SAVINGOUR KIDSOUR COMMUNITY OUR FUTUREA

ND

Approved by the Capital

Campaign Review Board of

Berks County, Inc.

Dear Friend,

We would like you to meet four of our kids from Olivet Boys & Girls Clubs. They agreed to tell us their personal stories and we decided to share them with you because they are fairly typical of the kids who come through our doors. They found the club and together we found ways to help them reach their goals. They are simply kids whose circumstances make reaching their dreams a little tougher than most.

We are approaching you today because we would like to reach even more kids in the very same manner. Our hope is that you partner with us in that undertaking. Throughout the year 2013, we will be enlisting the support of our friends to reach the goals of Olivet Boys & Girls Club’s Capital and Capacity-Building Campaign. The Capital Campaign will allow us to build a facility in the underserved neighborhoods near Pendora Park. Capacity is needed to sustain all of our Club’s needs during a time in which our kids’ poverty levels are rising and public grant-funding to our programs is drying up.

Ultimately, our vision is to have a Club within walking distance of every child for whom there is a need, and to double the number of kids served over the next five years, thus reaching more than half the kids in the city of Reading.

There are practical motivations for this vision. We feel the expansion of our services impacts everyone in the community, whether they are aware of it or not. Reading was recently named one of the most impoverished cities in America. As we all know, poverty affects the children first. If these kids grow up without a dramatic change of circumstances, our entire community will continue to spiral downward. This is not an opinion. It is born out by research. And it is easy to observe when traveling through our inner city.

The Olivet Boys & Girls Club keeps kids in school. About 92% of our kids graduate with their original ninth grade class. The economic implications of dropping out are well-researched - lower wages and family earnings result in a heavier reliance on public assistance and trouble with the law. The huge economic return of more kids graduating is their escape from these challenges, which benefits our whole community.

A recent New Jersey study indicated that for every dollar invested in Club activities, there is a $15 positive economic benefit to the community. Your support makes a huge difference!

Whatever reason you choose to support this effort, please remember that our goal helps to support the kids’ goals. Changing one life for the better is noteworthy. But, it is far short of our ultimate goal of saving our kids, our community, and our future.

Warmest regards,

Sue Perrotty Chris Kraras General Co-Chair General Co-Chair

“Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.”

--John W. Whitehead

Olivet Boys & Girls Club has been

providing programs in East Reading at

13th & Perkiomen since 1998 in the

former Temple Oheb Shalom donated by

Paul Kozloff. The facility no longer meets

our needs. We are limited in the number

of youth we can serve in an aging building

with high operating costs, no gymnasium

and no off-street parking. We anticipate

expanding the number of youth served

from the current limit of 200 to more than

500 in the proposed Pendora Club.

With our approved Capital Campaign, we

seek to raise a total of $3 million to build

a new full-service facility for the children

in southeast Reading. This effort will also

provide funding for other capital needs

of Olivet Boys & Girls Clubs, including a

new roof at the Oakbrook Club, new HVAC

at the PAL Club, dam renovations at our

Blue Mountain Camp, and new vehicles to

transport our members.

We also have challenged ourselves

to build our capacity to serve more

children in the city of Reading.

Our intention is to double our

membership over the next five

years. To that end we have set

an ambitious goal of raising $5

million over the next five years

for program expansion, outreach

efforts and building

partnerships.

Proposed Pendora Park Site Rendering

NEW CLUB AT PENDORA PARKOur

“The test of a morality of a society is what it does for its children.” --Dietrich BonhoeffeGerman theologian 1906-1945

Reading has one of the

highest percentages of

residents living below

the poverty level in

America. We would like thank Kim, Myrna, Giovanni, Adrian, and

Mya for their stories and a special thank you to Ed Kopicki

for his professional photography services.

If we double the number of kids we serve - we fully believe we can save Reading’s future.

SAVING OUR KIDS, OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR FUTUREOur Goal:

The 2012 College Access Club

members surround Myrna

Fuchs who mentors them in

their college search

MEET KIMTo find out more about Kim on our website go to: http://olivetbgc.org/CapitalCampaign/index.html.

KIMBERLY POLANKO’S GOAL:“I never want to worry about finances for my family like my father worried. Becoming a nurse-practitioner will help me support them when the time comes.”

Kim

With nearly 82% of Olivet Club members

coming from households at or below the

poverty level, the prospects for attending

college, or even just graduating high

school can be challenging. But the Olivet

Boys & Girls Club meets this challenge

head-on with programs that engage

members and help them realize the value

and purpose of education.

That’s why 92% of 12th grade club

members graduated with their original

ninth grade class in 2012. In this same

year, the local city graduation rate was

only 62%.

But the Club goes even further, providing

an innovative program to assist students

in navigating continuing education

opportunities. The College Access

Program is free to club members and

provides a channel for students to receive

professional advice, visit colleges, and

even have application fees waived.

The program is not just about finding a

college – it’s about changing a kid’s life.

One such life is Kim Polanko’s, a member

of Olivet’s Mulberry Street Club. Kim

comes from a large family and had

challenges funding her educational goals.

Kim decided to participate in the College

Access Program. “There is no way I would

have been able to go to college without all

the help Olivet’s offered me,” says Kim.

Myrna Fuchs, the College Access Program

Administrator, gave Kim the personal time,

attention and advice that Kim could not

get from her school. “I have a passion for

helping these kids; I want them to go to a

school that will change their lives.”

That passion and dedication worked.

Kim won admission to Moravian, secured

additional funding from the college, and

entered her freshman year in the fall

of 2012. And she’s not alone – 91%

of the kids who participated in the

College Access Program are enrolled

in a 2 or 4 year degree program.

ACADEMIC SUCCESS STORY

“I am not just trying to find them a college,” states Myrna, I am trying to change their entire lives.” --Myrna FuchsCollege Access Administrator

of “OLIVET CLUB KIDS” graduate from High School verses 61% of NON-MEMBER PEERS of the SAME NEIGHBORHOOD.

Olivet Club Members

Non-Members

92%

Our

ONE OF GIOVANNI ORTIZ’S GOALS:To play Carnegie Hall and make the price of admission a generous donation to a worthy cause.

Giovanni

MEET GIOVANNI

To find out more about Giovanni on

our website go to: http://olivetbgc.org/

CapitalCampaign/index.html.

Giovanni Ortiz is an incredibly talented

11 year old boy, with skills for guitar,

violin and piano that rival those of

his instructors.

In 2011, he was also homeless.

“I ran out of money. I couldn’t pay my

utility bill,” his mother, Yvette recalls.

Having no family nearby she was on her

own to manage this crisis. “I called the

shelter and they told me they had room

for me if I could come right away. I had

no time to think about it.”

While the family still struggles financially,

they now live in a pretty row home near

the Opportunity House Shelter that

helped them through a difficult time.

But a significant impression was left on

Giovanni from the experience, and he

knew he wanted to give back to the place

that helped his family.

“At the Olivet Boys & Girls Club, they

teach us to treat others as we want to be

treated,” says Giovanni. With this ‘Golden

Rule’ in mind, he devised a way to make a

difference for the families at the shelter.

Through his participation in the Club’s

production of the musical, “Annie,”

Giovanni suggested that the free

performance have an admission fee: one

canned good for the Opportunity House.

The suggestion was met with great

enthusiasm from the staff, fellow Club

members and the community as a whole.

So much donated food was collected

from performances that a cargo van

was needed to transport all of it to the

Opportunity House.

But Giovanni remains humble. And

inspired. “I just like helping people.

Now I’m thinking, why not do it more

and more?”

Giovanni’s story is just one brilliant

example of how the Olivet Boys & Girls

Club fosters an environment of community

awareness. In fact, 70% of Club members

say they feel a responsibility to give back

to the community.

GOOD CHARACTER & CITIZENSHIP STORY

“He had this idea in his head that he wanted to give a lot of food to Opportunity House, but I had to explain to him ‘how do we do that if we don’t have money to buy the food or a car to collect it?’ Even when I told him that, he couldn’t give up on it -- he wouldn’t let go of the idea.”-- Yvette Garcia, Giovanni’s mother

86% of Club Members say the Club helps them STAND UP FOR WHAT

THEY BELIEVE.

76% say the Club helps them DO THINGS THEY

COULD NOT DO BEFORE.

86% 76%

Our

ADRIAN PEREZ’S GOAL:To finish his degree in social work and inspire kids in the manner in which he was inspired at the Olivet Boys & Girls Club.

Adrian

MEET ADRIAN

To find out more about Adrian on our

website go to: http://olivetbgc.org/

CapitalCampaign/index.html.

When Adrian Perez arrived in Reading as

a child of seven he rarely left the house

on his own. He came to this country

with his mother and two younger sisters

and moved into a house in the Oakbrook

Housing development of Reading. His

mother’s solution to keep her children

safe, in what she decided was a very risky

neighborhood, was to keep them all inside.

”My mother was strict about leaving the

house. She wanted to keep me off the

street so I wouldn’t have any problems.”

The neighborhood risks were real. He tells

stories of friends not graduating from high

school, some going to jail or worse. “I had

one friend who was involved in a drug

game. He was shot and killed,” Adrian

recalls sadly.

A buddy told Adrian about Olivet when

he was fifteen. He joined and made up

for lost time by throwing himself into

club activities. “I am social; the club was

comfortable and made me feel good. I

was really grateful for the opportunity.”

In addition to basketball, he became a

member of the Keystone Club; he ran

the concession stand and helped with

kid’s café. According to Unit Director and

mentor, Nick Nazario, “He has always

displayed leadership qualities. He has

strong beliefs about not messing with

drugs and alcohol,” a trait he shares with

91% percent of his fellow club members.

The qualities were abundant at LEAP

leadership camp where, as a teen leader,

he conducted a workshop to assist peers in

the pressure of adolescence.

As the only man of the house, Adrian feels

a responsibility to protect his two sisters,

Zuryan, 17 and Zurica, 12. “They look up

to me. If I fail they will be more willing to

fail. I really want to make my Mom proud,

too. I don’t want her to have worries.”

Adrian is double majoring in social work

and political science. Eventually he sees

himself doing work with kids. “I’d really

like to help kids like Nick helped me. He’s

just a great guy. I want to be like that.”

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES STORY

Adrian’s mother’s solution to keep her children safe, in what she decided was a very risky neighborhood, was to keep them all inside.

“My mother was strict about leaving the house. She wanted to keep me off the street so I wouldn’t have any problems.”

91% of Club Members AVOID ALCOHOL,

TOBACCO and OTHER DRUGS.

85% say Club members say they are MORE

RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS.

91% 85%

Our

MYA EASON’S GOAL:To be an Early-Childhood Teacher in order to improve the lives of young children.

Mya

In a Harris survey of

Boys and Girls Club

Alumni- over 57% said

their club experience

saved their lives.

MEET MYATo find out more about Mya on our website go to: http://olivetbgc.org/CapitalCampaign/index.html.

Mya Eason is a girl who does not like to

sit still. Her reasons for coming to Olivet

every day are simple. “I love coming here

because it’s just a great place to be when

I don’t want to be at home. I can do arts

and crafts, I can do my homework, I can

see all my friends, I can just get out of

the house.”

Although only 12 years old, Mya knows

about the dangers of the streets. “It gets

dark fast, and it’s just not safe out. Every

day I hear something on the news about

someone being killed or raped – it’s

unbelievable and barbaric.”

But because of the club, there’s a safe

haven for Mya and other kids in her

neighborhood. “When I come to Olivet,

it’s a positive place to play, just hang out

with friends, talk, eat food and just be

active. At the club, I feel so safe.” And

she’s not alone, 80% of club members

attend the club because they feel safe.

Physical safety is just one aspect of

how the Olivet Club is a safe place.

Mya credits the caring and committed

staff of the Club with creating a warm,

emotionally safe environment. “The Club

is a second home to a lot of kids whose

home situation isn’t very good. There are

positive staff members who, when you’re

not feeling very good, ask you what’s

wrong. They want to help you out.”

Mya doesn’t just enjoy the benefits of

the safety offered by the club – she

actively shares her passion for staying

drug- and alcohol-free with fellow club

members through Berks Pride, an Olivet

performance group that teaches kids

about the dangers of drugs and alcohol

use by performing skits. “We teach kids

to not mess up your body with drugs

and alcohol. You’re messing up your

future. It’s not even cool. I think the

coolest people are the ones who don’t

do that stuff.”

SAFE PLACE STORY

“It gets dark fast and it’s just not safe out, and then I come to Olivet and it’s a positive place to play and just hang out with friends, talk, eat food, and just be active.”

--Mya Eason

86% of Club Members say the Club helped them

FEEL BETTER ABOUT THEMSELVES.

83% are better at saying NO TO THINGS THEY KNOW ARE WRONG.

86% 83%

Our

During the summer months Olivet operates a variety of innovative Camps, from nature and sporting programs at Olivet’s Blue Mountain Camp to swimming programs at the Clinton Street Club, and even theater and music camps at the PAL Center for the Arts. These summer programs provide fun, safe, developmental activities for over 700 youth while providing an alternative to costly childcare services for many struggling parents.

The majority of our members (82%) are from low-income or below-poverty-level families living in Reading. Their access to safe and supportive programs that encourage education, life skill development, character development, and arts and culture is either limited or unavailable. All seven Olivet Clubhouses are located in disadvantaged neighborhoods, and have become dependable, safe and nurturing havens for city youth and their families, who face a wide range of socio-economic challenges on a daily basis.

Poverty affects our children disproportionately, and Olivet programs give hope to children who desperately need it. Shrinking tax revenues, high unemployment, low educational attainment and crime within the city adversely impact inner-city families. Poor nutrition, childhood obesity, elevated high-school dropout rates, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, single parent families, and negative influences on the streets are all components of poverty that impact our children.

The Olivet Boys & Girls Club surrounds kids with positive role models and well-developed programs that encourage them to “dream” again about a positive future. Our club leaders create a culture of positive thinking that empowers, and our programs set high expectations for our youth to achieve their dreams, which enhances their sense of self-efficacy and self-esteem. Club members clearly understand that there is a direct correlation between success and hard work, resulting in empowerment rather than entitlement as their path forward.

During the most recent academic year, the Olivet Boys & Girls Club provided programs and services to more than 4,000 inner-city kids ages 6-18 through seven clubs located in the City of Reading, concentrating on the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Priority Outcomes Areas: Academic Success, Healthy Lifestyles, Good Character and Citizenship

OUTCOMES AND ASPIRATIONS: measures of success

✔ 92% of Olivet Boys & Girls Club members who went through high school with their original freshman year class graduated from high school, compared to only 52% of students in cities with similar demographics.

✔ 88% of elementary school participants increased their academic performance or maintained their good grades.

✔ 68% of secondary school Club members improved or maintained good grades.

✔ 66% of Club members spend more time on homework.

✔ 83% of Club members indicated that they “try harder in school.”

✔ 71% of Club members surveyed expressed more interest in going to school.

✔ 90% of our members expect to graduate from high school

✔ 84% of our members aged nine to eighteen expect to be placed in trade schools, two year or four year learning institutions after graduation

Our goal is to double the number of children served. With your help we can reach that goal.

Our

www.olivetbgc.org

SAVING OUR KIDS, OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR FUTURE