Finishing The Six-Part Series: Baker Youth Club Today
Posted
Staff Report-
As we finish our six-part series on the history of Baker Youth (Boys) Club, I want to start out by saying how intriguing and informative it was doing the research and talking with community members that grew up attending the Club or had a family member that attended. I thought I knew a lot about our past but I still learned some new and interesting stories and hope you have enjoyed either reminiscing or learned some facts about Baker Youth Club. When I (Tracy Furnivall) became executive director in fall 2003, I was very excited about serving an organization that I utilized growing up and have many found memories. I really felt like this was where I was supposed to be! In January 2004, board member John Elliott asked me to meet with him regarding an idea he had about the club. Little did I know his idea was a building project! John and our board members discussed the communities perception over who BYC was in the community and felt we needed to re-identify ourselves. The decision was made … we needed a place of our own and wanted Coach to have a place in history. In summer 2006, construction began on “The Lichtenwalter Center” Home of Baker Youth Club. We are very blessed to live in such caring and giving community. It’s evident in the fact that from late 2004 through early 2007 this community invested more than $2 million to the construction of this facility. The building is debt free, which allows us to focus on raising funds for the programming of our organization. We are also excited to be a United Way Agency since the early 1960s, which greatly helps with our funding! It was Jan. 15, 2007, when we opened the doors to the Lichtenwalter Center. Eighty-one years of serving the youth of Kosciusko County and finally a home of our own. Since then we have seen a big increase in our numbers. In the five years we have been operating in the new building, we have averaged between 60 to 70 children, 25 to 30 free meals, and 30 to 40 free snacks per night. We have had 15 to 20 students taking advantage of the homework room a night. BYC has adapted with the times and started focusing on education with our afterschool program and emphasizing healthy life choices in the summer program. Starting in fall 2011, we reopened our satellite clubs in Claypool and North Webster and opened a new Club in Syracuse. These are afterschool programs that concentrate on academics. BYC will be opening new clubs at Leesburg and Milford elementary schools this fall. As you can see, BYC has been striving to offer all children in the county an opportunity to participate in an afterschool program. As BYC has worked to meet the needs of its members and parents, one of those needs was transportation. In January, after the acquisition of a bus and working with Kosciusko Area Bus Service, we are now providing transportation to BYC after school. In our 86-year history we have never had the means to provide this opportunity and we are excited about the results. Since starting BYC’s bussing program we have seen an increases to averaging more than 100 children, 50 free meals and snacks per night and more than 30 kids utilizing the homework rooms. We always thought transportation was a concern and it has proven true. Eighty-six years, only four directors, thousands of children, an active working board, giving community equals the success of Baker Youth Club. We look forward to continuing to serve the children of Kosciusko County. If you have any questions on any programs or events at BYC, you can visit our website at www.bakeryouthclub.com, find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, call 574-267-8771 or just stop in and visit. The BYC annual golf outing has a new date. It will be June 16 at Rozella Ford Gold Club. We will have morning and afternoon tee times. For more details, call 574-267-8771
