Page 27 - On The Move - Volume 16, Issue 4

SALVATION ARMY BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER ATLANTA
Growing up is challenging. It’s hard enough for youngsters to navigate the maze of daily
reality that face them, both in education and general society. But in some areas, such as
Metro Atlanta, there’s a large number of kids that face an uphill battle. The number of high
school dropouts in Georgia is elevated, compared to the national average. The same goes
for obesity and teen pregnancy rates. Many of these kids lack the resources and role models
needed to change course. That’s where the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Atlanta comes in.

The roots of the Boys & Girls Clubs dates back to the 1950s, and since then the organization
grown tremendously, serving more than 70,000 youngsters. And while the mission began
as a way to keep kids safe, it has transition to a more ambitious goal of helping them on
their path toward great futures. “We work hard to inspire and enable all young people,
especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as
productive, responsible and caring citizens,” said Joshua Dickerson, Executive Director of
the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta.
And the effort made by the Boys & Girls Clubs pays off. For example, nearly 80% of the
program’s teens volunteered at least once in 2017. In that same year, 100% of the seniors
participating in the College Bound program graduated from school and were placed in
college, technical school, or the military (BGCMA 2017 Annual Report).

The Metro Atlanta Automobile Dealers Association has been a long-time supporter
of the Boys & Girls Clubs, sponsoring annual golf tournaments that raise tens-of-
thousands of dollars for the organization.
To learn more, visit www.salvationarmyatlanta.org/the-salvation-army-boys-
girls-clubs-of-greater-atlanta.

GEORGIA STATE GOLF ASSOCIATION JUNIOR TOUR
The GSGA Junior Tour is a statewide program managed by the Georgia State competitive junior golf. In addition, the MAADA Series is a compilation
Golf Association, providing young golfers in Georgia an opportunity to of multi-day tournaments within the GSGA Junior Tour designed to give
participate in competitive junior golf. The program offers junior golf players the opportunity to receive national recognition.
competitions throughout the state for players of all skill levels
between the ages of 5 and 18 who have not yet started college. The GSGA Junior Tour goes beyond events that allow juniors a great
There are a variety of membership levels to meet juniors’ needs, opportunity to improve their golf skills in a competitive setting. When
all of which include access to over 100 tournaments annually and asked about other benefits the program provides young players, Jeremy
membership into the GSGA Youth on Course Program. Freyman, Junior Golf Director, stated “the GSGA is dedicated to educating
and instilling important character traits inherent within the game of golf
Georgia became the first state on the East Coast to adopt Youth to its juniors. The GSGA Junior Tour Code of Conduct is a great example
on Course, which provides juniors access to $5 rounds of golf of this. For example, juniors write thank you notes to the host facility as
at participating facilities. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, part of the scoring process at each event. These character traits and those
the GSGA Junior Tour has strong relationships in the community learned through the game of golf are something the juniors will be able to
with local partners such as the Metro Atlanta Automobile Dealers carry with them throughout their lives.”
Association. MAADA has been a longtime partner of the program and
provides support for many junior golf initiatives across the state, including For more information about the program or to join, please visit www.gsga.
a Financial Assistance Program to help families offset the cost of playing org/juniortour or call 770-850-9040.

TOYS FOR TOTS In 2018, Toys for Tots distributed 949,896 toys, supporting 474,948
When you think of Christmas, you likely envision families gathered children. Shayne Wilson, President of the Metro Atlanta Automobile
around the tree, with children frantically opening presents, smiling Dealers Association, commented, “There’s really nothing like the joy
from ear to ear. It’s a joyful thing to think about. But think about of a child opening gifts on Christmas, and it’s hard to imagine what it
this: there are a lot of kids out there with parents who are struggling must be like to have a child miss out on that.” He continued, “We do
to make ends meet, which means that, in some cases, there may be all that we can to help the U.S. Marines in their effort to collect toys
no toys under the tree for their children. Thankfully, the U.S. Marine for Metro Atlanta’s less fortunate kids, and it’s something that we’re
Corps Reserve sets out each year on a mission to combat that issue. honored to be a part of.”
Atlanta’s Marine Toys for Tots program was established to bring You can learn more about the
smiles to the faces of less fortunate children around the metro area. Toys for Tots campaign by
Each year, volunteers and partner organizations such as the dealer visiting https://northatlanta.
members of MAADA, collect new, unwrapped toys from October toysfortots.org/local-
through December. And while the primary goal of the program coordinator-sites/lco-sites/
is the distribution of those toys to kids in need, there’s another about-local-toys-for-tots.aspx
goal, which is to bring a message of hope, encouraging these
youngsters to become responsible, productive, patriotic
citizens.
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