Donation to Help Kids BE GREAT

Each year, almost one-third of California high school students fail to graduate from public high schools with their class. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Redlands – Riverside and San Manuel Band of Mission Indians are looking to change that statistic. As part of our Boys & Girls Clubs Movement’s long-term vision, with its emphasis on deepening their impact in three priority outcome areas: Academic Success, Good Character and Citizenship, and Healthy Lifestyles. Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) developed a new programmatic strategy in 2008 called Every Member, Every Year. Their aim is to ensure that all Club members graduate from high school on time, ready for post-secondary education and a 21st-century career as part of the Be Great: Graduate programming. San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has donated a $75,000 grant to support the program to help Boys & Girls Clubs on a local level have that same impact on kids in our community. With the help from San Manuel Band of Mission Indians teens have the opportunity to receive extra help and guidance outside of the regular school day from a dedicated and caring staff. Through the Be Great Graduate program, Boys & Girls Clubs are changing the lives of children in our local community. “We have been receiving financial support from San Manuel since the construction of our Hansberger Clubhouse in 2006," says Mark Davis, Vice President of Boys & Girls Clubs. “San Manuel has been a strong contributor to our cause of promoting education and after school services in the Inland Empire.” Kevin Ponce, a Boys & Girls Clubs member, began his involvement when the site was located at the Brockton Site as a young kid. However, in his early teens Kevin was pulled away from the Club. During these years Kevin struggled with school and keeping his grades up. Due to these struggles, at the beginning of his junior year at Redlands East Valley High School, Kevin was forced to transfer to Orangewood High, an extended education school, for credit recovery. It was at this point Kevin realized he needed to make a change. Kevin later found himself walking through the familiar glass double-doors of the Clubhouse. Once in the Club Kevin saw many familiar faces as well as many he had never seen. After meeting and greeting all the staff, Kevin shared his story and academic struggles with our Site Director. They both knew the Club was the right place for him. With this in mind, the team spoke to Kevin about Keystone Leadership Club and College Bound – a component of the Be Great: Graduate program. Kevin decided that he would not only attend the Club every day but also join both programs. With the Club, Kevin has participated in college prep workshops, attended Redlands College Fair, and will be visiting campus such as: CSUF, CSULA, UCR, Whittier College and Fullerton College.