The Club is where kids belong. As the school year winds down, Boys & Girls Clubs of La Porte County (BGCLPC) Club members and staff are busy flying kites, planting seeds, creating 3-D self-portraits and wrapping up specialized programming. These final weeks are also a time for leadership team members to reflect on the organization’s recent growth.
“It’s been an exciting school year for BGCLPC,” says Michelle Shirk, Chief Executive Officer. “We’ve substantially expanded our team, increased capacity at our existing Clubs in Michigan City, and launched new Clubs in Westville and Kingsford Heights. Despite our rapid growth, our community’s generous support has allowed us to continue to offer all programs completely free of charge, ensuring they are accessible to the kids who need us most.”
All five local Boys & Girls Clubs operate from the time school ends until 6:00 PM and provide programming that supports Academic Success, Character & Citizenship and Healthy Lifestyles. The organization currently has 231 registered school year Club members in kindergarten through 8th grades. Beginning June 13, BGCLPC will welcome 154 participants to its full-day summer camp – a 71% increase from 2021. Summer Club members will enjoy STEM enrichment, outdoor activities, field trips, performing arts classes, guest speakers and much more.
BGCLPC eliminated membership fees in 2021 and funds its programs through grants, special events and donations from individuals, businesses and foundations. BGCLPC’s 2021/2022 programming expansion is made possible thanks in part to support from the Healthcare Foundation of La Porte, as well as from Unity Foundation of La Porte County and various other community partners.
“Due to our community partners’ continued support, we have been able to increase our outreach and serve more kids in La Porte County,” says Kylee Fraze Norman, BGCLPC Board Treasurer. “We look forward to further expansion in the near future. Supporting BGCLPC is not just an investment in our community’s youth, it’s an investment in our community as a whole. Thank you to all those who help us create Great Futures for our Club members!”
BGCLPC’s 2021 corporate and foundation supporters included the following:
Great Futures Supporters
21st Century Community Learning Centers
American General Corporation
American Licorice Company
CLH, CPAs & Consultants Duneland Health Council
GAF
Healthcare Foundation of La Porte
Indiana Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs
Jeff and Dawn Dunifon Family Fund
John W. Anderson Foundation
Mary Lou Linnen Family Fund
Michigan City Community Enrichment Corporation
Neale Family Foundation
NIPSCO
Reinhardt H. and Shirley R. Jahn Foundation
Unity Foundation of La Porte County
Woodruff & Sons, Inc.
Unlimited Potential Supporters
1st Source Bank
Brix Tasting Room
General Insurance Services
The Leonard J. and Irene Brown Family Foundation
Michigan City Exchange Club
Newby, Lewis, Kaminski & Jones, LLP
Success Story Supporters
La Porte County Sheriff’s Office
American Hospital Association
Gometz Farm Fund
Kiwanis Club of La Porte
La Porte Seamless Gutter, LLC
Qubit Networks/New Age Telecom
Sauers Buick GMC
Sportsman Bowling League
Boys & Girls Clubs of La Porte County is a member of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, a nationwide affiliation of 4,100 autonomous Club organizations. For more information about BGCLPC and its programming, please visit www.bgclpc.org.