The Boys & Girls Clubs are not giving up on chivalry yet.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington will welcome IU men’s basketball coach Tom Crean to speak at the annual Man Up to Make a Difference fundraising event from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the Lincoln Street Club gymnasium.
“It’s another very positive tool and opportunity to help young people have a blueprint and real life examples of what becoming a young adult to an adult should look like,” Crean said.
The clubs provide opportunities for kids through sports or other extra-curricular activities. The program even provides transportation to help parents.
The event raises funds to support the three local clubs, located on Lincoln Street, in the Crestmont community and in Ellettsville, as well as their male mentoring program, Passport to Manhood.
Passport to Manhood is a 14-session program for boys ages 12-17, concentrating on shaping young men through interactive activities. It focuses on addressing issues that young men face, including dealing with conflict, relationships and self-esteem.
Dennis Laffoon, a member of the Boys & Girls Club board of directors and Passport to Manhood mentor, said the program encourages personal responsibility.
He said it teaches young men how to shake hands, tie a tie, make eye-to-eye contact and take responsibility for their actions. He called it a constant test.
The program focuses on teaching young men what it means to be leaders in their community. Traits like discipline and good decision making are worked on. Laffoon said the young men will participate in Man Up to Make a Difference to share their program’s message and serve at the event.
“Because the proceeds go directly to the Passport program, we’d like the kids to have some sort of opportunity to serve and support.” Laffoon said. “See how much people care about the club and what it sponsors.”
Amy Swain, fundraising events coordinator at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington, said the event raises visibility of the Passport program.
“Passport is one of those things that for a lot of our families with single parents, with single mothers. It kind of fills that gap.” Swain said. “We have volunteers at the club as well, but this is specifically targeted to get these young men to think about their careers, respecting authority and conflict resolution.”
This year, Crean will give opening remarks at the event and talk about topics such as mentoring. The event will provide dinner and have a live auction, with items including a 2016 Little 500 bicycle and an IU Basketball package of two court-side tickets for IU vs. UNC, among other IU basketball items.
Crean said the event is important because every person should feel a responsibility to help young men and women reach for great lengths in our community.
To attend the event, contact the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington directly via phone or their website.
Laffoon will speak about the Passport program at the event, recognizing the boys and explaining the program’s declaration, or creed.
“It really does make a difference, seeing these boys with their families, having moms say thank you for spending time with my boy.” Laffoon said. “The opportunity to plant a seed, you never know what’s going to stick, but just taking that opportunity is important.”
