Letters from Members, Parents, Alumni

Tanya's Story

I want you to imagine a 13 year old girl. She has a bandana hanging from her back pocket. Her make up is dark and thick, and she wears clothes that leave little to the boy's imagination. She wanders the streets when most people are asleep, because at her house the lights are still on and you can hear the arguing from a block away. Angry, lost, and broken-hearted, she feels safer walking alone in a dark city than she does in her own home. She frequently walks by a place called the Boys and Girls Club, and one day finally decides to go in.

That scared, young girls is me. I am now 26 years old and I am here to tell you... The Boys and Girls Club saves lives. I was lucky enough to be a part of this spectacular Club and it made me who I am today.  

While the staff helped me there was one mentor who impacted me deeply. At one point when I was struggling, I came to Rashell in tears. She comforted me and explained a quote by Charles R Swindoll, "Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it." That we chose the attitude we embrace each day. When I am having a difficult time, I still refer back to this and it gives me strength.

I am now married to a wonderful man, and we are foster parents in the process of adopting an amazing child, who is also a Club member. When our child is facing hardship, I do not think "what did my parents do for me" but rather, "what did the Boys & Girls Club do for me" when I was in a similar situation.

I use what the Club taught me every day in my life. When you are young and grow up without a positive influence, it is all too easy to follow whoever is willing to lead. Every child needs a positive place to go, and someone to lead them in the right direction. The Club is that place and has those awesome people who can truly save lives, and I am living proof of that.

My story is only one of many, whose life was forever changed by the Boys and Girls Club. To those of us who do not have a home to go to, or a healthy family to guide us, the Club serves as a replacement. The Club is my home and the people are my family. 

The Boys and Girls Club makes a difference. They made a difference in my life, so that I could make a difference in my child's life, and that is what really matters.

Forest Whitcraft wrote, "One hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove, but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child." Thank you for your support and all you do for our communities.   

Tanya Perez, Alumna 

Jhosimar's Story

The Boys & Girls Club has helped me become the succes I am now. If it weren't for them I might have been serving a prison sentence! During my teen years I was nothing but trouble. I was the one who no one wanted to help, a failure in other words. I was very fortunate to have the Boys & Girls Club give me the opportunity of a lifetime. They were there for me. Even when higher grounds asked, "why are you helping him?" Many doors were closed, if not all. The one door open to me was the Boys & Girls Club. With their support I was able to quit my substance abuse, finish high school, receive a scholarship from the Rotary Club and now just about ready to transfer to Chico State. People ask me, "How'd you do it?" and I smile and reply, "With incredible help and support from those who believed, like the Boys & Girls Club." 

The Boys & Girls Club is and will always be a positive place for kids! The Boys & Girls Club is a place where all youth are given an opportunity that doesn't come too often. They help teens and children set and achieve goals. If the Boys & Girls Club never existed, these youth would have never accomplished their goals. They provide support and attention that might not exist amongst families. Not every household is perfect. Yet, the Boys & Girls Club is a huge family where children and teens look forward to going everyday! This is a place where everyone is treated equally and fairly.

Katie's Story

My name is Katie Mulleague. I first came to the Boys & Girls Club of Chico in 1999 as a high school student. I initially joined the club as a volunteer, but quickly the club became an active and important part of my life. After working as a volunteer, I worked my way up to the position of Recreation Counselor by my freshman year in college at UCSB.

I began as a volunteer thinking I was giving back to the community and helping children, not viewing myself as someone who needed help. However, now as an adult I see how much positive support I received from the staff and members of the Boys & Girls Club of Chico. Not only did I gain many good friends and role models, but the club served as a family to not only me, but to all of the members of the club.

I grew up in a poor family with divorced parents from a young age, and I constantly searched for a place where I felt valued and like I belonged. I always appeared a happy and self-confident child, but it was not until I began working with the club that I truly felt confident and proud.

In addition to the love and support, the club taught me responsibility and work ethic. I still remember how the staff gave me my first job interview. While I'm sure they had planned on giving me the job, they were kind enough to take the opportunity to teach me how to behave and prepare for an interview. I dressed as professional as I could and after the interview they showed me the video tape and give me advice on how to improve my interview skills. I had never heard so many "ums" in my entire life.

In 2001 I was awarded the Boys & Girls Club of Chico's Youth of the Year Award. Not only was this the first time I had ever won anything, but it in many ways gave value to all the time I had devoted to the club. I believe to be such an important moment because it recognized the one thing I was truly proud of in my life at that time.

Along with the award I was given a scholarship for my first year at UCSB. It was at UCSB that I majored in mathematics and minored in Spanish. After graduation I moved to Santiago, Chile to improve my Spanish skills and teach English. I now find myself back in Northern California in a Masters and Teaching Credential program to become a bilingual math teacher.

In many ways the club defined me during my high school years and has most definitely shaped my life as an adult. I gained confidence, skills and a love for working with children and education that have affected all of my life decisions. I am very much the happy and successful person I am today because of the Boys & Girls Club of Chico. I will always be grateful for all they have done for me and all they do for children like me everyday.
Katie Mulleague, Former Club Member, Youth Of The Year, January 6, 2010

"On June 26th I sat behind about ten of your club members at the Oakland A's baseball game. I was very impressed with their outstanding behavior as well as the respect that they gave to each other. Obviously, their parents as supplemented by your Boys & Girls Club, have been teaching them the right things and "Joy Lyn's Candies operated two booths at the Paradise Chocolate Fest and we were assisted by the fantastic staff and youth from the Boys & Girls Club in Paradise. For 7 hours they sold chocolates and candy and they received all the proceeds to help finance the summer programs. They did an oustanding job. Next time our business needs and employee, we know we can find an excellent candidate at the Boys & Girls Club."
- Bill Hartley, Owner - Joy Lyn's Candies

"We are so pleased that you are doing so much for the community. We pray that the community will continue their support to the degree needed. Your work does well in following the intent of the founders."
- Robert & Joan Matson