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Show HERALD DAILY B12 Sunday, September 9, 2007 Monthly Update BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS COUNTY OF UTAH Philippe - Youth of the Year! We would like to thank all those who helped sponsor our Duck Derby prizes and event. It was a huge success, and we hope to make v it better every year. Congratulations to all those for your generous who won and thank-yo- u donations! To look at Philippe Valer today a confident BYU freshman you'd never know that his childhood was filled with a lot of pain and self-dou- Growing up in Utah Valley, Philippe Valer struggled as a Hispanic youth in a predominately Caucasian community. There were many days when he would look in the mirror and just wished he could be like everyone else, Over time, his mother helped him to learn to cherish his Peruvian heritage. "I looked up to my mother," said Valer. "She was woman who a toiled to learn English and took many jobs just to be able to help support her own family. I wanted to be like her." With a father who wasn't encouraging and was very emotionally and verbally abusive, Valer did all he could to change his perspective on MM , hard-worki- back-breaki- DUCK DERBY PRIZE & EVENT SPONSORS: life. With his mother's encouragement, Valer joined the Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County when he was in seventh grade and said he was surprised how much he liked it. He soon had friends and a place where he could pretend that he had no problems. In his 81" grade year there were many at the club that cared about him and were concerned with the challenges he and his family were facing. With some help RCWiliey. from the Boys and Girls Club, Valer's family challenges and other challenges have been resolved. "In the seventeen years of my life I have overcome many struggles which I look at as a... complicated learning experience. Luckily for me, the Boys and Girls Club has been a part of my CALENDAR of FACT SHEET EVENTS Sept. 8th Pioneer Park in Provo Utah from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. DAY FOR KIDS -- - SHARE THE HARVEST Nov. 15 Provo Library Ball room Nina iffifcv Kraft In every community, many boys and girls are left to find their own recreation and companionship in the streets. An increasing number of children are at home with no adult care or supervision. Young people need to know that someone cares about them. On July 12, 2007 Kaboom, a national organization helping to build playgrounds for children all over the country, teamed up with Home Depot and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County to build a playground in front of the Provo clubhouse in one day. Home Depot donated $60,000 to the event, as well as volunteers, to help build the playground. Oyer 100 volunteers showed up from both the Home Depot, Boys & Girls Clubs and Kaboom combined in order to tackle this feat in one day. After working all day through rain and mud and entertainment abound, the team of volunteers placed the last pieces of the puzzle together. The finished product was just as the kids had designed it, since it was the Boys & Girls Clubs kids who decided on what they wanted on their playground. After a lot of hours and many volunteer's sore backs and hands, the playground is open for business, and all are welcome to come and enjoy! UUdMI Boys & Girls Clubs offer that and more. Club programs and services promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense ' of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence. life for a lot of those years and has helped me through so many of those problems in very real ways." Now 18, Valer has a very bright outlook on life. Last May he graduated from High School and is beginning his first semester at Brigham Young University. He was named the Boys and Girls Clubs of Utah County Youth of the Year. Weston Parsons, Executive Director for the club said, "Philippe is a great example to the kids and staff at the club. He has overcome some tough odds and now has a very focused view for the future. We wish him well!" CLUB FACTS facility that was built to support Club programming was jeopardized due to financial insecurity. PGA Professional Johnny Miller stepped forward to satisfy the Club's debt and The Boys and Girls Clubs of Utah County serves over 4,000 youth (ages 3 to 18) at several different sites in after school and summer programs. The Club's nationally recognized and proven programs teach young people the skills they heed to succeed in life. These programs have a ing impact on the life of a child in the foHowing five core areas: Character & Leadership, Education & Career, Health & Life Skills, the Arts, and Sports-Fitne& Recreation. In 1972 the Boys & Girls Clubs of America officially chartered The Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County. Over the years the Qub had its share of ups and Dream Vacations Big O Tires Pizza Factory Rib City Chili's Qub Membership Growth , 5000 i- 4000 f -- -- - -- Chib 2000 1000 tT-r2004 V 200S 2007 2006 Tripled theClub's annual i operating budget tohmain- tain safety and the staffing needs of increased ' " Over 1,600 new youth served in 2006. 40 hours of additional jprogram hours offered a week through daytime pre- schooling, partner programs ' with the Juvenile Court V System, daytime school t . partnerships; evening and v membership, v Eight extension sites located in Provo, American Fork and Orem fo serve youth throughout Utah County. Ten additional extension programs form Lehi to 130 -- 144 members a attending the clubhouse daily with current facilities operating at 98 capacity. Payson Membership --y- 2003 230 increase in youth memberships over 2V2 years. downs, and at one point the 6000 3000 1 GROWTH STATS . Million Air Fat CatsCosta Azul Real Salt Lake Northwest Research, Inc. Goldsmith Co. Jewelers Scuba Ted's Orem Owlz Jiffy Lube RCWiliey keep the building. Over the years the Club has progressed from a handful of members to several thousands, and serves youth of our communities that need us the most at several locations throughout the valley. ss J Dawgs Cinemark Home Depot Xango Vacation Marriott for" 2007- , weekend sporting activities and specialized out-door - 2008. recreation opportunities. cut along doited line Firm Name Contact Person and Title Address Email Phone .Fax I would love to become a sponsor of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County. Please accept my donation at the following level: Heroes Club ($5,000) Eagle Club Champions Club ($10,000) Legacy Club ($2,500) Other (Cash andor Auction item) Cash Donation $ Merchandise Value $ Merchandise Description ; donations are tax deductible. To arrange for merchandise All pick-u- p, please contact Katia Swenson at (801) 371.6242 (ext. 117) or email katiasbgcutah.org ' . Please mail Sponsorship Opportunity information and check payable to: Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County 1060 East 150 North, Provo, UT 84606 ' Qj (W tWWPJE'"'1' 1 ''lOJilt 'l mmmm M 11 AUTOMOTVC GROUP 1395 AA University Parkway, Provo I Peep tJl!!!IU ) |