I absolutely love Fort Collins during the holidays! The downtown lights and carriage rides, our Gardens on Spring Creek turning into a winter wonderland, and the way our community comes together to support children and families in need. This month, Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County (BGCLC) collected 945 gifts from 15 different businesses and individuals to ensure that every youth who attends the Club was celebrated during our holiday parties. We also supported 42 families, or 169 individuals, with 100 bags full of gifts and $8,450 worth of grocery gift cards through the incredible generosity of our donors and volunteers.
These types of cross-sector partnerships are critical not only in promoting philanthropy, but also for ensuring a healthy local economy. BGCLC provides critical out-of-school care that allows the many working parents in our community to go back to work this week knowing that their children are in a safe place. Our Clubs in Fort Collins, Wellington, and Loveland will operate throughout the holiday break to support school closures across the County.
BGCLC not only supports our local school districts with out-of-school care, but we also partner with Poudre School District on a summer career exploration and workforce development program that has proven not only to be a fun experience for tweens and teens, but also one that helps their academic achievement stay on track. Summer of Discovery provides 8 weeks of learning through the support of local partners including; Colorado State University, Canvas Credit Union, Dohn Construction, and many more. We’re excited to expand this program into Thompson School District and continue to build the future workforce pipeline for our local business community.
BGCLC also provides important leadership development for our kids through programs like our annual Youth of the Year competition. Participants learn how to improve their writing, storytelling, and public speaking skills as they share their personal stories on how being at Club has impacted their lives. The speeches are genuine, heartfelt, and are guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. I invite you to join us on Saturday, February 10 in the Lory Student Center Theater at Colorado State University as we celebrate our Youth of the Year finalists and select our local winner to participate in the statewide competition.
As we close out the year and reflect back on the bright spots and accomplishments, I’m so proud to be part of a community that rallies together to build partnerships and creative solutions to the issues that affect us all. BGCLC is excited to continue to grow to meet the needs of local families in 2024 and we appreciate your ongoing support as we inspire bright futures for all kids in Larimer County. Happy New Year!
