Annual Report
Dear Friends of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley,
I would like to share a little history about an organization referred to as “The Positive Place for Kids.” The Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley has been around since 1963. So much has been accomplished- with many “firsts” in the last 44 years, beginning with just one branch in Tempe. We were the first Boys & Girls Club organization in the entire state to serve both boys and girls. We were the first in the state to have female board members. We were the first in Arizona to serve youth on Native American soil… and we are proud to announce our President/CEO Ramon Elias is the first executive in the entire state to receive the prestigious Masters and Mentors honor which is the highest honor bestowed upon a Boys & Girls Club professional staff member in the Boys & Girls Clubs movement. Only 30 people have ever received this honor.
Today, in 2007… our organization now serves more than 30,000 children annually in the East Valley at 11 branch locations. Plus, we are the only Boys & Girls Club running a charter school in the entire state- the Mesa Arts Academy, yet another first. We're proud to say that 100-percent of the 8th graders passed the math and reading portions of the AIMS test… and 100-percent of both 3rd and 7th graders passed the AIMS writing test. I did want to share a special event with you that has a special place in my heart. For Thanksgiving dinner, our Board assisted and served hundreds of families at the Mesa Grant Woods Branch. I was very impressed to see fellow board members take their roles so seriously and wanting give back in this special way. I really enjoyed seeing the smile on every ones faces as we gave them a hot tasty Thanksgiving meal. I cannot underscore how much fun it was to be with my board and serve the kids we care so much about ... it was just great! It is truly an honor to humbly serve with such a great organization!.
Sincerely,