Van Buren Boys & Girls Club receives $10,000 Best Buy grant

The Best Buy Children’s Foundation has recognized Boys & Girls Club of Van Buren with a $10,000 Teens and Technology Innovation Grant to support and grow the innovative use of technology within the Club.

Boys & Girls Club of Van Buren is one of only six recipients across the country to receive this grant, which will be used to fund a teen-driven innovation project using technology to enhance teen programs in the areas of mobile technologies, social networking and/or media safety.

“We are honored to be recognized by Best Buy Children’s Foundation for our commitment to providing youth with the resources to be creative, compassionate and productive citizens,” Cindy Faldon, CPO, Boys & Girls Club of Van Buren. “It’s because of partners like the Best Buy Children’s Foundation that we are able to offer technology programming that encourages a passion for education, innovation and future success.”

A recent study by MGS Consulting found that after participating in youth technology programs like Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Club Tech program, youth have a much greater chance of engaging in healthy behaviors and a greatly decreased risk for engaging in risky or destructive behaviors.

A study from the University of Washington’s Center for Information & Society found that technology programs like Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Club Tech promote learning, such as an improved fluency, confidence and excitement with technology. It also demonstrated that Club Tech promotes an understanding among youth that computers are considered an essential part of “being educated.”

According to the announcement, Best Buy Children’s Foundation continues to support Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s efforts to create technology rich environments in Clubs to retain teen members, attract new teens and enable Clubs to have a positive impact on their success.

Located at 1403 City Park Road, The Boys & Girls Club of Van Buren provides programs for more 1,000 boys and girls each year. The club is open between the hours of 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. when school is in session and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. when school is not in session. To learn more about the club, contact officials at (479) 474-9401 or visit the club’s website.