Page 3 - MidWeek Kauai - May 24, 2023

4 COLUMN
MAY 24, 2023 KAUA‘I MIDWEEK 3
Youth Organization Opens Doors To Great Futures
“B By Tina Albao, Chief Development Officer, Boys & Girls Club of Hawai‘i
oys & Girls Club open up doors of possibility, wai‘i is a safe place to go after gives us a safe and they inspire us to do more. school, where they can access space to process We know the moments in our meals they can count on, caring
our emotions and really feel Club are moments that change mentors who believe in them
what we feel.”
“The club has helped me be
everything for keiki.
In 1993, Boys & Girls Club
and meaningful life experienc- es empowering them to discov- er their great futures.
more comfortable with who I am and how I see myself.”
established its first Kaua‘i clubhouse at Kapa‘a High School, giving keiki a positive alternative to being left unsu- pervised after school. Today, we have nine club branches across O‘ahu and Kaua‘i, with nearly 100 employees dedicat- ed to saving and changing the lives of children and teens. For more than 16,000 local kids, the Boys & Girls Club of Ha-
The need in our communi- ty is real. Ninety-six percent of the youth we serve come from families facing financial challenges. One in five youth in Hawai‘i will not graduate on time. With growing economic challenges facing our commu- nity, more parents are reaching out to their local Boys & Girls Club for support.
“I can be a next-generation leader even though I still have a lot to learn.”
These are words from some of the thousands of youth that Boys & Girls Club of Hawai‘i serves. They remind us of the power of positive adult men- tors who notice their strengths, listen to their concerns and
(From left) No‘eau Seau, Noi Rita, Eleu Aguilar and Kaumana Kahaunaile are Kapa‘a clubhouse members who stay active through fun field activities after school, where they can flex their muscles. PHOTO COURTESY BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF HAWAI‘I
Great Futures is an annual campaign where the entire community comes together to support our youth by giv- ing them the resources they need during and afterschool to make their futures bright-
er. Culminating on May 24, Great Futures Day, every do- nation allows Boys & Girls Club Hawai‘i to help youth who walk through our doors discover hope, confidence and possibilities. We can
only empower our youth to reach their full potential as productive, caring, respon- sible citizens with your help.
If you’d like to learn more or make a donation, visit bgch.com.
Fill in the blank cells using numbers 1 to 9. Each number can appear only once in each row, column, and 3x3 block. Use logic and process of elimination to solve the puzzle. The difficulty level ranges from Bronze (easiest) to Silver to Gold (hardest). Answers are on page 7
RATING: GOLD
Kauai Veterans Center FREE
Gates open at 5:00pm Entertainment 6:00pm - 10:00pm
ADMISSION
Okinawan Food • Okinawan Eisa Bon Dance • Japanese Bon Dance • Sanshi Performances Live Entertainment • Crafters • Country Store with Produce, Plants & Baked Goods