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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.
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.
Many thanks to ELKS FOUNDATION and THE OPELOUSAS ELKS LODGE for all they do for BGCA and for making these trips possible!!!
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