Message from the Executive Director
Lou’s Letter
“We know all kids do best…….”
Researchers tell us the best predictor of bad things
happening to kids is growing up in poverty. We know,
however, it’s not just money that makes the difference.
It’s not food or toys or candy or bikes or any inanimate
object. What kids in crisis need most is a loving and
healthy Christian family. Over the past 44 years, we’ve
learned our kids truly desire a “normal life.” Kids need
a family to worship with them, consistently be there for
them, to teach them, to encourage them, to forgive and
apologize to them and to provide for them. For your faith
in our kids and our families, we will always be grateful.
Programmatically, we learn if we want
our kids to grow up to be successful
mothers and fathers, we have to model
it for them. Our program stresses a
method that relies on our Teaching
Parents to be mothers and fathers for
our kids. This is how our Founders,
Tommy and Jean Robinson, wanted it
way back in 1971.
confidence
and make their
dreams come
true and our
community
ends up with
a well-educated, confident,
“self-sustaining and contributing Christian adult.”
The data on kids who have to grow up in “out-of-home”
placements is clearly against us. These children are statistically more likely to end up in jail (34%) than crossing a
stage to receive their college diploma
(6%). For Boys and Girls Country kids,
success has now become a “choice,” a
“Our first lesson for our real option. Your investment in them
kids is about God and a and our families has changed those
odds.
family that loves you,
even when you may not
love yourself. We work
hard to boost confidence
and self-esteem.”
Over the summer we were able to
calculate, chart and review our kids’
grades for the past school year. We
were so happy to read the results. Our
end-of-the-school year grade point average was a 3.3!
Our kids, Teaching Parents, tutors and education staff
completed yet another terrific school year for our Boys
and Girls Country families!
This is not easy. Our first lesson for our kids is about
God and a family that loves you, even when you may not
love yourself. We work hard to boost confidence and
self-esteem. As a staff, we know “doubt kills.” We know
action conquers fear. We know some kids get there by skill
and some by will. We teach them when one is mentally
committed to excellence, most of the quest is complete.
“When the mind doesn’t mind, the body doesn’t matter.”
We explain we don’t guarantee equal outcomes, but we
do make every effort for our kids to receive equal opportunities. When that happens, our kids build their
As we look to the close of 2015, the
excitement is escalating around our
annual Heritage Award Dinner. We
are honoring long-time community
leaders and investors, John and Lisa
Walker. The host of the American Bible
Challenge, comedian Jeff Foxworthy,
will entertain us again this year with
all new material. We hope you will join us. It will be an
amazing night!
“We know all kids do best growing up in the context of a
normal, healthy Christian family.”
Lou Palma
Executive Director
To learn about events and activities at Boys and Girls
Country, please visit our website at
www.boysandgirlscountry.org.
Make your contribution online! Give securely online at www.boysandgirlscountry.org/donate
2
Boys and Girls Country News | Fall 2015