Boys & Girls Clubs of Chaffee County – Salida Branch has been named a finalist for its efforts to help other children in a national service competition from Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Staples Foundation for Learning, a private foundation created by Staples, Inc. The Club completed a Carnival Food Drive that collected 210 pounds of food and $70.00 for local food banks. Members of the organization’s Torch Club, a character and leadership program for Boys & Girls Clubs members age 11 to 13, spearheaded the service project, which was selected out of more than 275 entries from across the country.
The national service competition is held annually to inspire and reward youth for helping others. Each year, there is a theme for the national contest that deals with an important issue. Club members work together to plan and implement an activity to address the issue in their community. This year, Torch Club members across the country chose the theme of “children helping children,” so the contest encouraged members to complete service projects that benefited other children in need. By participating in the contest, called Linking Hearts & Hands, Club members learned the value of giving back and seeing a project to completion. In the process, they gained a better understanding of the needs of other youth – locally, nationally and globally – and shared their knowledge with others.
“Developing strong character and leadership skills is integral to helping children grow into conscientious members of society,” said Brett Haydin, Executive Director of Boys & Girls Clubs of Chaffee County. “Through the Linking Hearts & Hands national service initiative, our members learned lessons about compassion, kindness and hard work which will help them become positive citizens and leaders in their community and school.”
Torch Clubs are small groups within Boys & Girls Clubs designed for the developmental needs of children ages 11 to 13 that encourage positive self-esteem and personal growth, build communication skills, reinforce academic achievement, and encourage the development of conscientious citizenship. Torch Club’s mission is to motivate pre-teens to become role models and ambassadors for promoting good character, tolerance, diversity and inclusion among peers. With the guidance of adults who mentor and empower them, Club members develop essential character traits and leadership skills as they learn to influence others in a positive way.
As a finalist, Boys & Girls Clubs of Chaffee County – Salida Branch will receive one of 50 cash awards of up to $2,500 to benefit their organization from Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Staples Foundation for Learning.
“Staples has a long-standing relationship with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and we’re proud to support programs that encourage and reward civic engagement and community service,” said Amy Shanler, director of community relations for Staples. “Through Boys & Girls Clubs initiatives like the Torch Club national service competition, we’re able to help fulfill our mission to make a positive impact on the communities we serve, and spark a lasting passion for character and leadership in our youth.”
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Chaffee County
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Chaffee County, with locations at 340 E Fifth Street in Salida and at the Avery Parsons Elementary School in Buena Vista has played an integral role in the community for over 5 years and provides services to over 700 local youth annually. Some 25 percent of the youth served by Boys & Girls Clubs of Chaffee County are between 11 and 13 years old, and participate in the program to plan and take part in service projects in the community. The Salida Branch is open after school until 7:00 PM Monday through Friday, with programs that emphasize character and leadership development, education and career enhancement, health and life skills, the arts, and sports, fitness and recreation. For more information, to enroll, or for ways to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chaffee County, please visit www.bgcchaffee.org or call 719.539.9500.
About Staples Foundation for Learning
Founded in 2002, Staples Foundation for Learning has contributed to nearly 1,000 global, national and local charities that provide educational opportunities and job skills for all people, with a special emphasis on disadvantaged youth. Staples Foundation for Learning builds lasting relationships with world-class organizations including Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Ashoka, Earth Force, TakingItGlobal, and the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City. The foundation is the private charitable arm of Staples, Inc. and is an integral component of Staples Soul, which recognizes the connection between long-term business success and the impact Staples has on associates, communities and the planet. For more information about the foundation and Staples Soul, please visit www.staplesfoundation.org and www.staples.com/soul.
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