Two programs to help area youth build self-esteem and other useful life skills are now being offered year-round at the Boys and Girls Club of Elizabethton thanks to the sponsorship of a local business.
For the second year, Tetrick Funeral Home is stepping up as a “Defender of Children” for the Boys & Girls Club of Elizabethton/Carter County. Tetrick’s commitment to the Club brings with it a $6,000 annual commitment, but their investment goes much deeper.
As a Defender of Children, Tetrick Funeral Home will be included as a sponsor for the Club’s special events, but they will also sponsor two critical programs for Club members between the ages of 8 and 18: SMART Girls and Passport to Manhood.
“We’ve run Passport to Manhood and SMART Girls before but this is our first time running them year round,” said Ginny Wright, Executive Director of the Club.
The Passport to Manhood and SMART Girls programs are part of the Boys and Girls Club’s healthy lifestyles program. SMART Girls is designed for girls ages 8-18 while Passport to Manhood is geared toward boys ages 10-18. Through dynamic sessions, highly participatory activities, field trips and mentoring opportunities, Club members will gain skills needed to make healthy life decisions, maintain positive relationships, and mature into a healthy, balanced adult.
“There is a lot of self-esteem building,” Wright said of the program. “It’s also an opportunity for us to address gender-specific issues.”
In addition to discussing gender-specific topics, Wright said the programs also divides the participants up into small age groups to address issues children face at different ages.
The commitment by Tetrick Funeral Home will support these essential programs and allow the Club to offer them year-round.
“My father, Don Tetrick, started this company in 1943 and always valued giving back to the community,” said Richard Tetrick, owner and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tetrick Funeral Home. “It’s a lesson that runs deep, and today, we still want to make sure we’re helping the people who make Elizabethton a better place.”
Richard’s son, Tyler Tetrick, is President of Heritage Family Cemeteries and is active in the family funeral business. Tyler Tetrick also serves as Treasurer of the Boys & Girls Club Board of Directors and shares his family’s support for the Club and its programs.
“We believe in the Club. We’ve seen the great things it can do in a child’s life, and I know firsthand they’re doing more now than ever before,” Tyler Tetrick said. “The future of our community depends on its children, so it is critical to provide them with the necessary tools to succeed.”
“What interested us most in these programs was the focus on teaching self-esteem, responsibility, and character which are all crucial if our kids are going to become successful as adults,” Tyler Tetrick added.
Over the past three years, the Club has grown significantly and has implemented a variety of new programs. While it started with a food program and homework help, Wright explained the Club offerings have grown to include arts programming, STEM programming, and so much more.
“We know that it is only through the support of the community that we can meet the needs of all our members. That’s why we’re so thankful for the Tetrick family,” Wright said. “Being able to implement these programs will teach critical skills needed for our kids to overcome some pretty serious obstacles down the road.”
While the Club charges a small membership fee per child, the cost to attend far outweighs the fees, and the Club relies heavily on community support to provide these services to the more than 500 members they are serving. For more information on the Boys & Girls Club or to see how you can become involved, call (423) 543-2946 or visit www.bgcecc.org.