February 2025 Newsletter

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Meet Quenesha

Member Since:
2016

Why Boys & Girls Club?

Quenesha and her mom live near the Naples Club. She became a member eight years ago to participate in after-school programs and to help her socialize with other youth.

Achieving & Succeeding:

Quenesha has learned more about herself and her interests. She also has become more comfortable making friends and socializing. Participating in the Junior Women of Initiative program has taught her how to better manage her relationships and improve her communication skills. The career exploration field trips to Lorenzo Walker Technical College helped her realize her interest in the culinary industry. With assistance from the Boys & Girls Club, Quenesha was awarded the Take Stock in Children scholarship opportunity through Champions for Learning, offering her a mentor through high school, as well as one-on-one college and career coaching.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Creativity Abounds — Members of the Dance Ensemble are hard at work preparing for their annual performance at the Great Futures Gala & Youth of the Year Awards, where they will showcase their talents in support of their peers. Younger Club members are building a strong foundation in ballet. Through rehearsals, they are learning to rely on and support one another in their routines.

Teens recently explored the world of hip-hop through the online skill-share program, MyFuture, diving into its history and using it as a form of self-expression. They began by listening to short clips of hip-hop songs, guessing the title, artist, and year to spark curiosity and engagement. As they learned about the history, they gained a deeper understanding of its cultural significance. To wrap up the experience, they tested their knowledge with a fun and interactive hip-hop-themed Jeopardy quiz.

Additionally, teens participated in creating travel vision boards for the Preferred Travel & Company event that benefitted Boys & Girls Club. Using magazine cutouts, they designed boards filled with images and words to represent destinations they dream of visiting. Their vision boards showcased locations such as France, Alaska, Niagara Falls, and Colombia, reflecting their aspirations and

Teen Club members created travel vision boards they dream of visiting and to help promote the Preferred Travel & Co event which raised over $18,000 to support our Club Members.

Programs in this core area include: Amazing Artists, BGC Improv, Dance Ensemble, Intro to Music, and Creation Stations.

College & Career Readiness

Building Strong Foundations — Members are participating in an eight-week “Game of LIFE” project designed to help them explore various aspects of their future and prepare for life after high school. The program offers key topics such as career options and salaries, the impact of taxes on take-home pay, the cost of living (including housing, transportation, and other expenses), and essential money management skills like budgeting. As part of the project, members are creating vision boards, researching different career paths and their earning potential, exploring housing options, comparing car prices, and analyzing income and expense spreadsheets. Through these hands-on activities, they are gaining valuable insights into financial planning and the realities of independent living.

High School Seniors are actively preparing for their futures through the Diplomas to Degrees program, focusing on essential college readiness tasks. They are securing recommendation letters, building strong resumes, and refining their senior essays. Additionally, they are researching and completing scholarship applications to help fund their education. Their dedication and commitment to this process reflect their ambition and determination to succeed beyond high school. We look forward to celebrating their accomplishments as they take these important steps toward higher education.

Programs in this core area include: Academic Mentoring, Career Launch, Diplomas 2 Degrees, and Work-Based Learning.

Club members playing The Game of LIFE reinforcing their project.

EVENTS & DATES

Wednesday, February 26, 2025
at Club Pelican Bay

Our annual Youth of the Year Awards is now part of a larger event: The Great Futures Gala! Join us for this inaugural year as we we showcase Shaping Tomorrow Together for the youth of Collier County. Sponsorships Available.

Learn More