Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha

As President of the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha, I have known for a long time that we have some of the best programs in the nation. Our dedicated program staff is able to use the great resources available through the Boys & Girls Club of America and bring them to our new facility. The program templates are great and the facility is tops, but without the great staff we have working directly with the youth of Kenosha, none of it would work.

We got the first indication that our programs were really taking off when we opened our new facility last June. In our long-range  plan, we anticipated that our membership would double in the first decade in the new building, possibly even in the first five years. We had just over 5000 members when we cut the ribbon last June.

As of today, we are just under 10,000 members. So in less than one year in the new building, we have almost doubled the number of Kenosha children we are reaching. I think that’s phenomenal!

A further indication of the great success we are having is the recognition our club has received statewide and nationally.

In September, our Capital Funds campaign was recognized at the State of Wisconsin Boys & Girls Clubs Area Council Meetings with a first place award in Resource Development. Our Treasurer Mike Worcester joined our Executive Wally Graffen at those meetings to accept the award.

The fact that we have raised over $10 million in a very difficult economy says a lot, not just for the club, but for this community too. The City of Kenosha started us off with a $5 million grant, allowing us to build this great new building rather than renovating  our old facilities. The Troha and Madrigrano families led the way with personal donations, followed by hundreds of other Kenosha individuals and businesses who have stepped up to the plate as well. We still have about $4 million to raise to be debt free after the pledge periods and to have the endowment we anticipated, but there are many naming opportunities still available and we are continually giving tours and meetings with potential community partners. We are very confident that, with the growing support of our community, we will meet and exceed our goal.

The second award we received was really a once in a lifetime recognition. Our new community center was selected by the Daily Reporter construction magazine as one of the “Top Projects in Wisconsin” in 2011. The planning that went into this new building started several years ago. We visited dozens of other facilities and met with everyone from architects to the youth who would be members. The result is a unique facility that we all take pride in. Our Foundation President John Camosy accepted that award at the Harley Museum in Milwaukee on May 3.

And, for the first time ever, the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha has received two national awards from the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. These awards are especially noteworthy when you consider that the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha, because of the size of our budget, competes with all of the big cities in America. We go up against Milwaukee, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles – every big city that has a Boys & Girls Club and enters these awards are placed in a budget-driven category that puts them up against us here in Kenosha.

The first one is a National Honor Award, which recognizes outstanding Boys & Girls Club programs. That award is for our “Sports of All Sorts” which encompasses many of our afterschool sports and fitness programs. One of the most noteworthy of those programs is our Wednesday incentive sports leagues. One of those leagues, the Rotary West Basketball League, has been successfully reaching out to inner-city youth ever since our club opened in 1992. This incentive program gives teachers and principals in targeted inner-city elementary schools resources and tools and a fun way to get their students active in reward for improving grades, attendance or behavior in school. Program staff Kathy Holland and Andrea Prichard were at the National Conference in San Diego the first week of May to accept the award.

Finally, we received a national MAC Award from the Boys & Girls Club of America for our marketing efforts when we opened the new building. Specifically, we were recognized in the Advertising Category for the wonderful tabloid insert which we ran in the Kenosha News. This special section gave Kenosha an opportunity to learn about our new building and was also a great way for our many supporters and partners to say “way to go” in the paper.  Our marketing partnership with Dooley & Associates is largely responsible for the award and Jen Dooley, a member of our Board of Directors, was in San Diego at the National Conference, to accept it on behalf of the club.

As you can see, the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha is having great success in reaching the youth of our community in ways that our peers nationwide are taking notice. We are proud of the staff and we look forward to continuing to grow and deliver great programs for the community for many years.

Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha

The Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha has a lot going on as we approach the summer of 2012.

First and foremost, two important special events are fast approaching.

On April 21, we will have our annual Dairy State Cheese & Beer Festival at the Brat Stop. This event is great fun. Beef Tea and the New Chevelles will be back again this year to provide live music as beer aficionados taste nearly 100 different beers from dozens of breweries. Of course, the Brat Stop’s amazing brats and cheeses are available for purchase as well. Go to www.kenoshabeerfest.com to order tickets. Want to stay overnight at an area hotel? Click on “lodging partners” – the rooms reserved for Dairy State include two free tickets to this event.

On Thursday, May 17 the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha will be one of the stops for the Green Bay Packers tailgate tour. Tickets will be available at the Boys & Girls Club starting on April 2 on a first-come, first-served basis. Several Packers active and retired players will join Packers President Mark Murphy at the event. For more information, call the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha at 654-6200.

Several Summer Sports Camps will be held for grades K-8 this summer. These camps include Soccer, Lacrosse, Football, Basketball, All-Sports, and Volleyball. Sign up before June 1 and receive the early bird discount of $20 off the normal camp price. Click here for additional details http://www.bgckenosha.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/SummerSportsCamp_thumbnail-2.jpg

Registration for our baseball/t-ball leagues runs until May 11. The Club has leagues for boys ages 7 through 12 and for girls ages 6 through 17.  More information is available at http://www.bgckenosha.org/sports/baseball-tee-ball/.

Kenoshans considering including the Boys & Girls Club in their will might be interested in the new Planned Giving link on our website. Many people like to leave a legacy through the club and now it is easier than ever to do just that. Click here for more information http://www.bgckenosha.org/planned-giving/

There are many great things happening in Kenosha this summer. The Boys & Girls Club is proud to be part of those activities and we look forward to welcoming even more young people to our programs. If you haven’t been through the new center, stop in anytime. One of our friendly staff members will be happy to give you a tour.

Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha

The Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha hosts several special events during the year. Two very important ones are fast approaching.

Our “Stars For Tomorrow” Youth of the Year & Awards Banquet will be on Wednesday, February 29 at Madrigrano Marina Shores. This event is the one time we are able to put the kids on display.

This is also the event where we announce the winner of our annual Mary Frost-Ashley Patron Saint Award. This individual or family is someone who has been supportive of the Boys & Girls Club for many years. This year we are proud to be honoring Tom and Nancy Laken for their dedication to the club.

Our annual Sports Family of the Year will also be recognized at this banquet. This award goes way back to the years of the CYC. Many, many active Kenosha sports families have received this recognition. This year’s family will be announced at a later date.

The Kenosha Area Noon Optimist Club sponsors the club’s annual Youth of the Year competition. These amazing members recite “what the Boys & Girls Club means to me” and are judged by a panel of board members and other community leaders. The winner is awarded a scholarship from Dennis and Natalie Troha and goes on to compete for Youth of the Year at the state level.  The runners-up get scholarships from Joe and Kathy Madrigrano.

We also recognize Board Members, other community supporters, and volunteers at this event. Be sure to click on the “Stars for Tomorrow” link on this website to get more information and to make reservations.

Then, on April 21, we will once again be holding the annual Dairy State Cheese & Beer Festival at the Brat Stop. This event is great fun. Beef Tea and the New Chevelles will be back again this year to provide live music as nearly 1000 beer aficionados taste nearly 100 different beers from dozens of breweries. Of course, the Brat Stop’s amazing brats and cheeses are available for purchase as well.

These events are ways for supporters of the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha to support our cause and have a lot of fun at the same time.

Hope to see you there.

by Jen Fisher, President

Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha

As the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha begins our first new year in our new facility, I want to give you a sense of my priorities as the new President of the Club’s Board of Directors.

I have been on the Board for 5 years and I am constantly amazed at the dedication of the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha program staff.

We have some of the best professionals in the area of youth services and they are working diligently every day to provide education, character-building, health, arts and recreational programs to as many of Kenosha’s children as possible. The tools we provide, including the great new community center and the programs available from the national Boys & Girls Club movement, make it possible for them to reach your children in a fun and caring environment. Combine all these great resources and you have a recipe for some very effective youth programs.

2012 will certainly be a challenging year. We need to take our Capital Funds Campaign into the new phase so we can end our pledge periods with a club that is debt-free and positioned to concentrate on the youth programming tasks at hand. We have a large number of gift naming opportunities still available. If you or a loved one wish to create a legacy that will reach thousands of Kenosha families, give the club a call. We continue to do dozens of tours every week and every one culminates with more Kenoshans falling in love with our great new facility.

At the same time, we need to be creatively aggressive in protecting the operations revenue sources we have. As government dollars are reduced, more children in need arrive at the club every day. We have great fundraisers throughout the year and many, many opportunities for individuals and businesses to get involved.

We expect great things from the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha in 2012. I look forward to an exciting year as President of the Board. Please share your ideas with any of our board members.  As we move forward in the months ahead, we want our programs to reflect the priorities of our community. We can only do that with feedback from you.

This is my final blog for the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha. Effective January 1, I will be turning over the reins of the club to Jen Fisher, our current Vice President.

It would be an understatement to say it has been an eventful and rewarding year for the club. The opening of our new building is just the first step in what I believe will be continuing successes for the club and for the community.

I relinquish the presidency with mixed emotions. I take great pride in being the President during the grand opening festivities. I would like to take credit for everything that happened then. But this project has been in the works for many years.

It would not have been possible without the wisdom and foresight of former Mayor John Antaramian and it would not be the continuing success it is today without the support of current public servants like Mayor Keith Bosman and County Executive Jim Kreuser who co-chair our capital funds campaign.

It goes without saying that the generosity of many Kenoshan is why we reach almost 6000 Kenosha youth. The Troha family and the Madrigrano family continue to lead the way. We are deeply indebted to them for their devotion to the children we serve.

A motivated board of directors – people with a passion to help the youth of Kenosha – is also necessary and we have the best board imaginable. Time and time again the member of the Boys & Girls Club board have stepped forward with their time and treasures to help build positive futures for our very deserving members.

I have one favor to ask as I step down.

I am asking each of you who is capable of helping the club with a donation this year to dig a little deeper. Let’s keep the success of this great new community center moving forward by embracing the programs and the fundraisers the club is sponsoring. Click on the “donate now” button on this website and make a contribution today.  (While you are at it, please check my name under Jennifer Dooley’s Dream Team. Miller’s Magic is nice, but Dooley’s Dream Team rocks!)

As you celebrate with your family this year, please remember the wonderful children who need us at the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha.

Thanks again and Merry Christmas.

by Rade Dimitrijevic, President

Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha

Thank you to everybody who attended Natalie Troha’s Pride of Kenosha on Friday night. Nearly 600 people had a great time listening to the John Crawford Jazz Band, testing the culinary delights of 17 Kenosha area food vendors and sampling some great wines from Tenuta’s Delicatessen & Liquors. I would be remiss if I did not also thank the many donors who gave the great raffle and silent auction prizes. Herbert’s Jewelers deserves special mention once again for their generous donation of two watches for the grand prizes in the raffle. And, of course, the dozens of volunteers who help make Natalie Troha’s Pride of Kenosha a big success.

This event has become an annual ritual for Kenosha people who look forward to it as a way to kick off their holiday season. It is the brainchild of Natalie Troha and it would not continue to be such a big success without Natalie’s care and direction in overseeing the planning and implementation of everything from the decorations to the raffles and silent auctions. Natalie is one of the kindest and most generous people you could ever hope to meet. Thousands of Kenosha youth have been touched by the generosity of the Troha family. Kenosha is a better place for the devotion they have to making the lives of the underprivileged better.

Speaking of the holidays and reaching out to the underprivileged, the club will be sending out our yearly appeal in the next couple of weeks. This year, besides the mail appeal, many supporters will be receiving the year-end letter electronically. Many people prefer this as a way to donate. There will be a “donate now” option on the electronic appeal.

As you gather with your families this holiday season, I urge all of you to reach out to the needy through the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha. Many of you have been going to the new facility. I think you would agree that the potential for positive impact on the lives of Kenosha youth is greatly enhanced by having such a wonderful place for our children to go and play and learn. Please be generous this year in supporting the club.

Thank you very much. I wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

Our big “Pride of Kenosha” event is this Friday, November 11, at Madrigrano Marina Shores. This is a wonderful event featuring 17 great Kenosha food and baked good vendors. If you have not attended Pride in the past, you might want to consider it this year. It’s a great way to kick off the holiday season.

Speaking of the holiday season, the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha has much to be thankful for in 2011.

As we approach Thanksgiving, I want to express my personal gratitude to everyone who had anything to do with our great new community center project.

From Mayor Bosman and County Executive Kreuser, who are co-chairing our Capital Funds Campaign, to the board of directors, to all of the wonderful donors who have already participated, it is because of your support that this dream became a reality. I need to give special mention to former Mayor John Antaramian. Without his vision and commitment to the project, we would have done another rehab on our old facilities on 52nd Street. With the support of a forward-thinking City Council, John put the city’s $5 million TIF financing behind the project and made it possible for us to “do it right”.

You will see increasing numbers of participants and programs in our programs reflected in this blog in the weeks ahead. This would not be possible without the great new community center.

There is still time to participate in the campaign. Click here to view our Capital Campaign page. Many naming rights are still available if you want to create a lasting legacy for you or a loved one.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha, I want to take this opportunity say “Thank You” to Kenosha for supporting the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha mission. The children we serve may never know about the work that all of you did behind the scenes, but it will be reflected in their smiles as they enjoy our great new facility.

By Rade Dimitrijevic, President
Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha