Baker Youth Club Sets Open House Dec. 4
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jordan Fouts-
Furnivall, full-time director of the Warsaw-based youth organization since 2003, recalled playing a lot more basketball in his day. The club now focuses more on academics for its more than 670 members throughout Kosciusko County.
But its aim hasn’t changed.
“It was a safe, fun place to hang out with kids and quality role models. There’s more focus on academics now, but it’s still fun, they still do games and activities,” said Furnivall, a BYC member since age 8. “It’s more than a place to come and hang out – it’s that plus it has the mission to work with the youth of Kosciusko, to educate them, and help them develop their physical and social identities. It’s about mentoring, social skills, those types of things.”
Recent years have seen a revival of Baker-run after-school programs in Claypool, North Webster, Milford, Syracuse and Leesburg. About 300 kids a night attend the two-hour satellite clubs four days a week, where they get homework help from volunteer educators and a snack.
BYC also runs an after-school club for teens in the North Webster Community center and a bus service.
“The numbers have grown tremendously. We're a United Way program, and they've stepped up in the last two years to help with the startups of the satellite clubs,” Furnivall said. United Way accounts for about two-thirds of BYC funding, though it’s projected to increase as donations drop from 37 percent last year to only 20 percent this year.
BYC will hold an open house at its main location in Warsaw Dec. 4 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. BYC is at 765 W. Market St.
Furnivall said the open house is to spread knowledge of the program and its need for funding. There will also be a video message from Coach Bob Lichtenwalter, who joined BYC in 1936 – 10 years after its founding as Baker Boys Club – and served as its second director from 1963 to 1992.
“We’ve been here 87 years and I think most people know about us, but some still don’t,” Furnivall remarked.[[In-content Ad]]
Furnivall, full-time director of the Warsaw-based youth organization since 2003, recalled playing a lot more basketball in his day. The club now focuses more on academics for its more than 670 members throughout Kosciusko County.
But its aim hasn’t changed.
“It was a safe, fun place to hang out with kids and quality role models. There’s more focus on academics now, but it’s still fun, they still do games and activities,” said Furnivall, a BYC member since age 8. “It’s more than a place to come and hang out – it’s that plus it has the mission to work with the youth of Kosciusko, to educate them, and help them develop their physical and social identities. It’s about mentoring, social skills, those types of things.”
Recent years have seen a revival of Baker-run after-school programs in Claypool, North Webster, Milford, Syracuse and Leesburg. About 300 kids a night attend the two-hour satellite clubs four days a week, where they get homework help from volunteer educators and a snack.
BYC also runs an after-school club for teens in the North Webster Community center and a bus service.
“The numbers have grown tremendously. We're a United Way program, and they've stepped up in the last two years to help with the startups of the satellite clubs,” Furnivall said. United Way accounts for about two-thirds of BYC funding, though it’s projected to increase as donations drop from 37 percent last year to only 20 percent this year.
BYC will hold an open house at its main location in Warsaw Dec. 4 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. BYC is at 765 W. Market St.
Furnivall said the open house is to spread knowledge of the program and its need for funding. There will also be a video message from Coach Bob Lichtenwalter, who joined BYC in 1936 – 10 years after its founding as Baker Boys Club – and served as its second director from 1963 to 1992.
“We’ve been here 87 years and I think most people know about us, but some still don’t,” Furnivall remarked.[[In-content Ad]]
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