BGCS video by Will Youngclaus
Boys & Girls of the Sandhills video by Will Youngclaus
The Fun is Coming | Reindeer Fun Run
Club members create signs to thank the fun runners!
The 2011 Reindeer Fun Run is almost here! Every year hundreds (now thousands) of runners and walkers join together on the first Saturday of December for a great time, and to raise money for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sandhills. This year the 5k, 10k, Egg Nog Jog and After Party will be in downtown Aberdeen, NC – and it will be bigger and better than ever!
Visit reindeerfunrun.com for information and to register!
Alpha Kappa Alpha mentors Middle School Girls
Thanks to the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Middle School Girls at the Club have the opportunity to participate in the Emerging Young Leaders Program.
This signature program provides leadership development, civic engagement, enhanced academic preparation and character building experiences.
Alpha Kappa Alpha was the first inter-collegiate Greek-letter sorority established for Black college women. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at Howard University in Washington, D.D., by nine women who were known as The Original Group of 1908, and seven sophomores, who were accepted as honor initiates and are known as The Sophomores of 1910. The leadership the original sixteen exhibited in setting up the sorority has created social and economic capital for over one hundred years.
Alpha Kappa Alpha serves the community through a membership of more than 200,000 women in over 950 chapters in the United States and several other countries. Membership is extended to female college undergraduate and graduate students. The sorority also bestows honorary membership as the highest honor.
Alpha Kappa Alpha states that since the organization’s founding, “the sisterhood of Alpha Kappa Alpha has responded to the world’s increasing complexity. The sorority continues to empower communities through exemplary service initiatives and progressive programs.” The sorority celebrated a centennial anniversary on January 15, 2008.
Shown below is Mrs. Blanchie Carter, former local Alpha Kappa Alpha member, helping Club members from Southern Middle School. Mrs. Carter is a well respected former Principal and Moore County School Board member. She along with other members of her sorority have brought the Emerging Young Leaders Program to the Boys & Girls Club. Thank you AKA!!!
Wells Fargo Donates New Scanners
Stuart Strickland from Wells Fargo is surrounded by Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sandhills members. The Club is very grateful for a grant from Wells Fargo to provide scanners in both the Southern Pines and Aberdeen locations. This scanner allows Club members to scan their cards when they enter instead of having to type their name into the computer. This grant enables the Club to have a quick and efficient way to ensure that all members are accounted for daily. Thank you Wells Fargo Foundation!
Thank you Denzel, JLo, Shaq, Ne-Yo, Shaun White, Martin Sheen and more for starring in the new Boys & Girls Clubs PSA!
Click on this link to see the new Boys & Girls Clubs of America PSA
Fall 2011 Happenings
Another great school year has started and things are happening at the Boys & Girls Clubs. Homework is always a top priority at our two sites in Southern Pines and Aberdeen. Members earn points for completing their homework each day and at the end of the month, can use these points to purchase school supplies and other goodies donated by Board members and friends of the Club.
Special programs are being offered on a weekly basis, such as tennis, art and music, thanks to many dedicated and loyal volunteers. Photographer Meri Hyoky shared her incredible photos from her trip to Africa and answered many questions about what she had experienced living and working in Africa recently.
Eagle Scout Candidate Bo Boals, held a very successful car wash recently and raised over $300 to start a reading club and to create a reading area at the Club complete with a new rug, shelves and a collection 
of gently used and new books for the kids. Thank you Bo!
The kids are looking forward to October. There will be a Halloween Carnival on Fri. Oct. 28th. Don’t be scared of a pink scarecrow!
Ballroom Dance Comes to the Club
Ballroom Dancing came to the Boys & Girls Club last week, thanks to
the Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Pinehurst. Owner Debby Hasson brought 3
of her fabulous dancers to the Club for a demonstration. The Club members
wowed by dips, splits, foxtrots and swing dances. Then Club members were
invited to participate. It didn’t take long before Ms. Debby had members
performing the Cha Cha at full speed. Lots of fun was had by all! Thank you
again Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Pinehurst!
Fun with Ms. Dorrie
Excitement was in the air today at the Club. Volunteer Dorrie Gibson’s highly anticipated visit to help the kids dye Easter Eggs had finally arrived.
As she rushed in with her many supplies and eggs, you could hear the kids whisper, “She’s here! She’s here!” Ms. Dorrie brought not only hard boiled eggs but eggs with the front cut out so the kids could put items inside the dyed egg. Each child was able to dye two or three eggs and then put the eggs in a small bowls complete with recycled green paper grass. They could hardly wait to take them home.
Thank you Ms. Dorrie for sharing your artistic talent with our Club members. Thank you also to Volunteer Anne Steidenger and staff members Chasity Bullock and Uniqua Morrison for making this fun day possible.
Kids from the Club Attend Pinecrest Baseball
‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game’ never sounded so good! Club members were thrilled to be invited to a Pinecrest High School Varsity Baseball game, thanks to former Board member Mike Martin, host of Moore Sports Radio and the Pinecrest High School Athletic Program.
Friday night was the perfect night for baseball. Under a beautiful Carolina moon, fourteen Club members cheered, clapped and munched on pizza etc. as the Patriots beat Purnell Swett handily 9-2. One of the highlights was being asked to lead the crowd during a fifth inning stretch in ‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game” by announcer Johnny Owen from Johnny O’s Awards, which they did with much enthusiasm. Another highlight was being able to talk to the players and coaches and get autographs afterwards. Several of the members were interviewed on Moore Sports Radio by host Mike Martin and Wes Smith of sandhillsDig.com.
It was truly a night to remember! If you or your company is interested in sponsoring a field trip for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sandhills, please contact Caroline or Brandon at 910-692-0777.
Ci'erra Wins Beat Mr. Brandon's Bracket Contest
Mr. Brandon presents Ci'erra with Grand Prize
Another exciting year of College Basketball created another opportunity for bragging rights at the Club. Volunteer Vern Hall sponsored the annual Beat Mr. Brandon’s Bracket contest this year.
Even though Duke was Mr. Brandon’s pic, Club member Ci’erra was the big winner this year. Mr. Brandon presented Ci’erra with the Grand Prize which included a $20 gift certificate to Panera Bread and a $10 gift certificate to Wal Mart.
Congratulations to Ci’erra and all the Club members that participated. Thank you Vern Hall for sponsoring this fun event!