In 2006 the Boys & Girls Clubs will be celebrating 100 years of changing lives of youth and we want you to be a part of this celebration!  As alumni, you are a very important part of the Boys & Girls Clubs and we want to recognize you and how the Boys & Girls Clubs has impacted your life. 

Nationally, the Clubs have changed in many ways over the years... not only changing the name officially to Boys & Girls Clubs of America in 1990... but truly becoming a place of hope and opportunity for all young people, male and female.

Moreover, Boys & Girls Clubs emphasize educational achievement and career preparation, in addition to the sports, recreation, leadership and character development programs that have been the hallmark of Clubs for more than a century.

Don't miss out on an opportunity to relive moments, that have forever impacted your life at the Positive Place for Kids, come on home and celebrate with us!

Click here to come on home with thousands of other Boys & Girls Clubs alumni.

 

Changing Lives...                                                     

Levelle Moton -- Raleigh Boys Clubs Alumnus
 

Mr. Levelle Moton is proof that the Boys & Girls Clubs change lives.  The Raleigh Boys Club provided an encouraging environment, his mother with peace of mind, and introduced Levelle to basketball.  Levelle had never played any team sports until joining the Boys Club, and his talent in basketball was quickly recognized.  Levelle went on to play at North Carolina Central University, was inducted into the NCCU Athletic Hall of Fame, played professional basketball overseas, and now teaches and is the head basketball coach at Sanderson High School.

The Raleigh Boys Club was something stable in Levelle’s life.  Levelle describes the friends that didn’t attend the Boys Club as those who turned to drugs and the streets and continued down the wrong path. 

 The Boys Club kept Levelle on the right path and provided him with the encouragement and mentors to help him.  Moton lacked male mentors in his life -- and the Boys & Girls Clubs sufficed with strong male leaders that provided insight and guidance.  Mr. Ron Williams, retired Boys Club director, established a bond that Levelle needed.  Levelle remembers Mr. Williams driving him home every day for 5 years, a sacrifice that makes him smile today. 

“Now I realize that there had to be some times when Mr. Williams had a date or something but he always drove me home!  He sacrificed so much of his time for me.  He made me feel special.” 

Looking at all he has accomplished he now he says,

 “Where would I really be without the Boys Club?”

Levelle still recalls all the activities that he did while attending the Raleigh Boys Club that shaped his life, and made his dreams come true.  He remembers when he was 9 years old, winning a Pepsi Hot Shots Basketball Contest at the Boys Club and being flown out to Washington D.C. to compete during halftime of an NBA game. 

 “I just remember looking up at all the people in the stands and just shaking.  It is every little boys dream to be an NBA player.” 

The Boys Club not only taught him responsibility skills, but gave him hope for a future.  Today Levelle uses those same tools to guide his life.  These are skills that he uses everyday with his students, players, and with his parent/teacher relationships. 

Levelle Moton continues to be a part of the Boys & Girls Clubs family by inviting Club Kids to attend his summer basketball clinics hosted by NBA stars for no charge.  His advice to kids in the Boys & Girls Clubs today is to “be a leader, not a follower” -- and he is a prime example of that

get involved!

You can make a difference for children that lasts a lifetime. The gift of your financial support, or your time as a program volunteer will help to ensure that the programs of the Boys & Girls Clubs continue to change lives for the better. Our mission is to help young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, realize their potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. And your donation of time and treasure can help make this a reality. Choose from one of the below to find out more about getting involved: Donate Volunteer Fundraising Become a Young Advocate Job Opportunities

Study Shows Clubs Work Boys & Girls Clubs of America has been changing young lives since 1860 when the first Club was organized. An independent study of Club alumni confirms what Club professionals and alumni have known all along. Clubs work. Results of this study indisputably prove that the Club experience gives children advantages that last a lifetime. Clubs throughout America - and affiliates overseas - are providing the guidance and care needed to turn young lives around. In fact, more than half of Club alumni recently surveyed say the Club saved their lives. An independent survey of alumni, conducted by Louis Harris & Associates, verifies that Boys & Girls Clubs widely benefit young people through effective programs that foster self-confidence, a sense of belonging and hope for the future. Additionally, communities in need gain much from the presence of Clubs. Alumni from economically and socially disadvantaged backgrounds strongly emphasize the positive impact of Clubs. Boys & Girls Clubs are located in all 50 states, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia and on military bases throughout the world. More than 3,000 Clubs serve some 3.3 million young people, providing opportunities that impact lives and create the productive citizens and leaders of tomorrow. Boys & Girls Clubs Critical to Success This study determined that "alumni view their experiences with Clubs as highly positive, critical to their successes, and, for many, essential to their survival." The survey also determined that Clubs had a profound impact on many who report their lives had been saved. Some 30% of alumni from "tough" neighborhoods and 38% of African-American alumni polled strongly agree. For more information about the Boys & Girls Clubs alumni program, please contact Tia McLaurin at (919) 834-6282 or by clicking here.