Oceanside, CA  (January 2017) Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside (BGCO) received $5,000 from Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the New York Life Foundation to provide grief and bereavement support for youth.

The funds received will work in conjunction with Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s “Be There:  A National Grief and Bereavement Initiative” to enable Club staff to recognize the signs of a grieving youth and equip them with the skills to support the emotional needs of youth facing adversity.

Through the Be There Initiative, BGCO will provide youth, staff, and families with strategies on how to address grief and how to respond to social and emotional challenges, including the death of a family member or friend. BGCO will also help connect families with local outside resources and professionals to assist with additional support.

“Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside works to identify the physical, emotional and social areas of need for the youth we serve, while providing services and programs that support and nurture their overall well- being,” said Jodi Diamond, CEO of BGCO. “Grief and bereavement services are essential to total wellness, which is why the implementation of Be There is critical. Thanks to the funding from New York Life Foundation, we can continue to develop young people’s ability to live a healthy lifestyle.”

Through this funding and initiative BGCO will continue to build awareness and knowledge of childhood bereavement and create a culture where grieving youth and their families are supported.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside (BGCO) is a youth development organization that is dedicated to providing a safe, fun and enriching environment for youth to spend time during non-school hours.  During the school year, we serve 1,100 youth daily, providing stimulating and quality Science, Technology, Research, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STREAM) activities.  In addition, we offer a unique program to adults with disabilities, called R.O.A.D.’s.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside is a local, independent organization affiliated with Boys & Girls Clubs of America. The BGCO raises 100% of the funds that support our life changing programs through individual giving, events and grants.  100% of those funds stay right here in North County to serve youth in our local communities.

We continue to uphold our mission: To inspire, develop and enrich young people to reach their fullest potential as confident, responsible and caring members of society. To learn more, please visit www.bgcoceanside.org .

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than 150 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (www.greatfutures.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 4,100 Clubs serve nearly 4 million young people annually through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun, friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours.

Priority programs emphasize academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 54 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at Facebook and Twitter.

About The New York Life Foundation
Inspired by New York Life’s tradition of service and humanity, the New York Life Foundation has, since its founding in 1979, provided $220 million in charitable contributions to national and local nonprofit organizations. The Foundation supports programs that benefit young people, particularly in the areas of educational enhancement and childhood bereavement. The Foundation also encourages and facilitates the community involvement of employees and agents of New York Life through its Volunteers for Good program. To learn more, please visit www.newyorklifefoundation.org.