Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana is a member of Boys & Girls Clubs of America,

the nation's premier youth development organization!

Chartered in 1970 with one club serving 100 boys, we have grown to serving over 3,000 boys & girls at five club sites and a summer program in

Lafayette, Abbeville, New Iberia and Opelousas!

 

 

 

 

Louisiana's First Lady Jindal Visits Club

By Tina Marie Macias

Article from The Daily Advertiser, for full article and video click here.

 

 

Louisiana first lady Supriya Jindal visited the Boys & Girls Club of Acadiana on Thursday to present them with about a hundred new books.

"It's important during our summer months that kids have fun, take a break, but it's also important that they read and keep their minds engaged."

 

Jindal, along with Scholastic, Inc., representatives, presented the Jackie Club on Marie Antoinette Street with about 100 books.

 

For photos of the First Lady's visit, please click here.

 

 

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Our Day at the Capitol

In June, 2008, BGCA wrote a grant to the ELKS FOUNDATION and THE
OPELOUSAS ELKS LODGE for $6,000.00.  This grant was written for five (5)
field trips to serve the children in the Opelousas Club, since that is
the location of the Lodge.  In December, 2008, the grant was awarded for
the $6,000.00 and the arrangements were made to begin the trips with the
first one being the World War II Museum in New Orleans.

The second trip was a visit on Legislative Day at the State Capitol on
Tuesday, June 16, 2009.  Members of the Opelousas Elks Lodge have
accompanied the kids and chaperones on both trips.  The Elk members have
served as chaperones, mentors, entertainers, history teachers and
friends to the children that were on the trips.

The latest trip to Baton Rouge for Legislative Day was a full day for
the children to see 'first-hand', our Louisiana Government at work.
They arrived at the State Capitol and were brought to the Criminal
Justice Committee Room where a meeting was in progress discussing the
pros and cons of the habitual juveniles that are placed in state
facilities for rehabilitation. Representative Mickey Guillory was on
hand to introduce the Boys & Girls Club and he spoke about these kids
that are involved in the club and the many programs and educational
opportunities they are receiving through the organization. The Chairman
ask for the committee's recognition of the children and they were given
a round to applause and acknowledgement of being good citizens and
encouraged to continue with their education and community outreach.

The children were then taken on a tour of the State Capitol and treated
to lunch in the cafeteria and an ice cream treat given by Representative
Mickey Guillory.  After lunch, they were invited to join Governor Bobby
Jindal, Representative Mickey Guillory and Senator Elbert Guillory,  in
his "Oval Office", as the children called it. The Governor gave the
children the history of the State Capitol and history of the Governors'
that preceded him.  He spoke to the children in reference to their
education and their dreams and what they wanted to be when they grew up.
The Governor spoke on the history of Louisiana and challenged the
children to learn about their government and the history of the State of
Louisiana.After meeting with the Governor, the kids proceeded to the lobby area
where they enjoyed popcorn from the Alliance for the Boys & Girls Clubs.