Three events in three days! Join the Executive Council, a volunteer fundraising group of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix, for the most exciting three-day event of the year!

Kicking off the festivities on April 10th, 2010 at 5:30pm is the Champion's Dinner & Auction at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa.

Luis Gonzalez, Major League Baseball All-star will be honored. In addition, the black-tie dinner will include over 300 silent auction items as well as a live auction with one-of-a-kind items.

Sunday April 11th, join over 6,000 guests at the Kierland Commons in Scottsdale from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m for Taste 2010.

Immediately following the Taste is Post-Taste which will be held at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa from 9:00 p.m. to Midnight.

To wrap up this whirlwind charity weekend join Tommy Bahama for a charity golf tournament on Monday, April 12, 2010. Registration begins at 8:30 am with an 11:00 am shotgun start.

For more information or to purchase tickets or packages for any of these events please visit www.taste2010.com or call 602-954-8182.

“I have a dream!” Dr. King's words were an inspiration to many, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix Keystone Club members. Keystone Club is a small group leadership development club for young people ages 14 to 18.

These words inspired members from all twelve Clubs to come together to participate in a day of service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

They started the day by beautifying their community, planting a remembrance cactus in the garden outside the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix Administrative building, they ended the day by collaborating with Keystoners from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale for a day of diversity training and fun.

And the Oscar goes to …The Woodrow C. Scoutten/Tolleson Branch! Their film, Control, won Honorable Mention at this year’s Metro Film Festival hosted by Universal Technical Institute.

Other winners include: the Swift Kids Branch for their Action movie, Zombaliens.com; the Harry & Sandy Rosenzweig Branch for their Comedy, Whisper for a Hero; the Warner A. Gabel Branch for their Animated film, Halo on a Hot Tin Roof; the Tri-City West/Thornwood Branch for their Reality Show, American Idol; and the Jerry & Helen Wisotsky/Peoria Branch for their Drama film, Service.

Each film is directed, produced and scripted by Club members, with the help and guidance of the Club staff.

Congratulations to all the participants!

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix will transform Washington Park into a giant outdoor Boys & Girls Club complete with Teen Center, Education Center and Food!

March 27th between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., "Club in the Park" is designed to help the community to learn all about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix, as well as enjoy activities facilitated by several special guests.

This is a great opportunity for the community to enjoy beautiful weather, free food, and fun activities!

These are some of the activities that take place in our Clubs. For more information about a Club near you, call 602-954-8182.

March 16
Thanks to the Lowe’s Charitable & Educational Foundation the I.G. Homes Branch has a newly renovated Youth Education Center and Teen Room. Join us March 16th at 4:30pm at the I.G. Homes Branch for the official ribbon-cutting and to see the new space.

March 26
All branches of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix will participate in the "Club in the Park". The event is aimed at introducing all the Club has to offer to the community. The event will take place at Washington Park in Phoenix from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

April 24
Get your computers ready! It’s time for the 2010 Boys & Girls Clubs Techathalon. April 24th at the Compadre Branch in Chandler, kids from all over the Valley come together to share their techie skills and compete to become the 2010 Techathalon Champions!

There are a variety of other activities going on throughout the month. Click here to find the Club nearest you.

Club in the Park
March 26, 2010
Washington Park
10:00am-2:00pm

Champion's Dinner & Auction
April 10, 2010
Westin Kierland Resort & Spa
5:30pm-Midnight
www.taste2010.com

Taste 2010 & Post-Taste
April 11, 2010
Kierland Commons/ Westin Kierland Resort & Spa
6:00pm-9:00pm/9:00pm-Midnight
www.taste2010.com

Tommy Bahama Golf Tournament
April 12, 2010
Westin Kierland Resort & Spa
Registration: 8:30am
Shotgun: 11:00am
www.taste2010.com

The Big Event
June 5, 2010
5th Avenue & Madison Event Center
5:30-9:30pm
Click here for tickets and sponsorship opportunities

For more info on these events, call (602) 954-8182 or visit www.bgcmp.org 

Meet 11 year-old Salaya. Nearly everyday after school you can find Salaya at the Jerry Colangelo Branch. This always smiling Club kid is a great example for other members in the Club, especially her little brother who also attends the Club.

Salaya is a model student and was recently recognized as a "Kid of the Year" at the 2010 Kid of the Year Celebration on February 10 and the Today's Kids, Tomorrow's Stars event on February 20th. Salaya's favorite pastime at the Club is Volleyball and Basketball. She also enjoys participating in the Club's community service projects. Salaya dreams of one day becoming a Veterinarian, because she loves animals.

Congratulations Salay for being named this month's Character Counts Kid!

Click here to watch our Fox Sports Arizona Character Counts Kid of the Month, Sayala at her Club!

For the past few years, members of Toastmasters International have volunteered their time, services and skills to help guide our Youth of the Year through a journey that eventually leads them to speak in front of 1,200 guests at the Today’s Kids, Tomorrow’s Stars event.

Bobbie O'Connell, Tobin Daily, Mary Lee Madison, Elaman Rodriguez, and Danny Valenzuela from Toastmasters were instrumental in the development of the Youth of the Year candidates' public speaking abilities and served as mentors throughout their "Journey".

Thank you to all the Toastmaster volunteers who have helped with this program over the years!

As Tax time approaches it’s a good time to review your will.
Consider making a planned gift to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix.
 
Three easy options!

1. Bequest of cash
"I bequeath the sum of $10,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix."

2. Bequest of a percent of the estate
"I devise and bequeath 20% of the remainder and residue of property owned at my death, whether real or personal, and wherever located to Boys & Girls Clubs, Metropolitan Phoenix."

3. Contingent Bequest
"If my brother John Doe survives me, I devise and bequeath 20% of the remainder and residue of property owned at my death, whether real or personal, and wherever located to John Doe. If John Doe does not survive me, then I devise and bequeath 20% of my residuary estate, whether real or personal property and wherever located to Boys & Girls Clubs, Metropolitan Phoenix."

If you would like more information on how to make a planned gift, please call (602) 954-8182 or e-mail Brad Kuluris at bkuluris@bgcmp.org.