Our Club Directors and staff are busy compiling activities from our Clubs to share with our community in the coming days. For now, here is a list of free academic and entertainment sources for our community to utilize. BGCNCG is here to continue to enrich the lives of the youth and community we serve!
“BGCNCG serves an essential role in caring for our community's young people," said Katie Comer, Community Development Regional Manager at Facebook. "We enthusiastically support them and are proud to provide this grant to further this critical mission. It's what neighbors do, and we've called this community home since we broke ground on our Newton Data Center in 2018."
Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central Georgia’s Duck Derby will soon release 6,000 rubber ducks on the Yellow River in Porterdale for a $10,000 grand prize finish line. This year the organization’s event will be virtual and can be viewed live June 27 at 9 AM on BGCNCG’s Facebook page at @BGCNCG.
“During these unprecedented times, supporting Duck Derby ensures that the youth who need us most continue to receive our support and care,” Bob Mackey, President and CEO shared. “Duck Derby supports not only our summer programming, but also our daily operations within our Clubs. With your community support we’re able to continue world class programming and implement new programming for the 2020-2021 calendar year.”
Josephine Kelly, Development Director for Porterdale shares her excitement for Duck Derby is all about the cause.
“Duck Derby is such a creative way of raising funds for an important cause, allowing the young people of the community to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. The City of Porterdale is thrilled to be part of the third Duck Derby,”she said.
Kelly said Porterdale is eagerly awaiting watching the race live June 27.
If you’re searching for a lucky duck, you don’t have to look far. Supporters can purchase a duck for $20 at www.bgcncg.com/duckderby.
“For every $20 duck an individual adopts, participants not only increase odds of winning our $10,000 grand prize, they also help BGCNCG continue to offer the youth who need us the most quality and life-changing programming,” Mackey added.
There are three other great prizes to be won at this year’s Duck Derby alongside the $10,000 grand prize. Those prizes are a golf package for The Oaks Golf Course in Conyers, an Atlanta skyline helicopter ride and an ipad package.
Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central Georgia serves Morgan, Greene, Newton, Walton, and Lamar counties.
If you’d like to learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central Georgia’s Duck Derby, visit www.bgcncg.comor call 770-267-8034.
Youth are working on in-home science/stem projects during COVID 19.
Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central Georgia recently received a grant from the Greater Atlanta COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund. Funding for the grant was provided in partnership between the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta and United Way of Greater Atlanta.
Bob Mackey, President and CEO of BGCNCG, said the grant will be utilized for BGCNCG’s general operating to support virtual programming like STEM, outdoor activities, reading and craft activities, as well as provide learning kits.
“This partnership with the Greater Atlanta COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund will allow us to continue serve the youth who need us most,” Mackey shared. “This funding will help provide the essential tools and resources we need to bring brighter futures to our youth. With community financial support such as this grant from the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta and United Way of Greater Atlanta we will indeed get through this together. We are grateful to have this funding and utilize it to help us continue to adapt during these unprecedented times to continue to serve the families and youth who need us now more than ever.”
Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central Georgia serves Greene, Morgan, Walton, Lamar, and Newton Counties.
To learn more about BGCNCG, visit www.bgcncg.comor call 770-267-8034.
Safety is the number one priority of Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central Georgia, and we are doing whatever it takes to keep children, our staff, and volunteers protected from the COVID-19 virus. Safety is having our doors closed until April 16, as advised by our government officials. Although our Clubs are closed for now, our commitment and resolve to be a place that changes lives is still open.
Our Club Directors and staff are busy compiling activities from our Clubs to share with our community in the coming days. For now, here is a list of free academic and entertainment sources for our community to utilize. BGCNCG is here to continue to enrich the lives of the youth and community we serve!
Eleven months ago, the lot across from Lamar County Elementary School was vacant and the idea of a Boys & Girls Club was but a dream. Now, the Barnesville-Lamar Boys & Girls Club is officially open and has already begun registration of members. On January 23 over 200 community residents gathered to cut the Boys & Girls Club royal blue ribbon symbolizing the beginning of “Great Futures” at the site.
Magical moments were shared by all ages at the grand opening of the Club located at 230 Roberta Drive. Club members began to meet each other in their games room, community members walked the halls of the Club and greeted one another, and the founding contributors of the Club were honored at a reception.
For the founding steering committee who worked tirelessly for the last eleven months the most magical moment was the overwhelming wave of community support.
“We want to thank you for being here,” Chuck Bankston, founding co-chair for the BLBGC, shared. “On Sept. 15 we began our campaign and we set a goal of $250,000 and at the time we felt that was an ambitious goal. We thought our goal would be difficult to reach. But, I underestimated your generosity and the happy generous givers that you all are because as of today we’ve collected a little over $463,000.”
“Because of you, lives will be changed. Working moms and dads won’t have to worry about where their children are,” Bankston continued. “The children will be surrounded by positive people and influence, like you all, and they will achieve great things in life. This celebration is about you. Because of you, we have made dreams into reality.”
Lamar County Elementary School’s cafeteria, where the awards reception was held, was full of community members and rounds of applause were followed with each founding contributor’s name called.
Dr. Jute Wilson, Superintendent for Lamar County Schools, gladly accepted the keys to the Club from Mayor Peter Banks and remarked on the return of investment to come to Lamar County from the Boys & Girls Club.
“I always ask if we’re going to do something what are we going to get in return and when you look at the mission and vision of Boys & Girls Clubs – it’s easy to see that the return here will be impactful,” he shared. “I’m so thankful to all that have given and we’re looking toward big things and a great partnership with BGC.”
An unforgettable moment of the evening was the hallway of the Barnesville-Lamar County Boys & Girls Club being dedicated to Joe Edwards, the steering committee chairman and president of the BLBGC board.
“Joe ate, slept, and dreamed about Boys & Girls Clubs for months,” Chuck Bankston shared. “His vision is what led us to this point and his passion is what got us here.”
Barnesville-Lamar Boys & Girls Club is a part of Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central Georgia’s region.
“We’re so excited to support Barnesville-Lamar on its journey to impacting and transforming the lives of the youth the Club serves,” Bob Mackey, President & CEO for BGCNCG. “It’s truly because of the excellent community leadership and generous giving that this Club stands as a beacon of hope and promise for the youth. We can’t wait to see the youth soar!”
BLBGC will serve third through eight graders and its programs will focus on academic success, character, leadership development and healthy lifestyles.
For more information about the club, visit www.bgcncg.com/barnesville.
Join the Barnesville-Lamar Club Jan. 16 from 5-6:45 PM for membership registration at the Lamar County Middle School Cafeteria located at 100 Burnette Road, Barnesville.
“We are so excited to be opening our doors soon to the youth of Lamar County and are looking forward to meeting the youth we’ll serve at our first registration event as a Club,” Sandra Watts, BLBGC Director, shared.
All membership registration will be on a first come basis. For more information on registration contact Sandra Watts at 678-572-3156 or email swatts@bgcncg.com.
