On Tuesday, December 15th, 2009, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands unveiled a new technology center at its Westside unit location. “Many of the children we serve don’t have computers at home,” says Fred Schott, President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands. ” This [computer lab] levels the playing field for our kids.”

The $25,000 technology lab, which includes 10 computers and monitors, high-speed Internet access and a laser printer, has arrived just in time for the holidays. Donated from Cox Communications and the James M. Cox Foundation, the lab will help support the Clubs in its focus on improving grade-level progression.

“The lab isnt just a gift from Cox, its an investment in the future of more than 1,100 kids at our Westside Unit,” Schott says. “Technology is so important as we work day in and day out to inspire our young people to realize their full potential.”

To access the 2009 Cox Connects photo gallery, please click here.
For more information on volunteer opportunities with Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands, please click here.

Following on the heels of a successful Day for Kids, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands has once again partnered with Cox Communications to bring volunteers to the Clubs for Cox Connects. The volunteers, all employees of Cox, will visit Club locations throughout the next 30 days to provide tutoring to members, engage in recreational activities and most importantly, have fun interacting with the youth of the community.

On September 16th, Cox Connects kicked-off with over 30 volunteers visiting the North Omaha unit. A big thank you goes out to all of those volunteers who gave their time, energy and enthusiasm to the Clubs on the first night. For those Cox employees planning on volunteering at future Cox Connects events, the Clubs would like to say thank you in advance and we look forward to seeing you soon!

To view photos from Cox Connects, please click here.

Over 50 North Unit members were surprised this morning to find a charter bus in the Club’s parking lot. It looked like an ordinary bus from the outside, but what they discovered was something totally different. Equiped with multiple cameras, live satelite hookup and production equipment, this news station on wheels allows C-SPAN to cover breaking news from any location.

The C-SPAN “Civics” Bus was gracious enough to give tours to each member and explain a little about the role it has played over the years, including being the stage for various interviews from authors to past past presidents. Tylonoa, a 13 year old member of the North Unit volunteered to go inside the bus in order to give you a closer look of the Civics Bus in action with the following video.

(more…)