BE GREAT: GRADUATE
Madison's New Mentoring Program

In order for the youth we serve to have the best chance at success we must give them the understanding that the key to their future is through education. In addition to Madison’s daily programming, this fall we are proud to have been selected as one of ten pilot sites for the Boys & Girls Club of America’s initiative, BE GREAT: GRADUATE.

How does the program work? Clubmembers are partnered with a staff member and adult mentor. They meet twice a month as a group at Mentoring Night. The group as a whole participates in ice-breaking activities such as games or sports and then as the Clubmember becomes more comfortable with his or her mentor the meetings become one-on-one interactions.

The goals of the mentoring program are to improve problem-solving skills and life skills, provide academic support, and keep education salient with the participants. In order for the program to be most successful, the partnership must be between the child, parent, mentor, and school.

BE GREAT: GRADUATE serves as a pipeline to Madison’s Project Graduate program which proudly boasted a 100% graduation rate among participants last year, proving that our programs really do work!

For more information visit the Volunteer section of our website.

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Microsoft Donates 125 Computers to Madison Clubhouses

Madison’s staff was thrilled when they learned that Microsoft was making a special donation in recognition of the Club’s 125th anniversary. “We were shocked by such a generous gift — and such a timely one at that — since our equipment in the Clubhouses was becoming outdated and the expense to update was unwieldy,” said Joe Patuleia, Executive Director.

Access to technology for our members is a critical issue. The Computer Literacy Program includes activities that teach software and hardware skills through age-appropriate online lessons and staff-led activities.

Microsoft’s donation included 125 full desktop systems, plus accessories with several employee divisions getting involved with the effort. 

This is a very special gift, as Microsoft does not typically make hardware donations given their position in the software industry.  However, a team of  NYC based employees were so excited about Madison Square Boys & Girls Club’s birthday, that they pulled out all the stops and made an orchestrated effort to bring the resources together from a number of business groups across the company to make the extraordinary gift.

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Columbus Clubhouse Dancers Perform at the Garden

Oh what a night! for the group of teens that took the floor at the Garden on February 5th. During the second quarter of the NY Knicks vs. Milwaukee Bucks game, the Columbus Clubhouse Dancers dazzled the crowd with a nintey second dance performance to a Michael Jackson favorite, PYT. "Everyone was talking about what a great group of young dancers they were," said Director, Entertainment and Marketing, Michelle Harris. 

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See archived Quicktakes:

Phelps visit to Smilow Clubhouse

Empire State Building Lights Up to Celebrate Madison's 125th

Luis Rosa hands off first ball to start Game 6 of the World Series

Al Harrington helps distribute 500 turkeys to needy New York families