BGC Academy

The Elkhart Brady Center has been committed to our community and our members, even with a non-traditional school schedule. We have offered our BGC Academy program since August 17th. BGC Academy serves children from 8:30 am until 2:00 pm, and we offer early drop off starting at 5:30 am. BGC Academy students receive breakfast, lunch, WiFi connectivity, academic support, and recreational brain breaks. Since the program began, we’ve had over 2,700 visits to the Academy. Each of the 2,700 visits is a time that a young person had a safe, positive place to complete schoolwork while having breakfast, lunch, and fun.

Mission Moment

At the Elkhart Brady Center, we have a foster parent who enjoys sending her short term foster children to our program. Late this fall, we got two twins that are five years old. This brother/sister duo was very shy, timid, and anti-social. We attributed this to their rough past and adjusting to a new environment. Slowly they have been opening up and showcasing their personality. With the staff’s hard work and dedication, we have seen these children blossom into wonderfully creative and talkative young members. Foster mom credits the Club’s stability and relationships for helping her foster children adapt and thrive.

Program Highlight: Torch Club

Our program highlight this quarter focuses on our Torch Club, led by Mrs. Nicole. Torch Club provides opportunities for members to demonstrate the positive impact youth and teens can have on their communities.

Through small group, peer-driven Leadership and Service clubs, members ages 10-13 identify needs in their Club or community and create and implement service projects to address those needs. New Leadership and Service Sessions allow members to explore, practice and strengthen critical leadership skills.

This year our Torch Club is working on two projects, one for the Salvation Army and one for the Humane Society. We want to instill the desire to serve others.

The Salvation Army project involves our members building a centerpiece for an Annual Gala. The centerpiece will be auctioned off with the proceeds benefitting the Salvation Army.

For the Humane Society, our members are planning a supplies drive. They will ask our other Club members and their families to bring in items that our local Humane Society needs most.

Impact