Organization Moves to Major Metro Standing
Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County’s recently received positive notification from national headquarters, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, regarding recognition and organizational standing within the Boys & Girls Clubs Movement.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Headquarters based in Atlanta, Georgia will honor Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County for achieving the Silver Level of the League of EAGLES Award Program. Additionally, Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County is now recognized nationally as a Major Metro Organization.
The League of Eagles Award is a key element of the national organization’s Leading Edge: 2020 Board Transformation Strategy. The award recognizes local affiliate organizations for achieving 90% or more of the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) which defines the strength of the organization’s Board of Directors in meeting and exceeding a set of standards which provide an outcome based assessment of the Boards responsibilities and impact for the organization. This awards program measures six key elements of a “strong Board of Directors” which include 75% of individual board members achieving the following:
Engagement. - Engaged and attend Board meetings
Ask. - Ask others face-to-face for funding
Give. - Give back by making a personal financial gift
Lead. - Lead the organization to achieving strategic initiatives
Evaluate. - Evaluate their individual Board performance based on a personal plan
Serve. - Serving actively on committees or task forces of the organization
Reaching this milestone is a significant accomplishment of which only 10% or less of the 1,000 member organizations of the 160 year old national youth development organization met in 2014 and is a testimony of the dedication and commitment of the organization’s Board and executive leadership to serving the youth of your community at the highest level. Recognition was giving to Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County at Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Midwest Regional Conference held October 2015 in Schaumburg, IL.
Additionally, Boys & Girls Clubs of America is now recognizing Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County as a Major Metro Organization. Boys & Girls Clubs of America designated the local Porter County Clubs as a major metro organization based on the following criteria: number of chartered Club sites the organization has, budget size, service area population, and designated market area. The benefits of now serving as a major metro organization include the increase of the capacity, quality, and influence of major metro Club organizations. Further, as a major metro organization, Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County will now engage with other metro organizations, locally and nationally, and actively participate in efforts to increase the reach, strength, and leadership positon of the entire Boys & Girls Clubs Movement.
“I believe that Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County has one of the best non-profit Boards in Northwest Indiana,” states Ryan Smiley, president of Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County. “I could not be more proud of our Board. It is not easy to be recognized nationally by Boys & Girls Clubs of America with a League of Eagles Award. This just further solidifies how dedicated our Board is and how important the youth of our communities is to this amazing group of volunteers! I also am excited to have Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County move to the status of a major metro organization. Not only does this “rank” within the national Movement bring more opportunity to our local youth, we also are now part of the larger national dialogue and we now have a stronger voice to ensure ALL youth have the opportunity to succeed and build GREAT Futures,” Smiley states further.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County has been opening doors to GREAT FUTURES for Porter County’s youth since 1971. Clubs are open after school and provide a great place for youth in grades K-12 to meet friends and have fun while in a safe, supervised environment. When school is out, our Clubs are in! Clubs are open during holidays and in the summer. Annual membership is only $35.00. Financial assistance is available to those who qualify. For information on membership, volunteer opportunities, or to make a tax deductible donation to Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County, please contact your local Club, call (219) 464-7282 or visit bgcpoco.org. Great Futures Start HERE.