Oceano, CA – [June 15, 2009] - The Arroyo Grande Rotary Club generously donated $3000 to the south San Luis Obispo (SLO) County Boys and Girls Club (B&GC) at its weekly meeting on Thursday, June 11, 2009, giving the club a financial “shot in the arm” in its efforts to raise funds for its programs this year. Moyses Muguira, Executive Director of the south SLO County B&GC, Jack Smith and Juanita McMullen, south SLO B&GC Board members accepted the $3000 check from Kendra Kimlinger, President of the Arroyo Grande Rotary Club. “The support for our club from the Arroyo Grande Rotary Club during these difficult financial times is heartwarming.” said Muguira. “Because of the recession, we were unable to hold our annual auction fundraiser this year. Instead, we are reaching out anyway we can to raise needed funds to keep our excellent programs going at the club.”

“The Arroyo Grande Rotary Club is hoping this donation is just the first of many financial donations from area services clubs, businesses and individuals to help the Boys and Girls Club keep up the great work they’re doing,” says Kendra Kimlinger. “We truly feel it’s our duty to help this wonderful organization provide a safe environment for the children in the communities where they live.”

Like most Boys and Girls Clubs across the U.S., the south SLO County B&GC has a mission or movement to enable all young people, especially those who need it most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. The club which provides services to over 2900 children and teenagers each year, has four locations in south SLO County; Oceano Teen Clubhouse, Oceano Elementary School, Grover Heights Elementary school, Bellevue Santa-Fe Charter school, and a Pismo Beach Summer Camp.

The south SLO County B&GC offers children and teenagers a safe place to grow and learn, ongoing relationships with caring, adult professionals, life-enhancing programs and character development experiences and hope and opportunity. Children who participate in club activities find a sense of belonging, a sense of usefulness, a sense of power and influence and a sense of competence. The Club
Programs produce an outcome of positive self-identity for most of the children it serves. Ultimately it enhances a child’s competency in education, employment, social, emotional and cultural.

The core programs of the south SLO B&GC are character and leadership development, education and career development, health and life skills, the Arts and sports, fitness and recreation. Many adults who participated in a Boys and Girls Club as a child are now involved in community and civic affairs in the communities where they live.

The south SLO County B&GC is staffed by an Executive Director, a Director of Program Operations, a Kindergarten teacher, four coordinators for the five locations of the club, two case managers and a teen coordinator and seventeen recreation program aides. Programs of the south SLO County B&GC include two early bird programs, two kindergarten programs, three after school bright future enrichment programs, a teen center, and one summer camp.

Because the south SLO County B&GC is a non profit organization, it is funded by grants, foundations, corporate gifts, individuals who donate to the club, service clubs such as the Arroyo Grande Rotary Club, and an annual sustaining membership drive. Any individual, business or service club wishing to financially support the South San Luis Obispo County Boys and Girls Club should contact Moyses Muguira at (805) 481-7339.