The Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon Annual Gala conversation with Fred Schwam and Laura Lavan
Laura Smith from Sharc Creative talks with Chief Professional Officer of the Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon. Virtual Gala June 8th.
Press Release
Contact: Mel Campos
Chief Professional Officer
Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon
Tel 914 668-9580 mcampos@bgcmvny.org
Mount Vernon, New York, April 28, 2020 - Boys and Girls Club of Mount Vernon Stays Connected with After School Kids During Crisis
The Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon continues to provide support for their community and resources to help area youth remain engaged in their education and after school activities during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
The Mount Vernon community has been particularly hard hit by the virus, as many residents have lost jobs and otherwise struggled with the challenges of isolation, and their children have few alternatives to keep themselves involved, educated, and active. In response to the stress and increasing impact on their education and well-being, the Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon and members of their Board have responded in a variety of ways to support efforts to keep them engaged and provide resources during the pandemic.
One of the challenges facing families is their ability access the technology needed to be engaged and continue their education, and Club Board members have contributed computers for kids who were unable to access the internet and school lesson plans. Through their involvement and support, area youth are able to access educational support coordinated by Club Director of Education Sharon Young along with staff and volunteers. BGCMVNY board members and Westchester neighbors in Larchmont, Rye and Mamaroneck contributed to BGCMVNY effort to collect and distribute unused computers to help support remote learning and work, and Jonathan Gould of Lighthouse Main Street Solutions/Computer SuperCenter of Greenwich helped sanitize these devices to help prepare them for their use.
“On March 23rd we launched our virtual Club with 8 Club Members joining us online, and the kids were extremely happy to see the staff and their friends” said Mel Campus, Chief Professional Officer, Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon. “We quickly realized that many of our families did not have the technology necessary to participate, and were very pleased to see that our Board Members Fred Powers and the Lavan family purchased refurbished computers with help from fellow Board Members Lisa Giuffra Diaz and Bonnie Rudin so we could lend them to the kids. As of today, we are proud to report that we have provided laptops to kids who needed them, and Club Members have logged on and become engaged. We couldn’t be prouder of our Board and staff for stepping up during this time of need, it is the true spirit of the Boys & Girls Club in action. We would be happy to coordinate with anyone who would offer more of these generous donations to help our members. ”
Club Board member Dr. Michele Maidenberg has offered a series of guided mediations that are also available on the Club website at BGCMVNY.org, and “Boredom Buster” kits were made for Club members to use at home to draw, write poetry and be creative, Origami papers and materials were made available with suggested tutorials to make hearts and roses, and decoupage boxes. These materials were made possible by contributions from area merchants, including Larchmont Village Paint, Bob and Bonnie Cotnoir, Silvermine School of Art, and Dominic’s Fine Cigars for donating boxes, and additional materials were anonymously donated including puzzles, knitting and LEGO kits.
The Club also provided nonperishable foods to the Mount Vernon community including food with the art kits. Said Lavan “It was great to see kids happy to be near the Club, and the parents were very appreciative of the Club’s efforts. Our BGCMVNY members and families continue to be in the thoughts of our staff and Board of Directors, and we look forward to gathering again in our vibrant Club.”
Added Campos, “ This has been a very challenging time not being able to serve kids as we would like but we are finding ways to keep our kids engaged. I am proud of our Board, staff, and our entire Club Community for pulling together and doing all we can to keep BGCMV engaged and relevant. I thank them all from the bottom of my heart for pulling together during these very difficult times. A special thanks goes to Fred Schwam and Rob Kestenbaum from our Board, as they have led us during this crisis with guidance from Rob Potack on financial matters. We thank them all for their leadership and guidance.”
About Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon
The Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon offers after school, teen, and summer programs for over 700 youth in the Mount Vernon community, and serves over 1,400 through a variety of other programs to help them learn and grow in a safe, fun, educational environment. Every day, their dedicated, highly trained staff and volunteers serve youth members with a wide variety of engaging, interactive activities and programs, to help them improve their self- esteem, develop positive values, and achieve their highest potential in academic success. The mission of the Boys & Girls Club is to develop today's youth into tomorrow's leaders. For more information, contact Mel Campos, Chief Professional Officer tel: 914 668-9580 mcampos@bgcmvny.org
Boys & Girls Club of America's President and CEO Jim Clark and our Chief Professional Officer Mel Campos give a special message to our community
Lowes Moore, our Executive Director of Development, who proudly served the community for 27 years, has announced his retirement
Press Release
Contact: Mel Campos
Chief Professional Officer
Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon
Tel 914 668-9580 mcampos@bgcmvny.org
After a long and distinguished career, Boys and Girls Club of Mount Vernon Executive Director of Development Lowes Moore, Jr. has decided to retire. He will continue to serve the Club as a consultant.
Moore, a Mount Vernon High School graduate, was a star basketball player who played in college at West Virginia University, and in the NBA with the New Jersey Nets. Moore is also an alumnus of the Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon. Following his outstanding basketball career, in 1993 Moore returned to work at the Club in Mount Vernon. At that time there was little funding to support their after-school programs and their board had considered shutting down the facility, which had been in operation since 1956. Working with volunteers and unpaid staff, Moore played a key role in helping to rebuild the reputation of the Club and offered a fresh start for Mount Vernon area youth who had few alternatives to turn to.
In a prepared statement, Moore said “As I reflect back on my 27-year career with the Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon, there were tough times, long hours, and sacrifices, but It never felt like work because I was always driven by purpose. Making sure the Club was clean and prepared each day and that the kids came through those magical doors was my priority. I am reminded that I was once one of those kids who entered through those same doors and the Club was always prepared for me.” Moore’s dedication and hard work helped bring back many of the hometown heroes who were invested in the Club’s success, including Billy Thomas , James Jones, Denzel Washington, Gus and Ray Williams, Rodney and Scooter McCray, Ben Gordon, Talent, JB Smoove, Mike Philips, Jerald Hoover and many others.
Today, the Club supports over 1,400 area youth and is on sound financial footing. Moore added: “Moving forward I want to continue to support my Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon as an alumnus, and I will consult with the leadership as needed. I am asking all alumni and friends to continue to support the Club in all of your efforts. I will be right there with you as a proud alumnus. I want to thank all of the staff, past and present, for their dedication to our youth, and all of the past Board Members who gave me an opportunity to come home again. Finally, I thank and implore all current Board Members and Donors to continue investing in the future of these awesome youth. Every day for the last 27 years I have tried to provide the same thing for each kid that entered through those doors. I am leaving the Club in great hands. It has been my pleasure to serve you all.”
Said Board President Fred Powers, “We will continue to be grateful for all that Lowes has done and we will always welcome him back to the place he has called his second home.”
About Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon
The Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon offers after school programs for over 1,400 youth in the Mount Vernon community, to help them learn and grow in a safe, fun, educational environment. Every day, their dedicated, highly trained staff and volunteers serve youth members with a wide variety of engaging, interactive activities and programs, to help them improve their self- esteem, develop positive values, and achieve their highest potential in academic success. The mission of the Boys & Girls Club is to develop today's youth into tomorrow's leaders. For more information, contact Mel Campos, Chief Professional Officer, at 914 668-9580 mcampos@bgcmvny.org
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