Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania to Open New Clubhouse at Aliquippa Junior/Senior High School
Aliquippa, PA – June 14, 2024 The Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania (BGCWPA) is thrilled to announce the opening of a new Clubhouse at Aliquippa Junior Senior High School for the 2024-2025 school year. This exciting development is the result of a collaborative effort with the Greater Aliquippa Advisory Committee and aims to provide a safe, supportive, and enriching environment for the youth of the Aliquippa community.
The Greater Aliquippa Advisory Committee was established by a diverse collection of dedicated community leaders to guide this process. Members include Dr. Mitchel Nickols, Dr. Cheryl King, Dr. Melvin Steals, Dr. Phillip Woods, Joe West, Tina Price-Genes, Olivia Benson, Ed Palombo, Ed DeMailo, Tyrone Patillo, Mike Warfield, Michael Hauser, Genetha Short, Nora Lemon, Rob Jones, Sam Gill, Rick Shymoniak, Tamu Gilbert, Robert Digiovine Jr., and Salina Moreland.
The Aliquippa Clubhouse will serve students ages 10 through 18 offering both after school and summer programs as well as during school teen programs designed to support academic success, career and life readiness, character and leadership development, and healthy lifestyles. This initiative aligns with BGCWPA’s mission to activate and advance the potential of every child, especially those who need services the most.
“The kids of Aliquippa deserve every opportunity to thrive and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania is honored to be invited to serve this wonderful community,” said Christopher Watts, President & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania. “This new Clubhouse will be a safe, fun, and inclusive place for kids and teens and we are privileged to collaborate with the dedicated leaders of the Greater Aliquippa Advisory Committee and Aliquippa School District to turn this longtime vision into a reality.”
“Speaking on behalf of the Aliquippa Advisory Committee, I know we are making a big step for our community by bringing a Boys & Girls Club to Aliquippa,” said Dr. Mitchel Nickols, Chair of the Advisory Committee. “Having spaces for our kids to learn and thrive will have a tremendous impact across all of our community.”
“The ultimate goal is to inspire and motivate school-age children to embrace their potential, creativity, and individuality, and to encourage them to dream big and work towards their goals,” said Dr. Phillip Woods, Superintendent, Aliquippa School District.
The after-school program for ages 10-13 will follow the Pennsylvania Keystone STARS quality rating improvement system, ensuring a high-quality experience for all participants. Activities will include, arts, reading activities, math and reasoning activities, science and nature activities, and cultural awareness. Programs are designed to be engaging and inspiring, fostering a love of learning and creativity in a safe, inclusive environment. Youth enrolled in these programs are eligible for Child Care Works (CCW), making the programs accessible to families in need of financial assistance.
For Grades 9-12, the Teen Outreach Program (TOP) will be a cornerstone of the high school offerings during the school day. This evidence-based program focuses on building social-emotional skills, developing a positive sense of self, and encouraging community engagement through service projects. Key components of TOP include skills building, self-learning and engaging with the community.
BCGWPA and the Greater Aliquippa Advisory Committee also announced the initiation of a fundraising effort specifically for the Aliquippa Clubhouse. Donations can be made via checks payable to “Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania” with “Aliquippa Clubhouse” specified on the memo line, sent to our headquarters at 317 East Carson Street, West Tower, Suite 238, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Contributions can also be made online at https://bgcwpa.org/give, specifying “Aliquippa Clubhouse” in the memo section.
Peoples, an Essential Utilities Company, made a gift through the Essential Foundation to support the Aliquippa Clubhouse to kick off the Clubhouse fundraising effort. “Peoples believes in making lives better through support of important community organizations, and we’re glad to work with Boys & Girls Club of Western Pennsylvania,” said Vice President of Reliability Ed Palombo. “Their Aliquippa Clubhouse will be a great asset to children and families in the area, and we look forward to seeing the growth that comes from this initiative.”
For more information about BGCWPA visit bgcwpa.org.
###
ABOUT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
For 135 years, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania has worked to advance the potential of youth and teens throughout the Pittsburgh region, now serving more than 7,500 youth and families across 17 locations. We are a safe place for kids to prepare for careers and life, with programs including preschool, before/afterschool, summer camp, teen mentoring, workforce development, STEAM, and sports. Our core values of safety, fun, and inclusion enable us to accelerate progress towards our priority outcomes for youth of Academic Success, Career & Life Readiness, Character & Leadership, and Healthy Lifestyles.