Before the Bell Wins Honor Award!

The James L. McKeown Boys & Girls Club of Woburn received an Honor Award for Health & Life Skills at Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s 109th National Conference held recently in Chicago.  The organization received a $5,000 award from MetLife Foundation, sponsor of the annual recognition program, which honors local Clubs for innovative, effective programming leading youth to great futures.

Before the Bell is a collaborative initiative between the Boys & Girls Club, Woburn Memorial High School and the Shamrock Elementary School.  High school students enroll in a Physical Education Leadership course each semester.  Five mornings per week, they spend their first period of the day at the Shamrock School engaging the elementary students in physical activities. At the conclusion of the fitness program, the older and younger students sit together and enjoy the school’s universal healthy breakfast.

“The success of the program is a direct result of the true partnership between the schools and the Club,” said Julie Gage, Executive Director of the Jamie McKeown Boys & Girls Club.  Before the Bell is mutually beneficial for both age groups.  Younger members are getting a healthy start to their day in a safe environment and older members are gaining importnat leadership skills as they serve as mentors to the younger kids.

This is the fourth time in the Club’s history that it has received a national program award from Boys & Girls Clubs of America.  Past awards include:

2007 – Merit Award in Character & Leadership Development for the Woburn Youth Council program

2008 – Honor Award in Sports, Fitness & Recreation for the Striking Circle Girls Field Hockey program

2009 – Merit Award in Health & Life Skills for the Club Chefs program