MetLife Foundation recently awarded a VOLUNTEER VENTURES grant of $1,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County (BGCPC) to support their Link & Learn tutoring program which assists children who are struggling academically by “linking” them with their own volunteer tutor for 45-minute tutoring sessions. 
With a new corporate slogan of “Great Futures Start Here”, BGCPC continually strives to provide Club members with every advantage necessary to reinforce learning, improve academic achievements and ensure personal future successes. “This program is based on research that shows the single greatest factor in helping a child succeed academically is a strong relationship with a caring adult,” said Steve Beekman, Director of Operations for BGCPC.
The MetLife Foundation’s VOLUNTEER VENTURES Program encourages and supports employee involvement at the local level in nonprofit organizations that work to improve the quality of life for all. Grants are made for specific projects in which MetLife employees have continuing involvement as volunteers. Granting of the Link & Learn project was proposed by James F. Lewis, an employee of MetLife Financial Services who has been a longtime supporter of the BGCPC and currently serves on its Board of Directors.
The Boys & Girls Club of Porter County provides children ages 5 to 18 with quality programming emphasizing character and leadership, education and career development; community service; technology training; financial literacy; health and life skills; the arts; sports, fitness and recreation; and family outreach.
The club operates facilities in Valparaiso, South Haven, Duneland and Portage. For more information on membership, volunteer opportunities or to make a tax deductible donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County, please contact your local Club or call (219) 464-7282 or visit www.bgcpoco.org.
Photo: (l-r) Jim Lewis of MetLife Financial is pictured with members of the Valparaiso Boys & Girls Club currently in the Link & Learn program.