Catholic Review Article , August 23, 2007 ,
"Cristo Rey teaches etiquette, ethics and office skills"
Article mentions Boys Hope Scholar Arthur.

Grant offers summer of adventures for Boys Hope residents
Jennifer Williams

Letter from the Chairman of the Board
Jim Raily

2006 Opportunity Maker Award Winner Announced

SCHOLARS’ CORNER
A Letter from Dominick, BHGH Baltimore Resident

Meet the “Parents”.
Mimi Ryans, Program Director

Timonium parishioner brings hope to youth in Baltimore

Chaz Muth

The summer has been flying by here in Baltimore, with scholars coming and going (off to various camps, excursions, etc.).  The summer heat has been fairly mild, and we may not be noticing it as much because we are enjoying our new house tremendously.

Arthur and Donte are the newest residential members to our home.  Arthur has described his first month here as, “My time here has been pretty good so far.  Things were different than my house though, and that was hard.  I had to adjust to the rules, just like everyone else.  So far now, it’s the best place I’ve lived my entire life”.  They both have been going to basketball camps, and adjusting to life as Boys Hope scholars.

Our three oldest scholars are preparing for their senior year, and holding down jobs for the summer.  David has been working hard at PetSmart as an Aquatics Specialist.  He is learning a lot about fish, and making and managing money.  Michael is also working as a server at Friendly’s Restaurant.  He’s still working on getting the rest of the house free ice cream.  Marc is the businessman of the house, working a 9-5 job for one of our board members; he also spent a week doing service work in Camden, NJ.  They all seem to be enjoying their work.

Dwayne and Aaron had an opportunity to go to Teton Science School in Wyoming for over three weeks; they had a wonderful time there, learning and camping in the wilderness.  Ben and Davon, two of our non-residential scholars, spent their time going to football camps and working landscaping for a local college.  Matt also works landscaping for the same college, and manages to play football at his new high school. Matt earned a scholarship for Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound and will attend a leadership expedition for two weeks in August.

Our two youngest scholars, Darrion and Dominick, are also enjoying their summers.  Darrion finished summer school and is enjoying reading and spending time at the house. He is learning a lot of positive things from the older boys. Dominick is getting excited to start his middle school career at St. Michael’s, a new school for him.  He currently is at Camp Dearwood in New Hampshire, and won’t return until mid-August. 

All of our scholars are enjoying the new basketball net in the back yard.  We spend quite a few evenings playing pick up games.  We’re all enjoying the summer, and looking forward to another great school year. 

Written by: Kristy Norbert, Residential Counselor

Sixteen-year-old Loyola Blakefield, Towson, junior Marc Franklin may be from Baltimore, but this summer, the Boys Hope teen stretched both his legs and his imagination as he traveled from California for a mystery-writing class to Michigan for leadership camp to Pennsylvania for acting camp.

“It was kind of overwhelming, but really fun,” said Marc, who is already back attending classes at Loyola.

Marc wasn’t the only young person from Boys Hope who had the opportunity to explore new horizons this summer. David Yeager and Marc’s twin brother Michael also attended CTY camps in California through The Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth. Aaron Oliver traveled to Wyoming for an environmental science camp, and Dominic Daniels spent three weeks in Camp Deerwood in New Hampshire.

The boys’ summer of adventure was made possible with $25,000 in grant money provided by Pam and Tom O’Neil through the Christopher O’Neil Memorial Fund, which was started in honor of one of the couple’s four sons. Chris had just finished his junior year at Loyola Blakefield, when he was killed in a car accident in which a teenage driver had been drinking. The Christopher O’Neil Memorial Foundation, whose objective is to promote successful teenage development, has also started a peer education program at Loyola Blakefield.

“I was impressed with the leadership and the people involved in the Boys Hope program,” said Mr. O’Neil, who, along with his wife, joined the boys for dinner one evening. “We wanted to give them an opportunity to do something in the summer that they might not have normally had the opportunity to pursue.”

Michael Franklin said he loved his time in Thousand Oaks, Calif., where he participated in a three-week writing class on the campus of California Lutheran University.

“I met a lot of cool people and my classes were fun too, but it was also very reflective,” said Michael. “We would have to write a list of things to do today, but it couldn’t say stuff like ‘wake up,’ … it would be something more creative like ‘discover something undiscovered.’”

Dominic enjoyed staying in a cabin and learning archery and rifle skills while he participated in a boys’ residential camp in New Hampshire.

“They taught you how to live in the forest – how to make a fire,” said Dominic, who is in the fifth grade at St. Katharine, a Queen of Peace Cluster School in Baltimore.

He said it was the first real camp he’s ever been to.

Aaron attended basketball camp as well as a field ecology camp in the Grand Tetons, where he hiked up a mountain, set up camp and learned lessons about science.

He said he learned, “you can’t take life for granted.”

“A lot of people are used to seeing animals,” he said. “We weren’t used to watching bison cross the road and hiking up a mountain.”

While in San Francisco, Calif., David, a junior at Archbishop Curley High School, Baltimore, said he had the opportunity to speak with homeless people and learn about the societal differences between Baltimore and San Francisco.

In addition to visiting the beach and seeing the Golden Gate Bridge, David also completed more than 130 hours of community service.

“Before I did community service, I didn’t really think about it,” said David. “But it had a major impact on my life. I hope to take what I learned and bring it back to Baltimore.”

Dear Friends of BHGH Baltimore,

When I was asked to write a brief piece introducing myself, how I got involved with Boys Hope Girls, and how I felt about being the new Chairman of the Board, I agreed but I wanted to take a little bit of time to address a question not asked. I would be remiss if I didn’t recognize my predecessor, Larry Jennings.

When Larry decided to step down he left some very large shoes to fill. His leadership, tenacity and vision allowed BHGH to make it through the tough times in our infancy here in Baltimore, and grow into the strong, well respected organization that it is today. Larry has been instrumental in assembling the board, exposing the program to the Baltimore community and building the home for the boys. So, while he has paved the way and given me a much easier road to travel than he began with, he has also left the bar set very high. I am truly thankful for the job that he has done and I am thrilled that he will continue to serve on our board, as I know that I will be relying on his experience and input throughout my tenure. I am confident that with Larry’s continued engagement on our Board, along with the robust leadership of our Board, we will continue on the path that Larry helped forge.

My involvement with BHGH began with a lunch meeting in December 2001 with our Executive Director, Chuck Roth. During Chuck’s mission to create and develop the board, someone had given him my name and he decided to give me a call. After listening to Chuck speak about the program and the success that BHGH has had across the country, I could not have been more impressed. I realized that BHGH’s mission is exactly what I believe in.

As a son of two former teachers who stressed academics, joining an organization that helps kids that are not only capable of succeeding in the classroom, but that are motivated to do so is a natural fit for me. After meeting with the staff, and the board, I was pleased and honored that they thought that I could help them achieve their mission here in Baltimore. While serving on the board in a number of capacities for the past few years, I have grown to admire and respect the work that Chuck and the rest of BHGH does.

Although Larry has set the standard for chairing his board at a very high level, I am very excited to start my work. I truly believe that we currently have a tremendous staff led by Chuck Roth, the strongest and most dedicated board that we have ever assembled and most importantly, an exceptional group of residential scholars. Over the years, I have seen these boys grow and mature into not only outstanding students, but fine young men as well.

As the new Chair, I will continue the fine work that Larry has started, as well as lead BHGH Baltimore into some uncharted waters. We have a number of exciting projects under way and many more that are about to begin. The biggest and most critical is the opening of the new boys’ home next month. As we complete that project we will focus our efforts on opening a much desired girls home. In 2008, our first scholars will graduate from two of Baltimore’s finest high schools and over the next two years the staff will guide them through the college application and selection process. These are just a few of our major tasks that we will face in the near future, but I know that we are prepared to meet them head on and be very successful in doing so.

I am looking forward to these and other challenges. I know that along with the staff and the other board members, BHGH will continue to do outstanding work. Thank you for time and have a wonderful fall.

With Warm Regards,

Jim Railey

Congratulations to the 2006 Opportunity Maker Award Winner:

Tonya Featherston

Just for Youth, Inc

Serving youth by providing programs that develop and empower them

“Whether it’s developing programs, writing grants, teaching classes, supervising staff or taking a moment to nurture a child, Tonya consistently makes opportunities for Baltimore youth. “

he 2006 Opportunity Maker Award celebrates those who share our belief that every child deserves the opportunity to meet his/her full potential and act on their belief by creating healthy ways for children to live, grown and learn.

After four years in the Boys Hope Girls Hope of Baltimore Nonresidential Program, Dominick, age 10, was welcomed into our home as a Residential Scholar in June, 2006. Dominick is currently in 5 th grade at St. Katherine’s and enjoys reading comics, playing basketball and drawing.

What I did this summer was go to Camp Deerwood which is in New Hampshire. I was there for three weeks and had a really fun time. It was a fun place to be where I learned how to do a lot of interesting things. Out of everything that I learned how to do mountain biking was my favorite.

I have a bunch of friends that I met at camp. My best friend is Luke Wilhem who was also at camp with me. We did a lot of fun things together. I really had a great time.

My best friend Luke and I did things at camp such as archery, forge, wood-shop, and riflery. We also played tennis, went kayaking and canoeing, and went swimming. We had the best time together at camp.

The reason I am at Boys Hope is because I am a smart kid who wants to go to college one day. I really have a fun time here at Boys Hope of Baltimore. I am glad I live in the house with the other boys. Going to camp and learning the skills I was taught made this a fun summer.

When people ask me why I chose to pursue my master's degree in social work and my career in social work when I already have a master's degree in business administration, I usually hesitate to come up with an answer.  I now have one ..."because of programs like Boys Hope Girls Hope of Baltimore".

I received my MBA at Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tennessee, (my hometown) and my MSW at Howard University in Washington, DC.  I am married and a mother of three (a five year old boy, Jeremiah and twin girls that are two, Alyssa & Allyson).  My family is the most important aspect of my life and I am looking forward to partnering with the parents of our scholars to assist them in achieving all that they set out to accomplish as their sons are being groomed for such greatness.

I was recently hired by Boys Hope Girls Hope of Baltimore as the Program Director.  In this capacity I will manage the program and provide direction at the house to assist our staff in ensuring that our scholars will be as successful as they want to be.  This is a very exciting and yet challenging opportunity for me.  I will have the opportunity to combine my education and passion and I am looking forward to meeting the challenge.

My long-term goal in this position is to make the home in Baltimore the top achiever in the nation, not only in academics but in all aspects related to Boys Hope Girls Hope's mission.

I look forward to a long-term relationship with our scholars, their families, the staff and the community where we reside.  I look forward to assisting Boys Hope Girls Hope's Board of Directors in growing this organization into all that it can be and to the opening of the girls home in the next couple of years.