CLUB NEWS

Held on August 6 and 7th, the Whirlpool Community Charity Golf Event raised $3 million for Berrien County youth. The event included rounds of golf on six courses in and around Berrien County with 864 participants. In addition to golf, attendees were able to participate in a Fireside Chat with Hall of Famers Hale Irwin (PGA) and Jerome Bettis (NFL), a silent auction and live auction.

From the Herald Palladium

BENTON HARBOR — Hundreds of children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Southwest Michigan gathered Friday in Benton Harbor for the third annual Unity Day.

“Basically, it’s about bringing all of our sites together in one place so that they can be together – so they know they are all part of one club,” said Alloyd Blackmon, chief executive officer of the clubs.

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (Benton-Michiana Spirit News) In addition to its legacy sites in Benton Harbor, the Fettig Youth Campus and the Joel E. Smilow Teen Center, and current operations in Benton Heights, Bridgman, South Haven, St. Joseph and Sturgis, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Southwest Michigan will add new summer sites in Buchanan, Lawrence, St. Joseph’s John and Dede Howard Ice Arena, Three Oaks and White Pigeon.

From the Herald Palladium 

BENTON HARBOR, Mich — No matter what you are going through, find someone to talk with, said Shamiya Williams, who was named the 2023 Greater Southwest Michigan Youth of the Year this week.

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (Moody on the Market) - Two local Boys & Girls Club locations have named their Junior Youth of the Year. The two will represent their communities in the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Southwest Michigan Junior Youth of the Year competition on Feb. 16.

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (WNDU) - The “First Responders Children’s Foundation” worked with the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office to host this Christmas celebration! They also partnered with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Southwest Michigan

BENTON HARBOR — Donovan Frazier of Benton Harbor may not have won the national title for Youth of the Year on Thursday, but he said the experience of competing in Los Angeles was life-changing. “When I found out I didn’t win and that Asha from Washington (D.C.) won, I was actually really happy for her because she has a bright future, like all of us do,” said Frazier, who was named in July the 2022 Midwest Youth of the Year by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. He said he took several tours in Los Angeles with the other five contestants during his week in the city and formed close bonds with them.  “It was a really good experience for me. A lot of networking took place,” he said. “We’re still regional youths of the year and we will be moving together as a team to contribute to the development of the youth.”

BENTON HARBOR — “24K Magic” by Bruno Mars will never sound quite the same for dozens of Benton Harbor youth after listening to the version performed by DPB Music on Tuesday. This was one of several songs DPB Music performed at the Benton Harbor Youth Campus of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Southwest Michigan. “I’m a dangerous man with my Bible in my pocket,” sang David Paul Brooks, who founded the group more than 30 years ago.  The original lyrics are: “I’m a dangerous man with some money in my pocket.”

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (WNDU) - Benton Harbor teens opened up about their experiences with gun violence. People gathered at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Southwest Michigan for a teen summit Monday night. Pastor Taurus Montgomery was the keynote speaker, followed by a discussion panel with city leaders, like Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad. City leaders said they want to make sure youth feel heard.

August 29, 2022 (BENTON HARBOR, MI) – Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton Harbor announces today that going forward the organization will now be known as Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Southwest Michigan.

from the Herald Palladium

Whirlpool Corp. has raised $2.6 million for area schools and youth organizations.

BRIDGMAN — They ran, they jumped rope, they played basketball, they painted their faces and showed off their talents. They learned that physical activity is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle. But perhaps most importantly, they had fun and made new friends.  “I knew it was going to be fun, and I was going to meet a lot of new kids,” said Amiah Dixon, 10, of Benton Harbor. “My favorite thing is everybody is so nice and kind.” About 400 children and teenagers gathered on Aug. 5 at the second annual Boys & Girls Clubs Unity Day at FC Reed Middle School in Bridgman.