Boys & Girls Club Receives United Way Grant

From the Boys & Girls Club:

The Manassas Boys & Girls Club has received over $10,000 from the United Way Community Impact Grant to be used to upgrade the site’s Club Tech program to “center of excellence.”

Club Tech is an ambitious, multi-year initiative led by Microsoft and Comcast to provide all Boys & Girls Clubs with state-of-the-art software, hardware and programming to build youth members’ computer skills and integrate technology in core program areas. The Club Tech program at the Manassas Boys & Girls Club will give up to 1,500 annual youth members each year, from ages 5 to 17, access to a curriculum that advances their computer literacy skills through a 12-unit series.  The program also bridges the gap for youth who don’t have access to a cell phone, computer or an Internet connection at home.

The United Way Community Impact Grant will upgrade the Manassas Club to a “center of excellence” with the newest software that emphasizes Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and even robotics programming in partnership with BAE Systems located in Manassas.  The grant will also purchase new CPUs to replace the 15 central processing units that are nearly seven years old.  Monitors have already been upgraded. In addition, volunteers from Marriott International, based in Bethesda, Maryland, will be updating the colors and furniture for the computer lab.  Boys & Girls Club Regional Director Keeyana Mahoney will oversee staff training, program rollout and program outcomes.

“What great timing, to ramp up our Manassas Club with this outrageous technology for our summer programming, when it is vital for youth to maintain and gain skills that will benefit them when they return to school next fall,” says Boys & Girls Club Regional Director Glenn Vickers.  “We are very grateful to United Way and to the donors who direct their pledge to the Community Impact Fund and designate BGCGW United Way #8047.”

For more information, an Open House is scheduled on Wed., March 14 from 5-7 pm and Sat., March 31 from 11 to 1 pm at the Manassas Club, 9501 Dean Park Lane, as well as the Hylton Club, 5070 Dale Blvd., Dale City; and General Heiser Club, 17565 Old Stage Coach Road, Dumfries. The “Send A Kid To Camp” campaign hopes to raise $40,000 for camper scholarships by June 7.