El Dorado County Western Slope Boys & Girls Club
PO Box 2535
Placerville CA 95667
Phone 530-295-8013
Fax Call First
mwturcotte@comcast.net
For Details, Contact: Sherri Lum-Alarcon
Marketing and Communications Chairperson
Phone (530) 295-1236
slum@norcalgold.com
Boys and Girls Club
Press Release
For Release 9 a.m. PST
April 22, 2005
The El dorado County western Slope Boys and Girls Club is Hosting Their First Annual “Power Hour” Luncheon at the Sequoia Restaurant
The “Power Hour” Features Notable Speakers Explaining the Needs Met by the Boys and Girls Club. This Years Pledge Lunch is Free and Open to All Interested People, but Reservations are required.
Placerville, April 22, 2005: The Boys and Girls Club of El Dorado County Western Slope is hosting a Pledge Luncheon to be held in the Banquet room of the Sequoia Restaurant on Tuesday, May 3, 2005 from 12:00 noon to 1:00p.m sharp. The Boys and Girls Club has experienced substantial growth over the last few years and now serves over 250 children daily in four locations. The one-hour luncheon will feature speakers providing information on the Club’s Mission, the community’s needs, and the guest’s opportunity to assist. Lunch will be served and the Sequoia Restaurant is graciously providing the facilities.
Club membership has grown from 248 in 1999 to 1,334 in 2004 and continues to climb. The Club now has four sites located in Placerville, Pollock Pines, Garden Valley, and Cameron Park / Shingle Springs. Average Daily Attendance has grown 222% from 2002 to 2004 and continues to grow in 2005.
Speakers at the lunch are community leaders sharing their personal experiences with the Club and it’s members. Speakers include: Jeff Neves, El Dorado County Sheriff; George Nielsen, Placerville Chief of Police; Joan Stek, Executive Director; Jim Carter of Carter-Kelly Construction. Special guest speakers include: Colin, formerly a troubled youth that has grown in the Boys and Girls Club to become a Club staff member; Katrina, once an at-risk girl who has grown in the Boys and Girls Club to become a scholarship winning young lady with a bright outlook; Kim, Katrina’s mother, providing a prospective of the Club from a parents point of view.
The Mission of the Club is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens. The Club provides education, community service, leadership development, and health. The Club offers our area something that the youths have been missing for a long time, a place of their own. “They have caring adults who offer support and guidance. They are in a safe and positive atmosphere. And they have fun.” Says Joan Stek, Executive Director.
The Community benefits of the Boys and Girls Club have been demonstrated in research. Up to 20% higher grades, 87% fewer absences, 81% higher homework completion, 22% reduction in drug activity, 13% reduction in juvenile crime are just some of the findings of a Columbia University School of Social Work studies.
The Club charges $12 a year to join, but this is only a very small percentage of the cost of services provided. Without nearly $300,000 of local donations and fund raising, the Club would not be able to provide a safe and positive place for the youth, many of which would otherwise be home alone.
The events is open to all interested parties, but seating limitations and food service constraints will require this to be a reservation only event.
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