Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey County Awarded $100,000

May 5, 2011 - PRLog -- Seaside, CA – May 4, 2011 The Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey County (BGCMC) has been awarded $100,000 by the Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation for much needed support to sustain staffing capacity and continue to enable BGCMC to reach youth and impact their lives in a positive, lasting way.

BGCMC’s success hinges on the quality and training of the staff it employs. The Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation’s Grant will enable BGCMC to retain high standards for staff, and continue delivering outcome-based programming built on three impact areas of Academic Success, Healthy Lifestyles and Good Character and Citizenship.

After-school care of our youth is urgently needed. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), reports that the after-school hours, between 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., are a critical time for youth. According to the OJJDP data, during those hours, juvenile crime rates skyrocket and rates of violent victimization of juveniles (murder, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, etc.) also soar.

According to CEO Donna Ferraro, “This grant comes at a time when the perfect storm of community needs increasing and budgets decreasing, continues to challenge our ability to care for the young people who need us most. We are grateful to the Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation, and look forward to a continued partnership with them to help meet the needs of our youth. The message was heard and the response generous.  We must hold on to our staff – it is the quality and longevity of staff and investors like Nancy Buck Ransom that make the difference.”

A program that is supported by the Grant is the Intercession Program, beginning on June 13th and ending on August 5th, held daily from 8:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. This extended care program engages participants in fun, theme based high-yield learning activities. Contact Unit Directors at the Seaside and Salinas Clubhouses to obtain more information about this program.

For more information on the Grant, contact Donna Ferraro at 831-394-5171 or dferraro@bgcmc.org.

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The Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey County (BGCMC) has played an integral role in the community for over 43 years. With Clubhouses in Seaside and Salinas, BGCMC provides youth between the ages of 6-18 an afterschool safe haven where they are mentored to achieve academic success, acquire healthy habits, and develop good character and citizenship. Over 95% of the total budget comes from generous individuals, corporations and foundations. The Clubs are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. during summer and school breaks, and from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. when school is in session. Additional information is available at www.bgcmc.org or via phone at 831-394-5171.