| Boys Town North Florida Celebrates High School Graduates! | https://www.boystown.org/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/Pages/Boys-Town-North-Florida-Celebrates-High-School-Graduates.aspx | Boys Town North Florida Celebrates High School Graduates! | <p></p><p>Boys Town North Florida enthusiastically celebrated four students on their recent graduation from Godby High School. Several of these students have resided in the Family Home Program for years, most recently returning to brick-and-mortar school after completing their 2020-2021 school year at the ART Town Academy Center. Each of the graduates intends to move on to attend college or begin their careers in the workforce. <br></p><p>Leading up to graduation, staff, board members and donors graciously donated going-away items for the youth, such as kitchen items, bedding sets, school and work materials, hygiene supplies and more, to fill up personalized totes for each of the four graduates. These totes were gifted to the youth during their graduation party which took place on Thursday, May 26<sup>th</sup>, just a day before their official graduation ceremony. Though unexpected rain modified some of the graduation party plans, Boys Town staff, kids and friends gathered to celebrate these youth on their incredible accomplishments. Throughout the afternoon, the graduates and attendees played games and enjoyed special, graduation-themed treats and snow cones from the Big Easy Snowball truck. <br></p><p>We are so proud of each of these graduates on their incredible achievements. We thank everyone who helped us celebrate them the way they deserve and for sending them off with supplies and skills to succeed.<br></p><p><img src="/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/nofla-2c.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;" /> </p><p><img src="/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/nofla-3c.jpg" alt="" style="background-color:transparent;margin:5px;" /><img src="/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/nofla-4c.jpg" alt="" style="background-color:transparent;margin:5px;width:317px;height:238px;" /><br></p><p></p> | 2022-06-22T05:00:00Z | News | <img alt="Boys Town North Florida Graduates" src="/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/nofla-1c.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | | text/html; charset=utf-8
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| Boys Town North Florida Congratulates 2022 Next Gen Graduates | https://www.boystown.org/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/Pages/Boys-Town-North-Florida-Congratulates-2022-Next-Gen-Graduates.aspx | Boys Town North Florida Congratulates 2022 Next Gen Graduates | <p>Boys Town North Florida congratulates its 2021-2022 Next Gen Leaders for officially graduating from the Next Gen program! NextGen is a leadership initiative that welcomes our most dedicated, highly regarded staff members to participate in the opportunity to develop their leadership skills. Through this program, Next Gen participants undergo monthly trainings facilitated by various leaders at the site and within Boys Town. Additionally, they read and complete required articles and assessments to further hone their skills. <br></p><p>Next Gen was created to give selected staff, who demonstrate a high level of skill and proficiency in their positions, an opportunity to further enhance their leadership skills. It also allows them to engage with site leadership more directly, in a way that they might not otherwise have had the opportunity. This investment in staff is aimed at building the sites leadership bench to have skilled staff ready to assume leadership roles at the site or within the organization as a whole as they become available. <br></p><p>Despite the various startups and recesses due to COVID, this dynamic group of three persevered and graduated. Cohort Three utilized the knowledge gained from their participation in Next Gen to complete a final assignment that involved developing strategies of how to right the ship at the fictious “Boys Town Hawaii." They were able to identify gaps in revenue, the absence of marketing to the community and the lack of a real retention plan for staff as a few of the major issues that they wanted to immediately address. <br></p><p>Congratulations again to our Cohort Three Next Gen class on their completion of the program! </p><p><img src="/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/nofla-2a.jpg" alt="Boys Town North Florida Graduates" style="margin:5px;width:299px;height:224px;" /><img src="/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/nofla-3a.jpg" alt="Boys Town North Florida Graduates" style="margin:5px;" /><br><br></p> | 2022-06-22T05:00:00Z | News | <img alt="Boys Town North Florida Graduates" src="/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/nofla-1a.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | | text/html; charset=utf-8
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| Boys Town North Florida Gathers Together for In-Person GEM Auction at ART Town | https://www.boystown.org/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/Pages/Boys-Town-North-Florida-Gathers-Together-for-In-Person-GEM-Auction-at-ART-Town.aspx | Boys Town North Florida Gathers Together for In-Person GEM Auction at ART Town | <p><em>One of the many parts that makes Boys Town North Florida's peer culture special is the use of GEMs, which are tokens given out to staff that stand for “Going the Extra Mile." Any staff member or intern can be nominated to receive GEMs; submissions vary anywhere from helping a co-worker complete a form to moving furniture for a family or accompanying a Consultant on a visit. Once per week, the GEM committee gets together to review GEM submissions, rates them with a numerical score and delivers the GEMs to the recipient.</em></p><p>Throughout the year, staff members collect their GEMs in preparation for a GEM auction. During the GEM auction, staff members can use their GEMs like currency to bid on curated, desired items such as gift cards, Boys Town merchandise, kitchen items and more. Since the onset of COVID, Boys Town North Florida hosted Virtual Gem Auctions in 2020 and 2021. This year, due to the improving COVID conditions, Boys Town North Florida hosted their first “back-in-person" GEM auction at ART Town on June 7<sup>th</sup>. </p><p>Staff members entered ART Town, some for the first time in many months, and were greeted with a catered Canopy Road Café breakfast. Staff bid on the many items while they ate breakfast and laughed together at the competitive, jovial discourse that filled the room. Boys Town North Florida appreciated the opportunity to allow staff members to safely gather and be celebrated for their teamwork and hard work.<br></p><p><img src="/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/nofla-2b.jpg" alt="Boys Town GEM Auction" style="margin:5px;" /><img src="/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/nofla-4b.jpg" alt="Boys Town GEM Auction" style="margin:5px;width:271px;" /></p><p><img src="/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/nofla-3b.jpg" alt="Boys Town GEM Auction" style="margin:5px;" /><br><br></p> | 2022-06-20T05:00:00Z | News | <img alt="Boys Town GEM Auction" src="/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/nofla-1b.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | | text/html; charset=utf-8
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| Boys Town North Florida ‘Racing for the Roses’ Spirit of Youth Gala | https://www.boystown.org/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/Pages/Boys-Town-North-Florida-Racing-for-the-Roses-Spirit-of-Youth-Gala.aspx | Boys Town North Florida ‘Racing for the Roses’ Spirit of Youth Gala | <p>Boys Town North Florida was thrilled to host their 17<sup>th</sup> annual Spirit of Youth Gala, this year debuting a new “Racing for the Roses" Kentucky Derby theme. Throughout the evening more than 200 attendees danced and enjoyed soulful, live music and savored delicious southern cuisine all while honoring our distinguished speakers and awardees. <br></p><p>After a two-year hiatus, the evening radiated an infectious energy; both returning and new attendees gathered to marvel in the sights and soak up the southern, rustic charm provided by The Space at Feather Oaks. Taking place on May 7<sup>th</sup>, the day of the Kentucky Derby, the beautifully renovated barn space fostered the perfect derby-evening experience.<br></p><p>
<img class="page-suppt-cont-alt" src="/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/R4R-2.jpg" alt="Spectators Enjoying the Concert" style="margin:5px;width:400px;height:266px;" />The evening featured a brief but impactful program: a heartfelt, deeply personal testimony from youth alumnus Moniece Jackson both inspired and intently engaged the crowd; she shared how her experience at Boys Town North Florida changed the trajectory of her future. Attendees were astonished at Moniece's resilience and passion to give back to a community she was once felt resentful at. Her story reminded the audience of the important work that happens daily at Boys Town. In addition, long-time friends and donors Dale and Pamela Tadlock were honored with the Spirit of Youth award for their contributions and dedication supporting Boys Town over the years.<br></p><p><span><img class="page-suppt-cont" src="/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/R4R-3.jpg" alt="Boys Towns Employees posing for a picture" style="margin:5px;width:400px;height:266px;" /></span>Upon conclusion of the program, guests sporting bowties and fascinators enjoyed a livestream broadcast of the 148<sup>th</sup> Kentucky Derby, cheering loudly for their horse and jockey duo to come out as the victor. For the remainder of the evening, guests soaked up the fabulous food, entertainment and environment while bidding on curated auction items, visiting the bourbon and cigar bars and playing competitive games of cornhole.<br></p><p>
Boys Town North Florida thanks the following sponsors and vendors for making the 17<sup>th</sup> Spirit of Youth Gala one to remember: <br></p><p><span><span><img class="page-suppt-cont-alt" src="/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/R4R-4.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;width:400px;height:258px;" /></span></span>SPONSORS: Dermatology Associates, Visiting Angels, Walmart, Tally Mac Shack, RJ Young, MDWD Wealth Management Group, Southeastern Plastic Surgery, JTKE, LLC, North Florida Financial, Leon County Sheriff's Office, Akbar Law Firm and McBurrows Law, Sheri and Matt Bryan, Jill and Tim Meenan, Anne and Greg Martin, Abby and Will Pichard, Leslie and Charley Redding, Mark and Sally Rosser.
<br></p><p><span></span>VENDORS: Tallahassee Nights Live, Crouton and Company, FUMA Cigars, Capital City Bourbon, Fizz & Foam, and SarahVi Photography. Also, Hearth and Soul and Nic's Toggery as contest judges.
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We are grateful for the continued support received from our North Florida community and look forward to gathering next year for the 18th annual Spirit of Youth Gala, celebrating Boys Town North Florida's 40th anniversary.</p><p><img src="/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/R4R-5.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;width:400px;height:266px;" /><img src="/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/R4R-6.jpg" alt="Boys Town - Dancing to the music" style="margin:5px;width:400px;height:266px;" /><br></p><p></p> | 2022-05-25T05:00:00Z | News | <img alt="Dancing for Roses" src="/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/R4R-1.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | | text/html; charset=utf-8
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| Boys Town North Florida Celebrates Accomplishments with Staff Outing | https://www.boystown.org/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/Pages/Boys-Town-North-Florida-Celebrates-Accomplishments-with-Staff-Outing.aspx | Boys Town North Florida Celebrates Accomplishments with Staff Outing | <p>Boys Town North Florida staff recently had an exciting outing to the Tallahassee Museum to celebrate the site's participation in the employee giving campaign. Staff met at the museum and had the opportunity to enjoy the nice spring weather while taking in the sights.</p><p>Employees were able to explore the museum and see all that it had to offer, including visiting some wildlife. After exploring, everyone gathered to enjoy a delicious lunch together.</p><p>This was the first staff outing organized by the Employee Recognition Committee since before the pandemic. Staff commented how they appreciated the opportunity to get together and celebrate their accomplishments as a site. Jackie Grguric, Family Home Program Administrative Assistant, said, "I had a wonderful time and really enjoyed spending the beautiful day with everyone!"</p><p>
<img src="/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/staff-outing-2.jpg" alt="Staff Outing" style="margin:5px;width:659px;" /> </p> | 2022-05-12T05:00:00Z | News | <img alt="" src="/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/staff-outing-1.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | | text/html; charset=utf-8
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| Boys Town North Florida Partners with Walmart and Macy Harper for a Special Easter | https://www.boystown.org/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/Pages/Boys-Town-North-Florida-Partners-with-Walmart-and-Macy-Harper-for-a-Special-Easter.aspx | Boys Town North Florida Partners with Walmart and Macy Harper for a Special Easter | <p>Boys Town North Florida strongly believes in the importance of celebrating holidays to further foster the family-style environment that is present in family homes. It was important to staff and supporters that the kids wake up to overflowing Easter baskets to ring in the holiday, just like many children around the country did that same morning. Thanks to Macy Harper, a recuring volunteer, and Walmart Supercenter Store #1408, this Easter dream came true.</p><p>Since 2021, Macy has been determined to support the children at Boys Town North Florida and make them feel special during the holidays. For Easter last year, Macy solicited donations from families, individuals, and businesses to create the most extravagant Easter baskets. She enjoyed this experience so much that she decided to come back again for the project this year. </p><p>In preparation for Macy's project, the Boys Town North Florida Development Team reached out to Walmart Store #1408 to see if they would be interested in partnering with Macy for the donation. As a generous partner, Walmart jumped at the opportunity to help and provided each child with an Easter basket, Easter grass filling for the baskets, and candy.</p><p>After their original donation, the store's Operations Manager, called to offer additional donations. Health, wellness, and bath and beauty products were donated along with more candy and toys.</p><p>Boys Town North Florida was able to happily accept the donations and help stuff the Easter baskets for not just the Family Home program but for all the different programs offered. The kids were thrilled to see their Easter baskets and it made for a very special holiday.</p><p>Boys Town would like to thank Macy and Walmart #1408 for their generous donations and for all they do to help make holidays special! </p><p>
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</p> | 2022-05-12T05:00:00Z | News | <img alt="Boys Town Staff with Easter Baskets" src="/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/easter-1.jpg" width="644" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | | text/html; charset=utf-8
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| Remembering Boys Town Friend and Supporter, Stan Kupiszewski | https://www.boystown.org/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/Pages/Remembering-Boys-Town-Friend-and-Supporter-Stan-Kupiszewski.aspx | Remembering Boys Town Friend and Supporter, Stan Kupiszewski | <p>Mr. Stanley (Stan) Kupiszewski, longtime friend and supporter of Boys Town North Florida, passed away in February 2022. Stan along with his wife, Phyllis, were not only supporters of Boys Town but true ambassadors for the Boys Town mission. Stan founded the Boys Town North Florida Christmas Classic Golf Tournament in 1992, which 30-years later remains one of our largest fundraisers. He played in the tournament every year until no longer able to do so, yet he still made certain he was involved by sponsoring a team each year. Stan and Phyllis were recognized at the tournament in 2020, which they both attended, receiving much fanfare from players and guests.<br></p><p>Stan led a full life and had too many accomplishments to mention. He served in the military, later going to undergrad and law school. He had an amazing legal mind and had a diverse legal background. He loved his family and his church. And, he loved Boys Town. We are forever grateful to Stan and Phyllis for their servant's heart and support of our Boys Town family.<br></p><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/Stan-Kupiszewski.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;" /><br></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong class="ms-rteFontSize-2">Stan Kupiszewski (far left) with friends Dick Van Atta and Rennie and Paul Koczorowski</strong><span class="ms-rteFontSize-2"></span><br class="ms-rteFontSize-2"></p><p><br></p> | 2022-04-14T05:00:00Z | News | <img alt="" src="/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/Stan-Kupiszewski.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | | text/html; charset=utf-8
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