The Club is where kids belong. As the school year winds down, Boys & Girls Clubs of La Porte County (BGCLPC) Club members and staff are busy flying kites, planting seeds, creating 3-D self-portraits and wrapping up specialized programming. These final weeks are also a time for leadership team members to reflect on the organization’s recent growth.

“It’s been an exciting school year for BGCLPC,” says Michelle Shirk, Chief Executive Officer. “We’ve substantially expanded our team, increased capacity at our existing Clubs in Michigan City, and launched new Clubs in Westville and Kingsford Heights. Despite our rapid growth, our community’s generous support has allowed us to continue to offer all programs completely free of charge, ensuring they are accessible to the kids who need us most.”

All five local Boys & Girls Clubs operate from the time school ends until 6:00 PM and provide programming that supports Academic Success, Character & Citizenship and Healthy Lifestyles. The organization currently has 231 registered school year Club members in kindergarten through 8^th grades. Beginning June 13, BGCLPC will welcome 154 participants to its full-day summer camp – a 71% increase from 2021. Summer Club members will enjoy STEM enrichment, outdoor activities, field trips, performing arts classes, guest speakers and much more.

BGCLPC eliminated membership fees in 2021 and funds its programs through grants, special events and donations from individuals, businesses and foundations. BGCLPC’s 2021/2022 programming expansion is made possible thanks in part to support from the Healthcare Foundation of La Porte, as well as from Unity Foundation of La Porte County and various other community partners.

“Due to our community partners’ continued support, we have been able to increase our outreach and serve more kids in La Porte County,” says Kylee Fraze Norman, BGCLPC Board Treasurer. “We look forward to further expansion in the near future. Supporting BGCLPC is not just an investment in our community’s youth, it’s an investment in our community as a whole. Thank you to all those who help us create Great Futures for our Club members!”

BGCLPC’s 2021 corporate and foundation supporters included the following:

Great Futures Supporters

21^st Century Community Learning Centers

American General Corporation

American Licorice Company

CLH, CPAs & Consultants

Duneland Health Council

GAF

Healthcare Foundation of La Porte

Indiana Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs

Jeff and Dawn Dunifon Family Fund

John W. Anderson Foundation

Mary Lou Linnen Family Fund

Michigan City Community Enrichment Corporation

Neale Family Foundation

NIPSCO

Reinhardt H. and Shirley R. Jahn Foundation

Unity Foundation of La Porte County

Woodruff & Sons, Inc.

Unlimited Potential Supporters

1^st Source Bank

Brix Tasting Room

General Insurance Services

The Leonard J. and Irene Brown Family Foundation

Michigan City Exchange Club

Newby, Lewis, Kaminski & Jones, LLP

Success Story Supporters

La Porte County Sheriff’s Office

American Hospital Association

Gometz Farm Fund

Kiwanis Club of La Porte

La Porte Seamless Gutter, LLC

Qubit Networks/New Age Telecom

Sauers Buick GMC

Sportsman Bowling League

Boys & Girls Clubs of La Porte County is a member of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, a nationwide affiliation of 4,100 autonomous Club organizations. For more information about BGCLPC and its programming, please visit www.bgclpc.org.