MOLINE, IL - On Tuesday, Nov. 5, the Boys & Girls Club of the Mississippi (BGCMV) will hold their annual fundraising event, the 2013 Steak & Burger Dinner. The theme of this year's event will be Open the Door to a Great Future and according to Tim Tolliver, the new Chief Professional Officer of the organization, "I can tell you from firsthand experience that opening doors for young people is what the group is all about."
The fundraising event will be held at the iWireless Center, 1201 River Dr., Moline, IL. The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. with a social hour, followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and a program at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $50 each. Individual tickets and tables for groups are available by calling (309) 757-5777.
"The program for the event will include a new video featuring Club youth with their parents, teachers and other significant adults who shape a kid's experience during a typical Club day," Tolliver said. Club members representing the Davenport and Moline Clubs, as well as the Teen Center, will entertain with song, dance and skits. Adults will dine with the young performers and get to know more about their lives and club activities. Also, awards will be presented to volunteers, and staff members will be recognized for their dedication to the mission of the organization.
Tolliver, formerly of St. Louis, Missouri, was selected as Chief Professional Officer after the organization's Board of Directors conducted a nationwide search to fill the position. "We hope that many Quad-Citians will come to our event to meet Tim and welcome him to the community," said Chris Johnson, President of the BGCMV Board. "Tim was once a Club kid himself, as was his son. He truly represents how involvement in the Boys and Girls Clubs can help families and lead to a better future for young people."
"The Boys & Girls Clubs helped to ensure my success in life," Tolliver said. "I was raised in a dangerous neighborhood, and the Boys & Girls Clubs helped me to realize there was a big world beyond that neighborhood. It also taught me that life is about helping others."
Daily Support for the Community
Johnson noted that the funds raised through the Steak & Burger Dinner help the BGCMV to continue to offer daily support to the community. "For some of the kids who come to our clubs, the food they get when they visit may be the only meal they can really count on that day," he said. "The funds raised through this annual event do much to improve our community's future and quality of life."
The BGCMV is funded by individual and corporate donations, grants and special events. Proceeds from the annual Steak & Burger Dinner supplement the organization's operational budget by approximately $40,000. Typically, the Clubs of the BGCMV serve about 250 kids each day.
Sponsors of the Steak & Burger Dinner include Founding Sponsor, Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc.; Leadership Partner, Modern Woodmen; Platinum Partners, DHCU Community Credit Union, IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union, iWireless Center, and McDonald's; Gold Partners, UnityPoint Health, Willis, and Group O; and Silver Partners, the Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Hanson Watson, Genesis Health System, First Trust & Savings Bank, and Bush Construction.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Mississippi Valley, as a chartered member of Boys and Girls Clubs of America, is a tax-exempt organization, duly qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and contributions are tax-deductible in accordance with Federal law.
For more information on the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Mississippi Valley, please call (309) 757-5777 or visit www.bgcmv.org.
-- # --
SIDEBAR:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Boys and Girls Clubs?
The Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) is a national organization that provides affordable out-of-school programs for youth ages 6-18. Located in all 50 states and on military bases throughout the world, Boys and Girls Clubs is consistently ranked as one of the best organizations for youth in the country. Nationwide, BGCA serves more than 4 million youth in 4,000 Clubs. The local chapter in the Quad Cities is the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Mississippi Valley (BGCMV).
Where are the Boys and Girls Clubs locations in the Quad-Cities?
Moline Club, 406 7th Street, Moline, IL
Teen Center, 1122 5th Avenue, Moline, IL
Davenport Club, First Presbyterian Church, 1702 Iowa Street, Davenport, IA
Administrative Office, 338 6th St., Moline, IL 61265
Administrative Office, 338 6th St., Moline, IL 61265
What are the hours of operation for the BGCMV?
Davenport and Moline Club: After-school until 6:00 p.m.
The Club: After-school until 6:30 p.m.
Summer Hours, Early Dismissals, and No School Days vary.
What makes BGCMV different from other after-school programs?
There are characteristics that touch most youth agencies; however, the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Mississippi Valley demonstrates these unique characteristics:
Building Centered: BGCMV is a place, an actual building designed for youth programs and activities.
For All Boys and Girls: BGCMV serves all boys and girls, ages 6-18.
Daily Access to Programs: BGCMV locations are open when youth need them the most. They are open Monday through Friday, when youth have free time and need positive alternatives. They are also open on non-holidays when members are not in school.
Affordable: Members pay no more than $25 per program and no child is ever turned away due to inability to pay.
Accessible and Community Based: BGCMV locations are found in neighborhoods where kids need them the most and similar resources are not available.
Trained Professional Staff: Trained and caring youth development professionals provide daily guidance and supervision to Club members and serve as role models and mentors.
Tested, Proven Curricula: BGCMV members participate in a variety of programs in the areas of: Education and Career Development; Character and Leadership Development; Health and Life Skills; The Arts; and Sports, Fitness and Recreation.
Is BGCMV the same as Big Brothers Big Sisters?
No, Big Brothers Big Sisters is a mentoring program pairing adult volunteers with individual youth. BGCA is a comprehensive youth development program that serves all its members in one place during out-of-school hours.
What is a typical day at BGCMV like?
During the school year, all members are expected to complete their homework daily during Power Hour. Staff and volunteers are on hand to assist with any questions members may have.
After that, members participate in different activities. BGCMV has a wide variety of programs in five Core Program Areas: Education and Career Development, Character and Leadership Development, Health and Life Skills, The Arts, and Sports, Fitness, and Recreation. BGCMV also provides guest speakers, special events, and field trips to members.
After program time, members have Social Recreation time, where they can learn recreation games such as pool or ping pong, play video games, finish art projects, and have free time with their friends. All BGCMV clubs provide free snacks and meals to members daily.
Who can belong to the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Mississippi Valley?
Any child between the ages of 6 to 18 years old who is currently enrolled in school.
How much does it cost to be a member at the BGCMV?
Davenport and Moline Clubs: $12 per year
Teen Center "The Club": $25 per year
Additional fees may apply to Summer Programs (generally $20)
Why are BGCMV fees so low?
Fees are kept low so that the BGCMV is accessible to all children. The target population is those who are most at risk.
How is the BGCMV funded?
All funding comes from individual and corporate donations, grants and special events.
How does the BGCMV keep so many children in its program?
BGCMV is NOT a court-ordered program. Members come to BGCMV locations because they want to. The number 1 reason kids come to Club is to have FUN. This is a drop-in program so they can leave at any time. The BGCMV keeps it fun so that kids want to stay.
-- # --
