Boys & Girls Clubs’ ‘Project Learn’ wins grant

Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Oregon is the recipient of a $20,000 2013 Education Initiative grant from the Safeco Insurance Foundation.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Oregon is one of 62 grant winners based on its work through a program called Project Learn, which reinforces and enhances the knowledge gained from school through “high-yield” learning activities.

This includes leisure reading, writing activities, homework assistance and fun, educational programs. Project Learn also encourages Club members to become confident, self-directed learners by offering academic support and recognition throughout the school year.

“Thanks to the grant from the Safeco Insurance Foundation, over 100 Club members enrolled in Project Learn throughout Deschutes County received after-school tutoring and academic support.

Through pre and post tests distributed during the school year, we saw 100% of middle and high school students either advance to their next grade level or graduate! And over 60% of all the kids enrolled expressed becoming more confident learners and developed more responsible study habits,” said Lisa Maxwell, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Oregon.

There were many academic success stories to be proud of at all four Clubs in Central Oregon. Here is one story from the Boys & Girls Club in Redmond that highlights the positive impacts of Project Learn:

Abigail has been a loyal Club member for five years and is enrolled in Project Learn. She is an amazing young lady with a great personality, a kind heart, and a bright future ahead of her.

Last school year, Abigail struggled to keep up with her schoolwork. Her grades started to slip, and this caused increasing amounts of self-doubt. Abigail approached staff members for help, which was something very difficult for her to do.

Together, Abigail and her teen director sat down and created a list of things she needed to get done and a timeline in which they were due. Despite her head full of doubts, after lots of hard work, dedication and a teen director to help guide her along, Abigail accomplished everything on that list! Her grades showed a tremendous improvement, as well as her self confidence.

Abigail knows that the Boys & Girls Club will always be there for her to lend a helping hand and to support her through difficult times.

“The education initiative is just one way the Safeco Insurance Foundation can support organizations like Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Oregon that work hard to open the doors to education for many local kids throughout Washington and Oregon,” said Paul Hollie, director, Safeco Insurance Foundation.

The Safeco Insurance Foundation launched its first Education Initiative in 2009 and has since awarded nearly $3.5 million to over 60 nonprofit organizations throughout the Pacific Northwest. For its tradition of supporting education, the Safeco Insurance Foundation was recently recognized by the Puget Sound Business Journal with a 2013 Healthy Community Corporate Champion award for education.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Oregon

Since 1994, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Oregon (www.bgcco.org) has served the disadvantaged youth of Central Oregon. The Clubs in Central Oregon provide critical services to over 1,532 youth, ages 5-18, at our four locations in Deschutes County. Our 218 adult and youth volunteers donate over $67,595 in services to the organization annually.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Oregon’s mission is “to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens. We offer programming focusing on three core areas: Academic Success, Character and Citizenship, and Healthy Lifestyles. BGCCO believes that each child must be given the means necessary to become healthy and productive citizens, regardless of the community resources.

About Safeco Insurance

In business since 1923 and based in Seattle, Wash., Safeco Insurance sells personal automobile, homeowners and specialty products through a network of more than 10,000 independent insurance agencies throughout the United States. Safeco is a Liberty Mutual Insurance company.

Boston-based Liberty Mutual Insurance is a diversified global insurer and the third largest property and casualty insurer in the U.S. based on 2012 direct premiums written as reported by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Liberty Mutual Insurance also ranks 81st on the Fortune 100 list of largest U.S. corporations, based on 2012 revenue.

For more information about Safeco Insurance, go to www.Safeco.com.