Message from the CEO
Dear Friends of BGCB,
Spring is just hours away, and with it, arguably our most critical quarter.
In the spring, we help our teens find summer jobs – essential for teaching them responsibility and keeping them safe and off the streets during what is often the most dangerous time in their neighborhoods. We celebrate the accomplishments of our teens who are graduating from high school – many the first in their families to achieve this milestone – and help them prepare for college in the fall. And we transition from our after-school program to summer camp.
As we approach the June 30th close of our fiscal year, we are more concerned than in the past about meeting our annual fundraising goals. With approximately one-third of our annual budget still to raise, we continue to work creatively and efficiently to achieve our goal. One major component of our fundraising strategy is our Fourth Annual House Party on May 15. Invitations will be mailed in early April and we have posted a registration link on our home page.
Over the past six months, we have seen an increase in need across all the communities in which we serve. A recent survey of active members revealed that 49% have a family income under $27K – up from 44% just a year ago.
Challenging times also bring communities together and we are so grateful that our volunteer program is full to capacity. We have dozens of volunteers already working hard in our Clubs, and 50 volunteers waiting for background check clearance and placement.
If you have already shown your support for our work, thank you very much. If you are just getting to know us, we hope you will be inspired to support our work by what you read in this newsletter.
