Current BBF News

"The best way to get involved in BBF is to tune in to what's going on inside."

• After School Matters (ASM) - Step Program
  
  
• New After School Program Director
  
  
• The Lead Program
  
  
• New Computers
  
  
  
• BBF Annual Meeting
  
  
• Friday Night Fights 2008

After School Matters (ASM) - STEP Program
(Click here for pictures)

On July 30, 2008, 28 students, enrolled in BBF/ASM’s pre-apprenticeship program-STEP (Successful Teen Employment Progress), visited Fermilab.  Teens ranging from 13-18 learned that Fermilab was created to research technology used to make the atom bomb possible.  Most notable technology created which was discussed was the CAT Scan machine.

Youth also met Maurice Ball, M.S., Mechanical Engineer one of two African-American engineers in the Fermilab.  He provided information on magnetic properties and potential internships in summer ’09.

In addition, youth took special interest in the liquid nitrogen experiments conducted by Sue Sheehan's team with a balloon, flower, tennis ball, metal and etc... they did leave their seat rather quickly when some fog from the liquid nitrogen flowed over the table and on to the floor.  Some remained furthest from the experiments for the rest of the session.  They all had a great time.

New After School Program Director

Jose Vilella joined the team at Better Boys Foundation as the After School Programs Director July 2008.  Jose brings to the Foundation 22 years of professional youth work experience.  Working at St. Vincent DePaul Day Care Center as a teen during the summers of 1982-84, he learned the fundamentals of working and interacting with youth from professional staff.

After his graduation from Lincoln Park High School in 1985 he teamed up with the Kiwanis Boys & Girls Club working part time while attending college. His influence was felt almost immediately when one of his programs won a program excellence award, giving him respect among his peers and acknowledgment within the organization opening the door for others to look at social recreation in a new light.

He later graduated from Harry S. Truman College with an Associates of Arts in Business Administration while working at his new home away from home in the Julia C. Lathrop Homes.  He spent 8 1/2 years involved with youth, families and the community working at the Daniel A. Cotter Boys & Girls Club.

After his graduation from Northeastern Illinois University with a Bachelors of Arts degree he ventured to BUILD, Inc. (Broader Urban Involvement and Leadership Development), where he assisted in program development expanding services to high schools and communities alike in the area of violence prevention and intervention.

He moved on to provide leadership to the Logan Square Boys & Girls as their Program Director, where he quickly expanded summer and teen services increasing hours and membership for the organization.  He also serves on the Logan Square Neighborhood Association Board as their 2nd Vice-President and remains site-captain for Chicago River Day for Friends of the Chicago River, a title he's held for 12 years.

Jose is also a year-round bike rider, enjoys playing football during season through March and welcomes a good game of Scrabble.

His new journey incorporates Better Boys Foundation and his acceptance into the Masters of Education in Youth Development program at the University of Illinois at Chicago.  This latest chapter will begin this fall 2008.

The LEAD Program

The LEAD Program has several adventures scheduled throughout the summer.  These adventures will give children the opportunity to participate in cultural and educational experiences. 

Taste of Chicago: June 27, 2008
The enlightened the children on different ethnic food groups. It also gave the children an opportunity to interact with other nationalities.

Haunted Trails: July 11, 2008
This adventure will strengthen the children socially and physically.  The children will be exposed to miniature golf, race car, tennis and baseball.

The Grove Farm: July 18, 2008
The Grove will help the children step back in time to experience life as a pioneer in the 1800’s.

Indoor Water Park: July 25, 2008
Children just having fun

Ballet Program:
Allyson Ratliff, who has several years experience in ballet has offered to volunteer her time at BBF to teach ballet class once a week.  This class teaches the children great discipline, which can be helpful throughout life.  The children in this program have learned how control their muscles as well as demonstrating graceful techniques. 

Sorority Program:
This Program encourages high scholastic and moral standards, to encourage unison and friendship among girls.  This program gives the young ladies a glimpse into the future of college life.  It also helps them to embrace every young girl regardless of their race, religion or ethnicity. 

New Computers

The Computer bug has taken over the BBF. Thanks to the Apple Mobile Cart, both the TEEN and LEAD Programs are equipped with their own mobile computer labs. The TEEN Program has an open computer lab 4 days a week with Friday's being reserved for specialized computer classes.

The LEAD group also gets specialized classes one day a week. The children are excited and enthusiastic about the creative possibilities the laptops give them. So far, the children have made Mother's Day cards using Pages, designed their own dream homes with Google Sketch up, and are becoming more web savvy!

BBF Annual Meeting (Click here for pictures)

The Better Boys Foundation held its Annual Meeting on June 20, 2008 aboard the Celebration as it cruised Lake Michigan. The organization elected seven new Directors:

• Tracy Berger
• Irene Michaels
• Phillip Siegel
• Erick Soderberg
• Lovetta J. Spencer
• Rhonda Stivers
• Cynthia Weis

A number of special friends were recognized for their exceptional contributions to BBF during the past year:

• FCL Builders
• Polo Ralph Lauren
• Kraft Employees Fund
• SG2
• L’Oreal USA
• McCaffrey Interest
• Barbara Morris
• John R. Gates
  
• Robyn Richardson
  
• Alma Hopkins
  
• Joanne Klee
  
• Lisa M. Henry‐Reid, M.D.
  
• Jason Boulware
  
• Robert B. Huff Scholarship
  
• Hyde Park School of Dance
  
• Linda Weikers
  
• Michael Solheim
  
• Diana Harris

Two awards that are made on the basis of staff voting were also announced during the meeting.

The Most Valuable Employee Award was presented to:

Judy Prentiss

The John Gates Award recognizing extraordinary dedication to BBF was awarded to:

Belvon Walker

BBF “Fights” for North Lawndale Kids
at 5th Annual Gala Fundraiser (Click here for pictures)

More than 200 guests attended Friday Night Fights 2008, BBF’s signature annual fundraising event.  This year's event was held on Friday, May 16, 2008, from 6:30pm to 11:30pm in the Crystal Ballroom of the Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel.  CBS2 Chicago weekend morning co-anchors Suzanne LeMignot and Michael Puccinelli welcomed guests to a black tie evening featuring cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, silent and live auctions, dinner and live music, a raffle drawing, and the evening's signature event, Golden Gloves boxing. A Late Night Cabaret was also held in the Knickerbocker's upstairs lounge from 11:30pm to 1:30am.

The evening was a grand success, raising significant funds for BBF and providing guests with a very unique charity event experience.  BBF Board Members and Gala Co-Chairs Michael Foster and Vonita Reescer spearheaded the Friday Night Fights 2008 effort.  “This year we departed somewhat from the boxing fundraisers BBF has hosted in the past,” said Ms. Reescer.  “Friday Night Fights 2008 was an elegant evening affair, modern and sophisticated, yet reminiscent of 1950s black-tie boxing events. It was a very special evening that helped raise a lot of money for BBF.”  Mr. Foster seconded Ms. Reescer’s enthusiasm, adding that “the event was innovative and exciting and attracted not only many of BBF’s long-time supporters, but many new people as well.  The event not only raised money, it raised BBF’s visibility in the wider Chicago philanthropic community.”

Among attendees were Cubs great Billy Williams, Illinois Senator Emil Jones, Jr., former Chicago Board of Education President Michael Scott, and former Illinois Boxing Commissioner Phil Siegel, who also served as the vent’s honorary committee chairman.   Event sponsors included Fifth Third Bank, Chrysler LLC, Northern Trust and Amalgamated Bank.  BBF thanks these guests and sponsorship-level supporters as well as the many other people who helped make Friday Night Fights 2008—members of the event and honorary committees, guests, event donors, advertisers, auction, raffle and gift bag contributors, event volunteers, and event vendors.

Copyright © 2007 Better Boys Foundation