2019 Annual Report : simplebooklet.com

About BGCEC Boys Girls Clubs of Elkhart County has been a force for good in the lives of youth for over half a century With over 60 years of experience in youth development and a team of skilled caring professionals we see potential in every child and teen that walks through our doors We are here to elevate the youth of our community and let them know that they are capable worthy and important We show up every day to prove to the world and every individual child that they have what it takes to reach a great future We inspire and empower all young people especially those who need us most to reach their full potential as productive caring responsible citizens We build deeply powerful relationships with the youth we serve and open avenues of opportunity for young people across our community We offer safe places where young people can learn grow and succeed We provide a quality Club Experience that assures success is within reach of every young person who enters our doors with all members on track to graduate from high school with a plan for the future equipped with the skills needed to have a successful life and demonstrating good character and citizenship 2 64 1 500 7 400 64 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE in youth development We ve been improving the lives of kids in our community for over half a century YOUTH SERVED EACH DAY Each day we welcome over 1 500 young people through our doors into safe fun spaces to learn and grow YOUTH SERVED IN 2019 We served over 7 400 youth last year 3

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Table of Contents From the CEO About BGCEC 03 2019 was a tremendous year With a successful capital campaign and building projects completed in Goshen and Elkhart we turned our attention to Nappanee Wakarusa and the increasing demand for more space to meet the demand of more children and teens desiring services from our club located at the former Central School We had clearly outgrown that wonderful space where we started in 1998 Todd Cleveland and Mayor Phil Jenkins agreed to chair a capital campaign of 5 7 million In 2017 18 several community leaders met to discuss the challenges facing the city schools FCDC and Boys Girls Club of Nappanee Wakarusa We quickly realized that we each were developing long term plans that could be handled with one master plan We developed a combined plan to build a regional class soccer field to help the schools relocate their current field closer to the high school This would free up land next to Nappanee Elementary school where the new Boys Girls Club would be built By leaving Central School this would allow FCDC to move into our old spaces giving them double the room they currently were working with The city then would remove the former FCDC building for added downtown parking This kind of government school Non Profits collaboration was made possible by the leadership of all the leaders involved Notre Dame has highlighted this collaboration as an example of outstanding community engagement In October of 2019 we opened the Shea and Leavitt Families Boys Girls Club In 2019 we also opened the brand new soccer field A special thank you to the Blue Ribbon Committee board of directors staff and especially the community for making this dream happen Boys Girls Club continues to make a difference each and every day we open to children teens No matter your background challenges or fears we inspire and empower our children to reach their potential especially those that need us the most in becoming productive caring and responsible adults Letter from the CEO 05 Letter from the Chairman of the Board 06 Elkhart Club Highlights 09 Middlebury Club Highlights 14 Goshen Club Highlights 19 Nappanee Club Highlights 25 Youth of the Year 30 New Executives 35 Board of Trustees 39 Unit Boards 40 Financial Highlights 43 Kevin Deary CEO Boys Girls Clubs of Elkhart County 4 52 48 42 40 46 63 Our membership is 52 MALE Our membership is 48 FEMALE Our membership is 42 YOUTH OF COLOR ALMOST 40 OF CLUB MEMBERS live in a single parent household OVER 46 OF CLUB MEMBERS qualify for free or reduced price lunch 63 OF THE FAMILIES WE SERVE have a household income of less than 50 000 per year 5

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From the Chairman of the Board We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith your labor prompted by love and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thessalonians 1 2 3 Wow What an amazing year We simply cannot use the words thank you often enough as we celebrate how far we have come as the Boys Girls Clubs of Elkhart County Thank you to our donors and advocates who always step up big when we need them most Thank you to our leadership team who never wavers in its commitment our mission vision and values Thank you to our dedicated staff who give of themselves every day Thank you to the families who trust us with their children Most of all thank you to the young people of Elkhart County Your smiles not only light up our learning centers games rooms dining rooms and gymnasiums but they light a flame in our hearts that produces a wonderful warmth Your success inspires us Your love for life renews us We pray everyone who reads this annual report joins the Boys Girls Clubs of Elkhart County in applauding an incredible journey There were a few hills to climb We trudged through a valley or two Still here we are to celebrating our climb up another mountaintop Thank you Vince Turner Chairman Board of Trustees Boys Girls Clubs of Elkhart County 6 4 Stars Gold Seal Favorite BGCEC is designated as a Four Star Charity by Charity Navigator Charity Navigator focuses on how and where donations are spent BGCEC has a Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar A Gold Seal status is a leading symbol of non profit transparency and accountability BGCEC was voted Elkhart County s Favorite Charity by readers of the Elkhart Truth in 2019 7

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Elkhart Highlights Since the Brian and Jeannelle Brady Clubhouse opened in 2018 thousands of youth have come through its doors to find an environment of stability consistency and physical and emotional safety We ve been able to build deeply powerful relationships with over 200 youth per day and open avenues of opportunity for young people and families across our community The youth of Elkhart now have a safe place to learn grow and succeed 90 of Club members say they enjoy coming to the Club and 91 feel respected by Club staff 93 of members feel there is an adult at the Club who believes that they will be a success The overwhelming majority feel they belong at the Club and almost 90 of our members feel they can stand up for what s right even if their friends disagree These statistics show that we are building real and meaningful relationships with youth and truly setting them on the path to a great future Club members in our Indiana Kids program showed 68 growth in reading and 66 growth in math Twenty four families were connected to life changing services and mental health resources through our local community partnerships We extended Club hours and teen outreach which resulted in a 78 increase in the average daily attendance of teens The Club provided innovative Career Development and Workforce Readiness programming that included videos demonstrations and guest speakers Club members explored careers in Law Medicine Finance Entrepreneurship and the RV Industry and learned what it takes to pursue a career in each field Reaching youth 18 LOCATIONS GROWING We have Clubs in Elkhart Goshen Middlebury and Nappanee KidsCare sites located in schools throughout the county and plans to expand 8 where they are helping them achieve academic success providing opportunities to explore career options and teaching them how to set and reach goals this is what it looks like to build great futures This year the Elkhart Club piloted the Community Connections Program an innovative whole family rehabilitation program for juvenile offenders The goal of the program is to ensure that all youth in Elkhart and its surrounding communities are empowered to make positive choices and have the tools and skills needed to be successful in life A partnership between Boys Girls Clubs Juvenile Corrections and local law enforcement Community Connections provides positive role models for low to moderate risk graduates of Elkhart County s Juvenile Community Corrections program In addition to mentoring Community Connections provides enrolled youth with life skills and character development programs academic success programs and workforce development opportunities The program provides lifechanging support for all youth and parents involved Over Fall Break the Elkhart Club took teen members on a fun filled trip to Tennessee In addition to the standard games pizza jokes and camaraderie this trip included tours of four Boys Girls Clubs There was also a stay at a cabin in the Smokey Mountains a college football game and campus tour at the University of Tennessee sightseeing and even a hike to a waterfall Experiences like these offer more than just fun and bonding for our teen members Exploring new spaces and places opens their eyes to the 22 78 22 OF OUR MEMBERS ARE TEENAGERS 78 OF OUR MEMBERS ARE BETWEEN THE AGES OF FIVE AND TWELVE 9

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world outside of what they know Standing in a new location provides a different view of the world and reinforces that the future is wide open and full of possibilities These are the moments when youth start to visualize a great future and understand that the Club can help them reach it Inspiring and empowering young people is what the Club and these trips are all about These are just a few highlights from a year that was full of life changing moments We are so grateful for the support of our donors volunteers and community Because of your support we are truly making a difference in the lives of the young people that enter our doors mission moment Belonging to the Club is more than just a membership it s joining another family Our team proved this once again by surprising Club members who were in the recent Beardsley Elementary Talent Show We took a large group of Club members to watch the show and cheer on their peers After one performance one of our Club members came up to the stands and thanked the staff for being there as she had no parents or family show up She was so grateful for the cheering section of fellow Club members at the end of her routine She said she felt like a rock star mission moment As a new member by way of the Community Connections juvenile partnership Russell has been excited to just get out of the house He has been attending the Wednesday night groups for juvenile members but recently requested to come on Teen nights as well This idea of coming Friday night was encouraged by his mentor a police officer who picks him up for court and most legal proceedings Russell doesn t have a stable home environment and he is seeking positive adult interactions He has found this at the Club In a few weeks he has gone from wearing an ankle bracelet to just having a curfew We are now encouraging him to visit daily He is sporadic in visiting but has not had any issues with meeting his Community Connections guidelines While at Teen night he told Mr Q that it felt really good to just be a normal teenager 10 When I need help with homework or if I m having a bad day I know I can go to Ms Kyla for help Jayvion Boys Girls Empathy Guidance Mentorship Whatever it Takes to build Great Futures

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The Club is a place that welcomes all young people When a family from Peru moved to the area they were looking for a place for their kids to adapt to American life We met this family at a resource event night at Pierre Moran where the parents were taking English classes The parents had to translate through their oldest 18 daughter After a 30 minute conversation the twin boys who attended Beardsley Elementary had applications and information to join the Club The next day at 10am the parents arrived at the Club where they could speak with Alexa in Spanish and get a tour of the Club and ask questions This happened about April of 2019 and the boys have been coming to the Club daily the parents have been involved in parent nights and they have attended special events for the Club as well We were able to provide a one of a kind soccer favorite sport experience to attend the Liverpool match at Notre Dame Stadium The entire family had personalized Peru jerseys and were so thankful to be there with the Club These young men continue to flourish at the Club picking up English along the way They feel confident there are two adults who speak fluent Spanish if they need support They feel a part of the Club since they get invited to events and trips All of this has allowed us to build a relationship with hem and see them grow We awarded them Youth of the Month for August 2019 Please join me in congratulating these wonderful young men and their family who call the Club Elkhart and the US their new home The Club has helped me become familiar with a new country and language They have staff who understand and help me They also give me a place to play soccer with new friends Boris

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Middlebury Highlights This year Boys Girls Clubs of Elkhart County launched the public phase of a 4 7 million capital campaign to remodel and expand their Middlebury Clubhouse In addition to taking the Clubhouse from 21 000 sqft to over 36 000 sqft the redesign will allow for more efficient use of the existing space The Clubhouse will have an expanded technology center and a larger kitchen and dining room area Much needed recreation rooms for different age groups will be added as well as an expanded fine arts area and an extensive education area that will include a lab for STEAM activities The remodel will also allow for enhanced security throughout the building Renovations started on the Middlebury Clubhouse in June 2019 Beginning June 10 2019 summer fall and spring programming were relocated to Crystal Valley Missionary Church in Middlebury while construction is underway The construction of the building is estimated to be completed in June of 2020 We are incredibly grateful for Crystal Valley Missionary Church and Pastor Dave Rowland for partnering with us to provide a temporary location to provide services to our members Jocelyn When Jocelyn became a Starfish member in September of last year she had an F in Reading and was struggling with her Math homework the starfish program is an intensive academic enrichment and tutoring program designed to give Club members additional scholastic support Most of the time because she didn t understand her homework she would become discouraged and leave it incomplete The Club intervened and Jocelyn began meeting with our 21st Century Tutor twice a week for help with reading and language arts Because she loves Art Club staff made a deal with Jocelyn if she worked on her homework at Club art privileges would be waiting on her when she finished Through hard work and help from the Club Jocelyn finished the school year with a grade of C in both Reading and Math She improved her Indiana Kids scores by 166 in Reading which brought her up to grade level and 53 in Math in conflict with other members simply because he was bored due to not engaging in activities programs or tournaments Natasha Area Director and Cheryl Education Supervisor recognized that Jayson needed help finding activities at the Club he enjoyed and a place where he was more comfortable than in the games room They began encouraging Jayson to go to the Learning Center to participate in educational activities Finally after weeks of convincing they began to see Jayson in the Learning Center Recently Jayson asked if he could read to Natasha Jayson shared I have been coming to the Learning Center every day to read I want to read to you Natasha was BLOWN AWAY She remembered helping Jayson last year with reading when he could struggled to read a sentence or comprehend what the story was about She was so impressed with him and proud of his hard work Jayson now comes to the Learning Center every day and is either reading or working on math worksheets for fun Jayson A long time member Jayson has attended the Club s Starfish tutoring program every year to improve his reading abilities has shown astounding improvements this year Additionally he has struggled at times in the games room at the Club and was consistently Teens Service Skills Teens traveled to connect serve and have fun with teens from Clubs in Tennesee Florida One teen was selected to serve on the planning committee for the BGCA National Keystone Conference in Orlando Youth developed character through service visiting seniors at Waterford Crossing picking up litter at the neighborhood park and collecting trash each day at the 4H fair Youth learned fundamental skills and rules of the games through leagues in flag football basketball volleyball and e sports as well as clinics in golf fishing swimming bowling and skateboarding 14 2019 Academic Success Stories 15

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Bus Unveiling and Passing of the Keys On Monday May 13 2019 Boys Girls Clubs of Elkhart County unveiled a brand new ADA accessible Club bus to Club youth staff and board members at BGCEC s Goshen Clubhouse In keeping with Boys Girls Clubs values of equity and inclusion this new vehicle makes Club provided transportation accessible to more children allowing greater participation in field trips and outings The new bus an Odyssey XL model from Turtle Top with a Ford F550 chassis is a gift from the Theda Tamblin Clark Smith Family Foundation Youth who participate in Boys Girls Club programs are also able to expand their horizons outside of the Club through field trips and outings that for many of them are firsttime experiences These experiences can spark a passion for art culture history or service that opens a young person s eyes to new possibilities and opportunities Various trips are taken each year and can be simply to the local pool for hours of swimming on a hot summer day or thousands of miles away to learn the history of our nation while taking in the sites of Washington DC Previous trip destinations have included local zoos museums professional sporting events local businesses farms and many more Trips taken out of state have been to Boston and Washington DC to learn about our nation s history service trips to Florida and Mississippi and even an art retreat to Gatlinburg Each trip whether close by or thousands of miles from home has been life changing for many of our members The addition of an ADA accessible bus allows even more young people to experience these exceptional trips and outings and offers a greater sense of community to all members as well as the Club team and volunteers leading our youth on new adventures The bus was designed by Turtle Top a New Paris based manufacturer specializing in small to mid sized buses with help from Eby Ford which made the chassis and Scott Signs which created the graphics for the bus Through Turtle Top multiple members of the Cripe family gave financially to the project as well including company owners Bob Betty Dick Carolyn Vicki and Rob Generous funding for the bus was also provided by the Theda Tamblin Clark Smith Family Foundation It is humbling to see a community come together to help make a dream reality We are incredibly grateful to our friends the Cripe Family Turtle Top and the Theda Tamblin Clark Smith Family Foundation who because of their passion for giving back to the community generously made this ADA accessible bus possible Boys Girls Club members were ecstatic when they learned about their new ride and the new opportunities that will be made available to them It is so wonderful to see our community come together to improve the lives of the children of Elkhart County 24 28 ECoSistema Indiana Kids participants INCREASED their test scores in READING PROFICIENCY BY an average of 24 over the course of the program Indiana Kids participants INCREASED their test scores in MATH PROFICIENCY BY an average of 28 over the course of the program ECoSistema provided orchestral music instruction for three skilllevel groups at the Club Club members invited their families to join drumming circles on Celebration Saturdays twice a month 17

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Goshen Highlights 2019 was a busy year at the Goshen Club Tanner Pickett was promoted to Goshen Area Director taking over for Launa Leftwich who was promoted to COO From our exciting ECoSistema program to summer activities we had an incredible year We hope you enjoy this glimpse of 2019 through the lens of some of our favorite 2019 memories and mission moments ECoSistema Woo hoo Yay Rounds of applause filled the air as the ECoSistema chamber orchestra took their final bows in unison ECoSistema performed for the residents and guests at an outdoor concert for Waterford Crossing Waterford Crossing hosted an Art Walk with framed visual art wearable art and performance art by a 3 piece group The Dawg as well as our very own ECoSistema ECoSistema is the new brand of the El Sistema inspired music instruction in Elkhart County Roosevelt Academy Prairie View Elementary and our Boys Girls Club in Goshen each provide el Sistema instruction Hillary Harder MA has provided this cooperative music for social change this year Next year long time Goshen Schools music teacher Kent Dutchersmith will provide the instruction while Hillary is on a one year hiatus in Madison Wisconsin Since last October our kids have moved from never having played to selecting an instrument and performing in a round with various tempos It has been thrilling to watch their development and success This group also participated in a two day Seminario with a total of nine el Sistema groups traveling from Detroit Ft Wayne Chicago to play together at Goshen College 28 750 400 28 CLUB FAMILIES were adopted for Christmas and received toys clothes and needed household items Goshen s Keystone Teens hosted OVER 750 COMMUNITY MEMBERS for trick or treat inside during a stormy Halloween OVER 400 COMMUNITY MEMBERS were served at November s Thanksgiving meal 19

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Partners in the Mission The Club has staff I can go to when I get upset and they help me calm down so I can play with my friends again Nijae We received this powerful statement from a Goshen High School teacher It is such a privilege to partner with Goshen Community Schools Last week students in my class were delivering speeches Jackie C was feeling very apprehensive about standing up in front of the room When it was her turn to speak she made it most of the way through her speech but got a little tongue tied toward the end and was so nervous that she couldn t finish She was very upset about the whole incident Because she did well for almost all of it I gave Jackie a good grade and made sure she knew that she hadn t been penalized for the mishap before she left class The next day Jackie approached me and asked if she could deliver her speech again despite her significant fear of public speaking I told her that wasn t necessary and tried to assure her that she had done a fine job and her grade reflected that Jackie said she needed to give the speech again she knew she could deliver it in its entirety I was so impressed with her desire to try again and prove to herself that she could get all the way to the end She made it through the whole speech this time and the class erupted in applause I had the chance to talk to Jackie privately so I could compliment her When I asked her what made her want to give the speech again she told me that she had learned at the club that it is more important how you respond to challenges than actually failing Jackie s bravery and perseverance are lessons that we all could use a reminder of and I m so thankful to the Boys Girls Club for helping to instill those qualities in Jackie Marci Husek Goshen High School Master Teacher English Department Chair mission moment Before his freshman season current high school sophomore Demetrius never played football However because of the positive adult relationships built through regular attendance at the Club he felt comfortable enough to confide in Club staff about his desire to play Club staff encouraged Demetrius to pursue his goals and offered pro tips for tryouts When he made the team the support from Club staff continued with after hours meals game attendance and film review sessions After experiencing success Demetrius pivoted to GHS wrestling working his way up to the Learning is relational the Club can provide that place to become a life long learner Quality Programming for summer includes cooking classes scrapbooking folk dancing and soccer clinic and track meet Our Summer Brain Gain allows kids to retain the skills they learned during the school year and avoid summer learning loss Summer Brain Gain fosters curiosity with interactive activities and cooperative activities Our Club members are greeted each day encouraged and valued Learning is relational the Club can provide that place to become a life long learner varsity wrestling team while maintaining a regular presence as a Club member Since joining these teams Demetrius s attitude and outlook on life have improved along with his self confidence He even sees himself as a leader among his peers at the Club Although he has practice right after school he attends Club each night to check in with his mentors and refuel with a nutritious meal from the Club Caf The Club provides Demetrius support to try new things learn new skills and develop a growth mindset These transformational experiences improve self esteem and position him for success in the future 21

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Sometimes it s the little things in life that make the difference like when our Goshen cafeteria team writes encouraging messages to our Club members on the bananas served during dinner The messages range from words of encouragement to suggesting an act of kindness It is always great to see the difference in a member s reaction to getting a normal banana any other day compared to getting one with a message Our Cafeteria Team has also been getting many asks to volunteer in their area and has developed their own group of daily helpers We are blessed to be able to meet the needs of our members by offering them food each day at the Club but also by giving them a sense of belonging and positive adult relationships Thank you to our cafeteria team for going the extra step to make our kids feel important Career Arts Indiana Kids participants were motivated to set goals by career presentations from professionals in law enforcement medicine information technology logistics forestry animal rescue conservation culinary arts personal services and government Arts Education inspired creativity through studio tours in Brown County trips to Shedd Aquarium and a safari at Binder Park Zoo 22 The Club keeps me safe and lets me play with my friends I love the staff because they help me with my homework and problems Aubrey

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Fun at the Club life experiences and learning transferable skills come together through Keystone The third week in October was an extraexciting week at the Goshen Club Our Keystone Volunteer Club planned and executed their first dance of the school year for both the Juniors and Teens on Friday night This night was filled with lots of fun and organized chaos loudest scream contest but also life experiences One of our Teens Richard was asked to be the DJ for the party and made announcements about upcoming games and songs Richard did so well in this role that his peers requested him to be the DJ at the next dance as well Many of our Teens are getting their first job experiences at the Club As part of the dance Keystone Club offered extra food and drinks for members to purchase They priced the items and made menus with costs for each item The group of Teens running concessions learned customer service and how to remain calm in overwhelming situations while also getting their first experiences as cashiers These volunteer service opportunities help us teach and train our Teens with transferable skills for a job outside of the Club Our Teen Services team marketed and promoted our dance while recruiting at the High School on Wednesday They coached our teens through the event including leading a recap on Monday to discuss ways to improve future events 24 2017 2018 GOSHEN CLUBHOUSE REMODEL Since opening the remodeled kitchen in 2017 the Goshen Club has served over 100 000 freshly prepared snacks and meals to Club members meeting a critical need in the lives of the children who need us most NEW ELKHART CLUBHOUSE Since opening in 2018 thousands of youth have come through the doors of the Brian and Jeanelle Brady Center Powerful relationships are built with over 200 kids each day 25

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Nappanee Highlights On October 17th we opened a brand new beautiful facility in Nappanee that allows us to serve many more youth than ever before Community members staff board members and first responders all lined up to welcome the kids to the Clubhouse for the first day The line of adults which included firefighters EMTs lawenforcement officers and many more safe adults reinforced to the kids that the Club is a place where they will always be safe The new 30 000 square foot facility gives the Club two teen centers one for middle school and one for high school two game rooms for different aged members a commercial grade kitchen a full size gym separate art and learning center space and outdoor space The new facility is next to Nappanee Elementary School built on the former soccer fields for the high school The new club is part of WaNee Vision 2020 which entailed building new soccer fields at Wellfield Park the new Club and moving the Family Christian Development Center and Elder Haus into the vacated space utilized by the Club for more than 20 years The Club is named for the Shea and Leavitt families Jim Shea is a donor who was instrumental in making this happen He very much wanted to honor the Leavitt family s work 27

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in the community in identifying the need 21 years ago for a club here and felt it was a way to honor their involvement For the youth in our community Boys Girls Club means a safe place to go after school where friends and mentors surround them It means filling the out of school time gap between school and home with opportunities to sharpen skills and discover new pursuits It means having a team of caring professionals that meet youth where they are and understand what they need to grow and succeed We have a growing population of young people that we want to inspire and empower to reach their full potential There is nowhere else in the WaNee area equipped to serve youth in the critical hours after school like Nappanee s Boys Girls Club A community open house held on October 11th was the culmination of a community effort to bring the new facility to the city Community Reaction at the Open House Fourth grader Kelsey H was having fun in the playhouse coffee station and said she liked the new Club It has so much more space she added The Cappert family headed straight to the gym Third grader Austin immediately started tossing a football with a staff member His mom Becky said Austin loves to visit the Club and loves the gym His sister Lucy said she also loves the Club and playing kickball Becky added the new Club was a great thing for the community Jimmy Cappert said he especially liked the fact that they have outdoor space for kids now Fifth grader Bryson Bradley and a friend were enjoying all the refreshments provided by numerous Nappanee businesses I love it It s amazing I love everything I ve seen so far Bryson said Bryson and his friend who both attend Nappanee Elementary School said they were former members but were looking forward to joining again The PS4 and Xbox games at the Club were high on their list of cool things Lauren Johns one of the interior designers for the new Club was present with her family She said she was very thrilled to see it completed and the community tour but added she would most enjoy watching the community s children begin using it Board president Sylvia Benjamin was greeting visitors and said This is a great day the community has been amazing mission moment In September we had a Club member experience some pretty significant behavioral issues One day the behaviors escalated quickly and he became physically aggressive toward Club staff before running out of the Club Club staff followed the member to ensure he was safe until his stepmom could pick him up We asked the member to spend some time away from the Club while we put a safety plan in place In November the member was welcomed back on a limited schedule with the potential to earn time back at the Club He has been thriving upon his return Recently he told Club Director Mandy Gerber I m so glad to be back here She let him know how proud she was of him and that she was happy to see him back A few minutes later he apologized for the physical aggression back in September It was a genuine apology and something he didn t have to do We are so proud of this member s transformation and hard work Although challenging this experience will help him find success in the future 28 29

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Youth of the Year Zayris Zuno Dillon It was late October 2014 when I moved to Indiana with my mom and younger brother looking for a better life We all shared a bedroom in my aunt s apartment Trying to adapt to the new culture I became everybody I became whomever I was around at the moment I was never around kids my age they were always older than me I was trying to fit in so hard it even got to the point where I started doing drugs and drinking alcohol I was able to disguise my age because I was almost 6 feet tall Due to the fact that my mom worked the night shift at a factory and slept during the day she was blind to the situation After a while I finally started to open up to my peers They persuaded me to become a member at the Boys Girls Club which was honestly one of the best choices I made my whole life At first I didn t really do anything it took almost a whole year before they started to thin my bubble Toward the end of my 7th grade year the Boys Girls Club really started to make an impact on me Two staff members in particular Miss Dee and Mr Q saw something in me that I didn t even know existed They saw a leader Without me realizing it they started helping me build my leadership skills They saw that I was honest able to influence people committed diligent and that I had the ability to communicate They showed me that I have the qualities of a leader Now that I realize the power I have as a leader I try to use that to make a positive impact on my community Using those qualities I ve earned Youth of the Week and Youth of the Month at Boys Girls Club several times But it s not all about me I try to share my skills with other Club members so we can make the world a better place At the Club I try to encourage my peers to think positively about certain activities that some of them don t like like doing homework or activities that may be outside of their comfort zone I also get them to go along with me to volunteer during their free time I ve volunteered 30 at Buffalo Wild Wings welcoming guests so they could have a pleasant experience and at Faith Mission our local homeless shelter helping pack book bags with school supplies I really like helping at Faith Mission because it helps bring our Club teens together and it shows our teamwork My top favorite volunteer trip is to Riverside Village nursing home I love interacting with the elders I feel that I pick up a lot of wisdom and knowledge from them When I m with them it seems that age is really just a number I laugh and joke around with them like they re my peers I truly believe they are my friends I even try to use my leadership skills that I learned at the Club when I am outside of the Club This past football season at Elkhart Memorial High School our head coach said This was the best team I ve coached since I ve been coaching at Elkhart Memorial High School I believe that the leadership skills I bring to the field from the Boys Girls Club have rubbed off onto my teammates We have made it his best season and there will be even better ones to come A small step I took back in the beginning of 7th grade turned my life to a completely different direction than it had been going I found a place and a purpose in my life that has pushed me out of my shell and onto a path to be a leader and role model I believe that the Club has helped me grow and move forward to a successful bright future Thanks to the Club members who invited me and the staff who cared about me I have a place to go where I feel at home and I can grow as a leader and as a person My Boys Girls Club experience has really been lifechanging and I now want to have that kind of positive impact on young peoples lives as well A small step I took back in the beginning of 7th grade turned my life to a completely different direction than it had been going I found a place and a purpose in my life that has pushed me out of my shell and onto a path to be a leader and a role model I believe that the Club has helped me grow and move forward to a successful bright future Zayris 31

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Youth of the Year Zayris Zuno Dillon what M A T T E R S to me It starts with children participating in or learning about something that sparks their interest Adults as parents mentors teachers and coaches must be there and support children s dreams They need to learn about and experience different activities so they know what they want and don t want to do It s important that we help develop leaders for future generations to come When I was a kid I didn t know what I wanted to be I knew that I did not want to be a football player Due to my size I caught people s attention They would asked my mom if I played football or if I would like to Her response was No he doesn t like to get hit Those words stuck with me all of my childhood I would wonder at times if it were really true but I stuck with it because I thought my mother knew best So I never played football That was until I was in the eighth grade A couple of friends peer pressured me into signing up and going to the football meeting during advisory The coach told me that he would be expecting me at the first practice I told 32 my mom what went on that day at school and she asked if I was going to go I said Yes It s good to be in your children s lives and help them with their choices but not make the choices for them Now I have been playing football for four years My first time playing a varsity game was my freshman year in sectionals The choice I made worked out for me after all I credit that to my father and grandfather They always pushed me to make my own decisions unless it could put me in danger They would help me learn from my mistakes One summer day after my father came home from work I asked if I could go to work with him the next morning He said Yea sure thing we will be leaving bright and early at 5 30 in the morning The next morning I woke up at around 8 00am ready to go to work not knowing what time it was I walk into my father s room and he was not there It was later that evening around 4 00pm that my dad walk through the front door and asked me What happened I thought you were going to work with me My response was I was but you weren t here He left me because I didn t get up on time for work He had told me what time we were leaving and expected me to set my own alarm That night before bed I set my alarm to 5 30am and challenging concepts Additionally I always take advantage of any opportunities to earn extra credit using my exceptional curiosity to achieve knowledge of complex concepts resulting in outperforming all other students in my classes I accredit my When I woke up at 5 30 am I heard a truck driving away from my house I knew it was my father leaving because I wasn t ready to go at 5 30am so he left me again That was a Friday so all weekend I practiced getting up early so I would be able to go to work with him Monday morning I was up and ready to go by 5 20am Because of these childhood experiences and more I have become very determined and have learned my values If there is anything I want or need to do I will get it done Once I see myself accomplish the goals I set for myself I will continue to go even harder because I want to continue to succeed I believe that there is no stopping me from getting what I want I am a very respectful responsible student who is highly motivated I am always striving for academic excellence during all my classroom experiences Daily my perseverance problem solving and organizational skills facilitate my learning and understanding of school concepts I consistently and diligently work out every question on assignments and always try to complete them correctly I ask thoughtful questions on new academic achievement of excellence to my undivided attention and patience I received Student of the Month from the Science department of my high school in November 2018 My integrity and initiative influence my outstanding goals to pursue higher levels of education Children have impactful experiences of their own every day We don t know how they are going to turn out ten years from today If we could make a positive impact on a child s life why not To help make a positive impact on a child s life I have become a mentor at the Boys and Girls Club I understand that there are more kids than staff and that the staff don t get a chance to talk to each child on a regular basis That s why I decided to be a mentor to help make a positive impact on kids lives As Steve Jobs once said If you are working on something exciting that you really care about you don t have to be pushed The vision pulls you 33

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When I need withme The Club hashelp allowed homework or if I m having to be more creative than bad day know II am caningo Iahave everIbeen to Ms lessons Kyla for help guitar art club and the media program Jayvion I even got my own guitar to take home Hailey New Executives join the Senior Leadership Team Launa Leftwich MA Matthew Fischer MBA CFRE Boys Girls Clubs of Elkhart County is excited to announce the promotion of Launa Leftwich to the position of Chief Operating Officer Ms Leftwich received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Goshen College in Goshen Indiana and her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green Kentucky She brings over 25 years of leadership experience in education team building and communication to her new role Most recently she served as the Senior Area Director of the Goshen Clubhouse for Boys Girls Clubs of Elkhart County Boys Girls Clubs of Elkhart County is pleased to announce the promotion of Matthew Fischer to the newly created position of Chief Advancement Officer Mr Fischer received his Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Public Relations from Indiana University in South Bend Indiana and his Master of Business Administration from Bethel College in Mishawaka Indiana He is a Certified Fund Raising Executive and brings over ten years of Boys Girls Club experience to his new role He recently served as a Director of Resource Development for Boys Girls Clubs of Elkhart County Chief Operating Officer 34 Chief Advancement Officer 35

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New Executives join the Senior Leadership Team The Club has given me opportunities to learn about culture history and government I have also explored many college options because of the Club They have helped me plan for a bright future Justice Julie Clark Adam Allsop CPA MNA Boys Girls Clubs of Elkhart County is pleased to welcome Julie Clark to the newly created role of Chief Human Resource Officer Mrs Clark earned her Bachelor of Science in Public Administration from Indiana University in Bloomington Indiana and brings nine years of human resources experience to her new role She comes to Boys Girls Clubs of Elkhart County from Days Corporation in Elkhart Indiana where she served as Director of Human Resources Boys Girls Clubs of Elkhart County is excited to welcome Adam Allsop to the role of Chief Financial Officer Mr Allsop received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Valparaiso University in Valparaiso Indiana and his Master of Nonprofit Administration from the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame Indiana Mr Allsop is a Certified Public Accountant and brings over 15 years of financial leadership experience to the role Most recently Mr Allsop was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of LOGAN Community Resources Inc in South Bend Indiana Chief Human Resource Officer 36 Chief Financial Officer 37

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Board of Trustees Vince Turner Chair Jeff Krusenklaus Brent Carrick Vice Chair John Leavitt Jeff Lund Secretary Jason Lippert Tim Koch Treasurer Dr Don Minter Sylvia Benjamin Mark Mow Jason Bontrager Carlos Navarro Steve Fidler Jodi Spataro Dawn Fisher Doug Thorne Norm Floria Phil Smoker Theresa Gunden Jeff Troxel Rick Jenkins Julia Willis Joanna King Doug Wogoman 2019 NEW NAPPANEE CLUBHOUSE On October 17th we opened a brand new beautiful facility in Nappanee The new 30 000 square foot facility gives the Club two teen centers one for middle school and one for high school two game rooms for different aged members a commercial grade kitchen a full size gym separate art and learning center space and outdoor space 38 2020 REMODELED MIDDLEBURY CLUBHOUSE In 2020 we will open our newly remodeled Middlebury Clubhouse which will mark the completion of four back to back Capital Campaigns 39

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Unit Boards Elkhart Doug Thorne President Terry O Rourke Vice President Patrick Lee Treasurer Elizabeth Bond Tom Canarecci Brian Clark Dan Craig Goshen Phil Smoker President Shelly Fidler Vice President Garrett Cannizzo Treasurer Adrian Aguilar Alan Albrecht Michael Gaeddert Michilah Grimes Middlebury Carlos Navarro President John Schmidlin Vice President Treasurer Jane Allen Bill Clark Josh Hile Kim Huffman Nappanee Sylvia Benjamin President Ann Hasse Vice President Zach Troyer Treasurer Sam Beachy Angie Clem Dr Scot Croner Scot Honeycutt 40 Richard Delks Brandie Edsall Doug Graham Cindy Hayes Curt Homes Dan Morrison Mary Nommay Keil Dan Oakley Josh Roan Kathy Sears Delwyn Shrock Jami Stamm Cedric Waters Ross Gunden Heather Jenks Kyle Kwasny Andrew Martin Lisa Meade Dr Alan Metcalfe Mason Ogle Landon Richmond Tom Sexton Darran Teamor Denny Weldy Sharon Welsh Jon Wenger Dean Miller Doug Mary Minix Dianne Myers Jason Pippenger Matt Shoup Chad Troyer Will Weed Julie Whitehead Tanya Wieland Vicki Wingard Mayor Philip Jenkins Ben Leavitt Frank Ramirez Bertha Schwartz Carol Sechrist Dr Alison Stair Rachel Tompos Kami Tuttle Meg Waddell Troy Wuthrich The staff help me when I get upset They calm me down and help me get back to activities and they help me with homework too Amyis 41

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2019 Annual Report

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