TBTF Donates 20k to Boys & Girls Clubs Programming

Zonta Unit

Its true when they say that a picture is worth a thousand words!  The members of the Zonta Unit Boys & Girls Club were quit excited when they were able to participate in the check presentation that took place between Boys & Girls Clubs of Tamp Bay and the Tampa Bay Tech Forum Foundation.

Through  fundraising to date, the TBTF Foundation has funded over $1 million in computer equipment, software, infrastructure, labor and instruction in local Boys and Girls Clubs that collectively serve 1000+ local youth daily.

TBTF is dedicated to providing funding to assist with leveling the “virtual playing field” for kids of all ages and circumstances.  TBTF is sponsoring the First Annual Be Great Film Festival!  Members will have an opportunity to showcase their talents by creating  short films.

Love Shouldn’t Hurt

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  A teen member from the West Tampa Boys and Girls Club wrote an essay on  how she feels about the matter.

            Love can come in many different ways.  Nevertheless, love must be used in the right way instead of the opposite such as verbal and physical abuse.  Today in this world people express themselves or take their anger out by using abuse on another human being.  Well I say abusing someone is totally wrong.  Many people can love a person by caring for them in many ways.  I understand that when people are in an abusive relationship it can be hard to get out of it.   This is because people think that they may be deep in love.  Physical and verbal abuse can hurt a person in a way that doesn’t make the person feel right inside.  Everyday I always think about what my cousin told me, “One pathway can lead to another, but if you keep going down the wrong path you may decide its time to change and it will be too late.  Life is too short to affect someone’s love and most people just want to have a happy life with people they know that really care and love them.  Everybody has goals in their lives but why would you try to bring them down by not showing them love.  Love can make a change and progress in people’s lives.  People will always appreciate you when you show them love.  Many people are frightened to communicate with other people because they have suffered abuse from someone who so-called loved them.  We should all take the time and think about what love does to people and their lives.  If love is used right it will definitely make a better place.

 

 

By:      Kennetha B.

My Summer in the Computer Lab

Hello my name is Damian I’m 12 yrs old and I attend Zonta Boys & Girls Club. This summer in the computer lab  I completed Career launch.  During my Career Launch experience I learned how to fill out a job application, resume, and a cover letter on the computer. I also learned job interviewing  tips. I got some free time on the computer to play games, look for back to school shoes, and listen to music on the Boys & Girls Clubs of America website myclubmylife.com.

TBTF Foundation visits Garry & Mavis Smith Salesian Boys & Girls Club!

On Thursday July 23, 30 TBTF Foundation members were invited out to Garry & Smith Salesian Boys & Girls Club.  While at the club the TBTF members had an opportunity to go on a tour lead by students  from  the club. One of the club members Nalau T. gave a presentation on her business plan for Pooh’s Academy(Day Care).  During the presentation Nalau spoke about her business concept, mission, management, marketing plan and much much more.  The winner and finalists of  the T-shirt contest was presented with the t-shirt that Devin designed, whichcan be purchased  at Tech Jam!  Devin’s club was also given a Wii.  The evening ended with a match up of Guitar Hero between Ton DiBenedetto and T-shirt winner Devin Oliver.  The rematch will take place next week at Tech Jam!

Boys & Girls Club Member wins TBTF T-Shirt Contest

Sixteen year old Devin Oliver was so very excited when he found out that he won the TBTF T-shirt contest.  Devin is from our Jim Walter Interbay Boys & Girls Club.  Devin along with three of his peers was selected as finalist by TBTF. Then the winning design was selected by TBTF members via online voting.  Devin’s design will be on the Tech Jam 09 T-shirts.  The 2009 Tech Jam T-shirts will be available for VIP attendees and sold prior to and at Tech Jam as well.  Thanks to the generosity of TbTF the Jim Walter Interbay Boys and Girls Club members will receive a Nintendo Wii.

Preparing for the future…

During my experience in Club Tech, I have learned many different things like the basics of the computer function. I’ve learned how to use the computer in many different ways. Club Tech is helping me prepare for the future in using the computer. It is a really fun program to be in because this program teaches you how to use shortcuts and all the little different things that you can do when using the computer.  It is taught in a fun way so it can keep your interest so you don’t forget what you have learned. Everyone is using computers now, especially younger kids and when you go through and learn everything you need to know, we will grow up not having to face challenges using the computer. Working with Club Tech has really enhanced my knowledge with the computer. Some of the things that it has taught me is how to save my work on a floppy disk. Others things like what the hard drive is and how to use it. Being in this class has really opened my eyes because the computer is not just used for looking up websites but also for working, learning and a lot of different programs. After being in Club Tech, I would tell everyone to get in this program because it can really teach you a lot about computers.

Tyra Hepburn

Taking a break from reality!

My name is Kimmia Franklin and  I like the computer lab because… in computer lab my friends and I talk, play board games, do neat contests ,draw, and  go on the computers.ost of the websites we go on are educational like fun brain, Fcat explorer, and   one that is not educational and it is … Poptropica! Poptropica is a website  where  kids  like me go on virtual adventures,  in  other words we can let  our  brains  take a break from  reality! In the computer lab we also play on the Playstation2 or watch movies. The computer lab is one of my most favorite places to be at the Boys and Girls Club.

“What the Boys & Girls Club Means To Me…”

During Boys & Girls Club Week, held March 23-March 27, 2009 the members of the Bill Carey Brandon Boys & Girls Club were given the assignment to type: “What does the Boys & Girls Club mean to me?” The members found this question easy to answer.  They simply typed what was in their hearts:

 

Latray J. stated: The Boys & Girls Club is a place where kids can go after school and if you have a bad day, the Boys & Girls Club will make it better with fun games and nice coaches.  The Boys & Girls Club is a big help in the Brandon community. They help lots of kids to be something good when we grow up. So, I look forward to going to the Boys & Girls Club everyday.  So, I wish this letter inspires somebody to come here.  I will highly encourage everybody to come.

Nahimar R stated: To me it means that kids can come to a place where you can learn and have fun like dancing, playing sports, playing games on the computer, and learn how to type on the computer.  Parents can trust the coaches to keep their kids safe.

 

Elijah R. stated: The Boys & Girls Clubs means to me is that I can have fun might make a few friends here, so we can get along and play with each other.  We go on fun field trips that I like.  Also, I can make good choices about things.  What not to do. So it is lots of fun being here and I can learn stuff when Coach Mapps teaches the kids in the Smart Kids.  That’s a group of kids listening to Coach Mapps.  I learned how to play sports and have a great attitude about life.  I feel safe here.

 

Tabrasia W stated: What the Boys & Girls Club means to me…Well it’s not hard at all to respond.  The Boys & Girls Club is to me an honor to be here.  I encourage everyone and everybody to come down and enjoy kickball, staff, and tasty snacks.  At the Bill Carey Brandon Boys & Girls Club one thing I have learned is to live, laugh, and grow.  One thing that inspires me is Smart Kids. It teaches a lot.  Let’s just put it this way… I love it here.

 

 

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa is truly living up to the statement “ A Positive Place for Kids” Boys & Girls Clubs programs emphasize character and leadership development, education and career development, health and life skills, the arts, sports, fitness and recreation.

The Importance of Internet Safety for Kids

On March 4, 2009 Bright House partnered with the Garry & Mavis Smith Salesian Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay to present Virtual Bright Eyes Summit.  Guest speakers for the event were Ben Tillis from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and Rachel Macias from Cable in the Classroom.  Keeping Kids safe was the topic of discussion.  The speakers focused on the importance of parents monitoring their kids while using the internet.  

 

Our children are so internet savvy that parents had no idea what their children were able to do on the internet.  Parents were introduced to terms that are starting to be used more frequently.  Terms such as

 

• Sexting (the act of sending inappropriate pictures through text),
• Cyber bullying (bullying peers through electronic devices such as computers, cell phones etc.).  

The speaker reiterated to the parents that there are consequences for these behaviors.

 

The group was separated and children left to experience an interactive presentation. During the presentation the members were exposed to some of the unsafe things that happen on some of the popular sites like Myspace and facebook.  The Speakers gave the members the harsh reality of what could happen to them if they are not careful while using the internet. 

 

In the conclusion of the presentation parents were left with three important tasks:

 

1. Use parental controls and set rules for your children

2. Help your children be media literate when online

3. Help your children make the right choices when online

 

 

 

Teen entrepreneurs in the making – thanks to JA and the Boys & Girls Clubs

 

 

Recently the TBTF teamed up with the Junior Achievement program to help youth at a local club develop a technology-based company. Teens from the Interbay Boys & Girls Club are presently going through a ten-week program developed by Junior Achievement to create a business from beginning to end. The teens will vote on company officers, choose a name, develop a product to sell and, eventually, make a profit. The entire experience will be captured on video, in a “reality show” format.

Three volunteers from local companies and members of TBTF — Jack Rybicki (LarsonAllen CPA’s), Robert Riddell (Alvarez & Marsal) and Kathy Killingsworth (Tribridge Consulting) — are helping the team with the process. The pilot has been underway for two weeks, and the mentors teaching the program are very eager to see the results. This breakthrough program will help create future entrepreneurs and will eventually extend to other clubs.