Sapulpa and we are open all summer long! Last summer, over 827 children were served EVERY DAY across our 6 Club locations.

If sounds like something you would be interested in or would just like more information call 918-587-7801 or e-mail me at Jenny_McElyea@uss.salvationarmy.org.

And the winner is...

Boys & Girls Clubs announce the Youth of the Year!

Jamar Giddings, Anthony Wilson

You’ve read about the candidates for the Tulsa Youth of the Year; Anthony, Charles and Neariah. So here’s the big news: Anthony won!
First, I want to tell you about his speech. As he had told me earlier, it was from the heart.  I’m willing to bet that it touched the hearts of every person in the room.

After an introduction by Jamar Giddings, West Mabee club director, Anthony told about how at the age of six, Giddings and another club staff member protected him from a grown man who was beating him up in the park next to the club. Giddings got the man off Wilson and called police who arrested him. The man was Wilson’s father.

“With the club, I knew I was safe. I knew there was always somewhere I could go where I would be protected,” Anthony said.



Janis Fraley, BA Club Director
and Neariah Persinger

 The banquet was attended by about 100 people who enjoyed a buffet dinner and speeches from all three candidates. Boys & Girls Club Leadership Council Chair Aaron Massey served as emcee.

When Jamar introduced Anthony before he made his speech, he said Anthony was the only club volunteer who was willing to come to the club on Saturday mornings to prepare for athletic events.
“Anthony was at the club whenever it was open and he would volunteer to do anything – clean up, supervise kids – anything,” Giddings said.
 

Jerome Smith, Mabee Red Shield Director
and Charles Gordon



The runner up for the Tulsa Metro Youth of the Year was Neariah and the third place winner for the was Charles. Both youths can run for Youth of the Year from their clubs next year also. The next step for Anthony will be to compete in the statewide Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year contest held in Oklahoma City. If he wins that competition, he’ll compete for the Regional Youth of the Year. We’re cheering for you Anthony!

 – Sallie

Boys & Girls Spring Into Action!

Club kiddos 'spring' into action!

Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club members are Springing Into Action today as they sell QuarterShare beef sticks in the first citywide club fundraising project ever. All six clubs in the Tulsa Metro area are participating in "Spring Into Action" a Boys & Girls Club fundraising program to sell QuarterShare Gourmet beef sticks. QuarterShare will give 50 percent of the profits from the sale of the beef sticks for funding the needs of the clubs.

Club cuties with QuarterShare beef sticks!

Then club members decide what to buy with the money they raise. The beef sticks will be sold from the clubs, on line and at area Walmart stores. The club that sells the most beef sticks will win a pizza party and the club member who sells the most beef sticks from their club will win a bike.

An exciting pep rally kicked off the campaign Wednesday, with an appearance by Hornsby, the Tulsa Drillers mascot, who had fun with Major April Taylor, master of ceremonies for the event. About 200 club members watched from the bleachers of the North Mabee Boys & Girls Club gym. Club directors Bethany Pousinho, Sand Springs, and Jake Law, Sapulpa demonstrated selling techniques.

Hornsby and Major April kick off the pep rally.

The members were also fascinated as members of the Oklahoma Defenders, an arena football team, talked how they to set and meet goals. Then students from Apollo's Martial Arts demonstrated how to break  thick wooden boards with their hands and feet.  It turns out that Apollo is an alumnus of the Mabee Red Shield Boys & Girls Club!

After the rally, club members lined up to get autographs from Defenders members, one of whom is an alum from the North Mabee Club. Randy "Boom Boom" Blake, a world champion kick boxer, also signed autographs. Club members left the rally pumped up to sell beef sticks!

To learn more, watch for "Spring Into Action" commercials on KOKI FOX-23 with Jeff Bruccaleri and listen to K-95.5FM and MIX 96 radio stations talk about the campaign during morning drive time.

Apollo Martial Arts students overcome obstacles!

We’re very grateful to our media partners for supporting Spring Into Action. To buy QuarterShare beef sticks, ask a member of the nearest club, watch for them at Walmart stores on March 30 and April 6,or click here to order online.

Oklahoma Defenders arena football team talk about setting goals.

 

Meet basketball champion Anthony Wilson

Anthony & Jamar

To tell the story of Anthony Wilson, The Salvation Army West Mabee Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year, is to also tell a story about Jamar Giddings, West Mabee club director. I’ve heard many stories of Jamar’s personal involvement and support of the club members, and Anthony’s story backs them up. I met Anthony earlier this week at the club. Anthony said he moved with him mom, Antoinnette, and his older brother from Chicago to Tulsa when he was five years old. His brother didn’t like to be with new people, but school friends of Anthony’s convinced him to try out the West Mabee Club.

Anthony said he immediately felt comfortable at the club and has been there ever since. He said his older brother is now in jail because of his bad decisions, but he has stayed on a positive path because of Jamar and the club.

“Jamar is a father figure to me. When I moved to South Tulsa, he’d pick me up at home so that I could be at the club every day. He picked me up the entire year when I was in the seventh grade,” Anthony said. 

One of the highlights of his club experience was winning the Salvation Army League Basketball Championship when he was in the fifth grade. Last week, he played with the Webster Warriors in their first state championship game in ten years. Six players on the 12-member team grew up playing basketball at the West Mabee Boys & Girls Club. Wilson is a point guard on the team and hopes to get a basketball scholarship to Bacone College in Muskogee next year. He plans to major in business and communications.

Anthony Wilson

I can’t help but wonder if Anthony had not joined the West Mabee Club and had not met Jamar if he would have ended up being on a championship team looking forward to college. I’m glad Jamar and the club programs helped teach Anthony to make good decisions in life. Anthony told me his Youth of the Year speech is going to be “from the heart.” I can’t wait to hear it at the banquet Monday evening!

If you are interested in attending the Youth of the Year Banquet, please call Jean Smith at 918-835-6902. Tables and individual tickets are available. If you would like to learn more about volunteering at a Boys & Girls Club, please call Jenny McElyea at 918-587-7801.

West Mabee dinner wildly successful

The West Mabee Boys & Girls Club recently cooked and served a gourmet dinner to thank donor Pam Williford for her generosity in donating all new kitchen appliances to the club.

 Club Director Jamar Giddings, left, presents Pam with a bouquet of roses after the dinner. Jamar teaches the cooking classes at the club in addition to his other duties.

The head table at the dinner included, from left, Major Jim Taylor, athletic director James Jones (taking orders) , Hearne Williford, Pam Williford, and Charlotte and Wade Edmundson, chairs for the William Booth Society Dinner. Major April Taylor's back is to the camera.

From left, Aaron Massey, chairman of the Boys & Girls Club Leadership Council, and Major April Taylor enjoy the speeches made by the club kids about Martin Luther King, Jr.

From left, Joshua gets help with the mic from James while presenting his reading.

The dinner was a family affair. Here's Joshua with his mom Genean. Later Genean gave a speech about what the club meant to her. Speeches were also given by Yvonne and Preston McHenry and Grandma Cathy.

Renee, April Hagan and her baby girl enjoyed the entertainment, which included a fashion show.

Models relax before the show. The young women on the left and right are the daughters of Cass and Kimberly Filio, Leadership Council members and longtime supporters of the club.

Lauren and Rosemary Brown, director of operations for the Boys & Girls Clubs, enjoy the dinner.

Meet Tweety Baldwin, Program Director

Kids lined up at Philbrook

I first noticed Latrica “Tweety” Baldwin at one of the Rock Philbrook events The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club holds every summer. A bunch of kids were standing in a long line waiting to get their bag lunches. There were three large boys who were starting to loudly roughhouse. A stylishly dressed, diminutive girl said about three words to them and they instantly hushed up and stood quietly in line. I thought she was a Boys & Girls Club kid, then later learned she was Program Director at the West Mabee Boys & Girls Club.

“The older boys respect me. All the kids respect me. I think they just fell in love with me,” Tweety told me recently. After getting her Associate’s degree in Fashion Design at Clary Sage College, Latrica attended TCC as an elementary education major. She needed to fulfill volunteer hours as part of TCC requirements, so she chose to volunteer at the West Mabee club. After a year of volunteering, club director Jamar Giddings asked her to be Program Director when the position came open.

“ I like to have fun with the kids,” she said. “The biggest challenge is the kids who don’t get along with each other. I always make them sit down and we play a board game together, like Pictionary or Monopoly. They end up laughing and having fun,” she said.

Latrica is the youngest of five children. She said her aunt gave her the nickname Tweety when she was born because she thought she had a big head and a little body, like the cartoon character Tweety bird. Latrica  is 23 years old and still aspires to be an elementary school teacher or have her own clothing store some day. Until then, the West Mabee kids seem glad to share their lives with a Tweety bird they can look up to, and I'm glad to get to know this small powerhouse who handles kids so well.  

-Sallie

Boys & Girls Clubs have busy spring ahead

West Mabee girl cooks

BBQ, Basketball and an Army of Stars among the activities benefiting Boys & Girls Clubs!
As I prepare for another child in my household, I know my life is about to change. It’s going to get busier, louder and more fun. It’s a lot of work taking care of kids – so imagine having to take care of five-thousand!

That’s what the staff at our six Boys & Girls Clubs endures throughout the year. Each Club is unique and does a great job of helping children in its neighborhood. But these Clubs need your support – and there are several opportunities to help, while also having some fun. Take a look at some of the events and fundraisers planned in the next few months for Clubs:

BA's Bouncin' BBQ

Thurs., Feb. 21st, 7pm – West Mabee Thank You Dinner & Fashion Show – 2143 South Olympia. The West Mabee Boys & Girls Club has a cooking class and some generous people donated appliances to this program. The kids are going to cook a special thank you for these donors, followed by a fashion show.

Fri., Mar. 1st, 6pm-8:30pm - BA Bouncin' BBQ –BA Boys & Girls Club, on 91st between 145th and 161st. Inflatables, BBQ, live music, silent/live auction – everything you need to entertain your family on a Friday night! Tickets: $15 for Adults, $10 for Children, $40 for a Family Pack of 4. Benefits the Broken Arrow Boys & Girls Club – call 918-835-6902 to get tickets.
  
Sat., Mar. 2nd, 6:30pm – Sand Springs Army of Stars – 4403 S. 129th W. Ave., Sand Springs. The Army of Stars banquet is a wonderful tradition in Sand Springs honoring our outstanding Club kids. The event includes a silent and live auction and dinner. Tickets: $35. Benefits the Sand Springs Boys & Girls Club – call 918-245-2237 for more information.
  
Sat., Mar. 9th, 9am – West Mabee 2nd Annual Teen 5K Fun Run – Rogers State University, Claremore. Eat too much barbeque at Bouncing BBQ? Grab an extra dessert at Army of Stars? Then strap on your shoes and head to Rogers State University for a fun, 3-mile jog.  Tickets: only $10!!! Benefits the West Mabee Boys & Girls Club - call 918-582-4327 for more information.