Club Youth Walk with Mayor Garcetti

Our Wilmington Club Youth of the Year introducing Mayor Garcetti.

A major program component in our three high school centers is character and leadership development. Our youth groups, Keystone and Torch Club, frequently volunteer with different projects and organizations to help improve our community. They are inspired by local leaders and assist when given the opportunity. On April 12, our teens joined Mayor Garcetti's Harbor Area Walk in Wilmington. Councilman Joe Buscaino gave our Wilmington Club Youth of the Year, Crystal Cabello, the privilege of introducing Mayor Garcetti at the kickoff event. It was a great experience for our students to work alongside local leaders in community conversations.

Mayor Garcetti with our Wilmington Club teen volunteers.

Executive Director Mike Lansing with our teen volunteers at the Mayor Garcetti Harbor Area Walk.

Councilman Joe Buscaino Joins Us for Daniel's Field Athletics Facility Groundbreaking

After many years of planning and fundraising, we have launched a project to install a multipurpose recreational area in the historic Daniel's Field in San Pedro. The new facility, facing our San Pedro Boys & Girls Club, will include a sports arena with ADA accessible ramp, a baseball batting cage, golf driving-range cages, picnic and snack area and sustainable landscaping. 

Councilman Joe Buscaino at the Daniel's Field Groundbreaking

San Pedro Club alumnus, Councilman Joe Buscaino, joined Executive Director Mike Lansing and our youth for the groundbreaking ceremony on April 22. Special speakers for the event included Mark Mariscal, Region Superintendent of the Department of Recreation and Parks; Ray Brewer, Field Office Director of the Department of Housing and Urban Development; and John N. Vidovich, Assistant Chief of LAFD and Boys & Girls Club Board member.

Our Executive Director Mike Lansing 

with Councilman Buscaino

Councilman Buscaino kicked off our groundbreaking ceremony by detailing the new additions to Daniel's Field and getting our youth members excited about the new athletics programs. He also spoke of the importance of education and our organization's national impact with the College Bound program.

Executive Director Mike Lansing spoke next about the long journey to get to this point. He expressed his optimism about the new additions to Daniel's Field and, turning to our youth, explained that we are adding the new area for, "you to use and hopefully that even your kids can one day use."

We are very excited about the changes we are implementing at Daniel's Field and the way it will benefit our community. Our athletics programming will expand significantly once the project is complete with the quality recreational opportunities our youth deserve.

Kory Minor Visits the San Pedro Boys & Girls Club

It's always a great inspiration for our youth to meet a Boys & Girls Club alumnus who accomplished greatness in the face of adversity. Yesterday, entrepreneur and former NFL linebacker, Kory Minor visited our San Pedro Club to tell his story, starting with the decisions he made as a young athlete.
 

Kory Minor with some excited fans at our Club!

Kory is a former All-American football linebacker originally from Los Angeles. In his senior year of high school, he was named Defensive Player of the Year by USA Today. He went on to the University of Notre Dame where he was a 4-year star on defense and team captain. In his professional career he played for the San Francisco 49ers and Carolina Panthers. 

Like many of our members, Kory was faced with distractions while trying to accomplish his goals. He was raised by a single mother and, although he dreamed of one day playing for Notre Dame, he knew his family couldn't afford to send him to his dream school. Kory had two options: either give up on his dream or commit to it. Kory chose to commit and spoke to our young athletes about the importance of committing to a dream and working hard for that dream.

"Whatever you are dreaming now is possible if you commit to believe and commit to work."

Kory Minor speaking at the San Pedro Boys & Girls Club.

Kory also spoke about the friends he lost in high school because he was so focused on his goal. He stayed away from anything that could distract him like drinking, smoking or doing drugs and only spent time with people who didn't fall into those behaviors. When he was named Defensive Player of the Year by USA Today, he proved wrong everyone who didn't believe in him and was awarded a full scholarship to Notre Dame.

Today, Kory is a motivational speaker, business strategist and a five store franchisee of Domino's Pizza where he took his franchise company from $600,000 in sales to nearly $4 million as an owner. He motivates individuals and organizations as CEO of Kory Minor Industries. Kory spoke of the importance of valuing education as he did when he utilized his degree in business to create a legacy for himself.

Thanks to Kory for sharing the valuable lessons he learned on his journey from young hopeful athlete to NFL player and successful business owner.

School Club Sites Sweep Championships

Our Harry Bridges Span School cheer team with their first place trophies.

In addition to our three Club houses, we run 11 Club sites at local LAUSD schools where we implement enrichment programming in academics, arts and athletics. The competitive teams at our school sites are making major strides. Our Fleming Middle School dance team won the National Championship at the 2014 Jamfest Dance Competition in Las Vegas for the second straight year. Our Harry Bridges Span School cheer team won first place at the Sharp Regional Competitions and an invitation to advance in the national competition. The Wilmington Middle School robotics team, a school program that we facilitate after hours, won Best Overall Championship at the F.I.R.S.T. Robotics Competition at Legoland California.

Wilmington Middle School Robotics with their Lego trophy 

at the F.I.R.S.T. Robotics Competition.

Our school Club sites organize programming that our youth would not otherwise be able to participate in. We introduced and coordinate the dance and cheer teams at Fleming Middle School and Harry Bridges Span School and extended participation opportunities for the Wilmington Middle School robotics team. 

In many cases at our school Club sites, we step in to support and extend already existing programs. At Wilmington Middle School, Dana Middle School and Banning High School, we coordinate after school practice for marching band and drill team. This broadens rehearsal and performance opportunities as well as increases the number of youth who are able to partake in music education at the schools we serve.

Our School Sites Director Bryan Jebo and his team lead our school Club sites, making it possible for our youth to stay after hours and reach their full potential.

Our Fleming Middle School dance team participants are national champions for the 2nd straight year.

Introducing Our New Volunteer Outreach Coordinator

We are expanding and improving our volunteer opportunities thanks to longtime Board member, Tamara Powers who is volunteering her time in the new role of Volunteer Outreach Coordinator. Tamara has served on our Board since 2007 and is our Vice President of Development. An avid volunteer in the community, Tamara frequently visits our Clubs in San Pedro and Wilmington to assist with programming and events. From helping with art projects to serving at our Thanksgiving Dinners, Tamara contributes to our day-to-day activities in addition to fundraising initiatives for our organization.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact (310) 833-1322 ext. 237 or email leilanis@bgclaharbor.org.

Tamara Powers (left) with our Fine Arts Director Sandra Avila at our Meet the Challenge mural painting project.

Partner Spotlight - Phillips 66

In 2007, when we first established our Corporate Giving Program, Phillips 66 – then known as ConocoPhillips – joined right away as a longstanding supporter.

One of our most generous, local patrons, Phillips 66 has been a major part of the expansion and improvement of our Clubs in San Pedro and Wilmington. They also provided our Clubs with summer interns to expand our work force, allowing us serve more youth. Refinery Manager Jay Churchill and Public Affairs Manager Betsy Brien have volunteered their time and experience on our Board of Directors.

Built on more than 130 years of experience, Phillips 66 is a growing energy manufacturing and logistics company with high-performing Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties businesses. Headquartered in Houston, the company has 13,500 employees who are committed to operating excellence and safety.