A Weekend Getaway, Courtesy of the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of New Jersey

By Millicent K. Brody

The Boys’ & Girls’ Clubs of New Jersey, which have chapters all over the state, have partnered with the The Heldrich Hotel in New Brunswick for a complimentary Family Vacation Program. Working together, the organizations and the hotel will provide complimentary vacations to deserving families affiliated with the Clubs. One of the state’s most respected youth organizations, the Boys’ & Girls’ Clubs aim to provide quality after-school programs for young people ages 6 to 18.

Through the unique partnership with the Boys’ & Girls’ Clubs, The Heldrich Hotel will provide two five-night, all-expenses paid vacations at the hotel. The package will include: guest accommodations, three meals each day, full access to recreation amenities (indoor pool and fitness center), as well as access to several local destination attractions. Also included in the vacation package will be a $100 gas card compliments of Shell Oil Company to help each family cover transportation costs.

Interested families who may have thought a trip was not possible this year and who are affiliated with a Boys’ & Girls’ Club in New Jersey are invited to complete a brief application form available online at: www.benchmarkhospitality.com/BGCAfamilyvacation. Applications should be completed by October 30, 2009.

A committee of administrators from the organization will review each family’s application and forward final recommendations to a committee at The Heldrich for consideration. Families will be informed of their selection for a vacation in late November.

For more than 100 years, Boys’ & Girls’ Clubs of America (www.bgca.org) have provided hope and opportunity to those children who need it most. Today, more than 4,300 Clubs throughout the nation serve some 4.5 million young people through Club membership and community outreach.

Known as The Positive Place for Kids, Boys’ & Girls’ Clubs can be found throughout the country and on U.S. military bases worldwide. Their constant objective is to provide young people with guidance-oriented character development programs conducted by trained, professional staff. Membership in the Clubs impacts lives and helps young people reach their full potential as productive, caring citizens. Key programs emphasize leadership development, education and career exploration, community service, technology training, financial literacy, health and life skills, the arts, sports, fitness and recreation, and family outreach. In a recent Harris Survey of Club alumni, 57 percent said that membership in the Boys & Girls Club saved their lives.