Recently, 12 teen members from the Club traveled to Chicago, Illinois for the 50th Annual National Keystone Conference. Hosted by Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the event brought together 2,500 teenagers from across the United States and five other countries, all of whom are committed to making a difference in their communities

For four days, the teens engaged in a variety of sessions focused on leadership, community service, career development and other age appropriate topics. According to Meg Gambale, Clubhouse Program Director and advisor to the Intrepid Keystone Club, “The Keystone conference is a great experience for our teen leaders to come together with 2,500 other motivated and engaged teens from all over the country to network and hone their leadership skills. This year’s theme of Activate Your Legacy really inspired our teens to think about activism, service, and ways they can better their communities.”

The Intrepid Keystone Club is a team of 28 high school students who are members of the Club who meet weekly to host activities, events and fundraisers that promote academic success, healthy lifestyles and civic engagement.

While at the conference, the Intrepid Keystone Club of Woburn received the National Award for Teen Outreach. Over the past few years, the group has been focused on engaging more teens from the community in positive extracurricular activities. Through events such as Teens for Jeans, Friendsgiving, tabling at WMHS and so much more the members have done an excellent job of engaging more teens.

Their efforts were recognized by Boys & Girls Clubs of America and they were chosen as the #1 group in the country in this focus area. According to Zach Santoro, President of the Intrepid Keystone Club, “It was an amazing experience and such a great feeling to be recognized for all we do to get teens involved in the Club. I am so proud of my fellow Keystoners as well as my advisors, we all worked really hard for this.”

Additionally, while at the conference, Meg Gambale was named the “National Keystone Advisor of the Year”. Gambale has been a staff member at the Boys & Girls club for more than eight years and is currently the Clubhouse Program Director. She has served as the Advisor for Tanners Torch Club, Woburn Youth Council and Intrepid Keystone Club throughout her tenure.

According to Executive Director Julie Gage, “Meg is an outstanding member of the team at the Club. She cares very much for each and every one of the youth who come through the doors every day and is a wonderful role model to our teen members. For her efforts to be recognized by the national organization is a true honor and I could not be more proud.”

Pot of Gold Raffle

The James L. McKeown Boys & Girls Club Woburn’s Annual Pot of Gold raffle is coming up on March 11th. This fundraiser helps the Club raise critical operating support.

The grand prize takes home $20,000. Tickets are $100 each and only 1,000 tickets to be sold.

 Purchase your ticket today!

You might win, our kids definitely win.

St. Patrick’s Day Social 

On Saturday, March 11th the Club will be holding its Annual St. Patrick’s Day Social where we will pick the winner of the Pot of Gold Raffle. There will also be a corned beef and cabbage dinner, live Irish music, a DJ, raffles, cash bar and more! All proceeds go to support the Club!

Event Details
Saturday, March 11, 2017
6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Sons of Italy – Woburn, MA
$40.00 per person
21+ event
Purchase tickets
Call (781) 935-3777 for more information

Thank you for your support!

League of Eagles Award – October 27, 2016

At Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Northeast Leadership Conference in Manchester, NH, the James L. McKeown Boys & Girls Club of Woburn received the League of EAGLES Gold Level Award.  This award recognizes organizations for achieving 95% or higher level of board involvement in the following key result areas:  Engage.  Ask.  Give.  Lead.  Evaluate.  Serve.

The Board of Directors at the Jamie McKeown Boys & Girls Club is comprised of 37 men and women who volunteer countless hours while providing leadership and expertise to govern the organization. The group is comprised of men and women, many of whom are alumni of the Club, with diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise. In recent years, the commitment of this generous group of individuals has allowed the organization to realize its potential to build a state of the art Clubhouse for the community, which is slated to open later in 2017.

The James L. McKeown Boys & Girls Club of Woburn is one of just two Clubs in the entire northeast region to receive this prestigious accolade.  Executive Director Julie Gage and President of the Board of Directors Michael Donaghey were on hand to accept the award from BGCA’s Vice President for the Northeast Region Ron Hadorn.

The helicopter golf ball drop is a great, new way to support the Jamie McKeown Boys & Girls Club!  At the 35th Annual Denis L. Maher golf tournament on Monday, August 29, 2016, a helicopter will drop 1,000 balls onto the fairway!  The closest to the pin will win $1,000, next closes $500, and third closest $250.  Participants do NOT need to be present to win.  Take a chance!

1 ball – $20.00;  3 balls – $50.00;  7 balls – $100.00

Click here to purchase today.  Or, call us or visit us at the Club and purchase in person.

On Monday, March 28, 2016 at 7:00 p.m., there will be a special meeting of the City Council at which Mayor Galvin will put forth a proposal to allow the Woburn Public Library and the James L. McKeown Boys & Girls Club of Woburn to temporarily occupy the Clapp School while construction takes place on their respective facilities.

The community has a great asset in the Clapp School and it is the right thing to do to allow these two organizations, both of whom enrich the community at large, to use it. The proposal calls for the library to occupy the top floor and the Club to occupy the ground floor. This temporary use is a “win win” for the City of Woburn. The tax payers can save on rental costs for an alternative library location & the Club can keep children with working parents safe after school.

The Boys & Girls Club is NOT looking to relocate large swimming programs, athletic leagues, etc. to this space. Primary activities will involve academic assistance and safe place to learn and grow afterschool while parents are working. The Club would also like for their service learning initiatives which engage youth in more than 5,000 collective hours of community service each year to continue. There will be no weekend programs and no late evenings.

Initial inspections have proved the building to be in good condition. The already built in classrooms and bathrooms make it the ideal space to offer learning experiences for Club members.

If this proposal is not supported, the Boys & Girls Club will close for one year.

Sign our online petition & show your support for this cause: http://bit.ly/supportclappuse

Please also attend the meeting of the city council to express your support. Thank you!