Inside the Club - June 2026 Newsletter
And just like that, we’ve wrapped up another wonderful school year!
As we look back at all our accomplishments in May, our hearts are completely full. We had so much to celebrate — from sharing the warm moments at our Family Dinner, cheering on our littles at their tiny graduation to recognizing the amazing kids who keep the Clubhouse so bright at our Be Great Awards.
But none of this is possible without you and because of you, the Club is a place where our kids truly feel like they belong.
Dive into these stories as we uplift our Club Kids, give a huge shoutout to our partners at IEHP, and introduce you to Jacob Smith, who does so much for our team to bring our mission to life.
Thank you for being on this journey with us. We couldn’t do any of this without you.
Did You See?
Photos From Around the Club
From our Family Dinner, and Little’s Graduation to our Be Great Awards Celebration take a look a pictures from around the club.
Family Dinner: Take a look back at our Family Dinner featuring some words from San Bernardino District Attorney Jason Anderson and a huge shoutout to IEHP and Angel’s Closet for hanging out with our community.
Littles graduation: Check out these sweet moments from our littlest learner’s graduation ceremony, where we celebrated their very first big milestone!
Be Great Awards: Here are a couple of moments from our Be Great Awards — we got to shout out the incredible Members of the Month who bring so much energy and heart to the Boys & Girls Club.
IEHP’s Commitment to Holistic Care
Community Partner Highlight
We are so incredibly grateful for our longstanding partnership with IEHP, which is essential to how we serve our High Desert Community.
Over the years, our bond has only grown stronger as we cheer each other on and find new ways to empower local families.
As a healthcare provider, IEHP knows that true wellness starts at home long before anyone ever steps into a doctor’s office. Through their Community Wellness Center in Victorville, they provide holistic care that targets the social factors that affect health — offering everything from fitness and nutrition to vital community resources.
“The Inland Empire faces deep health disparities and a high need for resources,” IEHP’s director of community wellness centers Delia Orosco said. “As a health plan, we can’t do it alone, so we rely on partnerships, like the one with the Boys & Girls Club, to tackle these social determinants of health and give families positive opportunities.”
When they noticed a gap in services for youth, Delia reached out to BGCGRR.
“Once they're through the door, then we figuratively wrap our arms around them and dive into their needs," she said.
This amazing partnership is creating huge waves of impact. In the last two years, IEHP sent 70 kids to Summer Camp! Because of this incredible success, we are already looking to expand together to reach even more families in high-need areas.
Thank you so much, IEHP, for your dedication to keeping our communities thriving.
It’s More than Just Summer Camp
Think back to your favorite summer memory. Was it playing in the sun? Was it discovering your favorite movie? Or was it the moment that you felt like you really belonged?
At the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Redlands-Riverside, we know that for many kids in our community, Summer Camp is lifechanging. It is the difference between isolation and a chance for something greater. When a child joins us for summer, they aren't just filling time, they are fueling their futures in more ways than one.
Summer Camp is:
Hot, nutritious food so no child has to wonder where their next meal is coming from.
STEAM projects and creative outlets that stop summer learning loss in its tracks.
Mentors who inspire and encourage members to realize their potential.
Peace of mind for working parents that allows them to provide for their families while knowing their kids are safe.
And when you give to the Club, you’re not just supporting a program; you are giving today’s Club Kids the kid of experience that helped shape your own future.
Helps us make more possible — Are you ready to give a child an unforgettable summer? Whether it’s $25 to keep kids engaged in sports or $200 to sponsor a week of camp for one youth, every dollar makes a difference.
Meet the Mentor
Jacob Smith Leads with Heart
If you’ve ever been to our Riverside sites, you’ve most likely felt Jacob Smith’s impact.
As our Program Services Manager for the Riverside Unified School District leg of BGCIE, he’s spent the last two years ensuring our sites are safe and secure places for our members to learn and grow.
Jacob’s journey to leadership began right where the magic happens: as a Youth Development Specialist in a room full of third graders buzzing with energy. But with just two months under his belt and still fresh to the scene, he was presented with a thrilling opportunity.
Taking a leap of faith, Jacob threw his name in the hat to become the next site lead — he secured the position and within four months, his exceptional leadership led to a promotion into his current management role.
His commitment to serving seems to run in his family. Raised by a single mother who taught special education, and with a sister who became a science teacher, education has always surrounded him. But it wasn’t until a stint in Ameri-Corps and the California Conservation Corps that everything fell into place.
“Something had clicked in me,” Jacob said. “I’d done a lot of manual labor and any other job you could imagine but when I was working with the kids it just felt more important.”
Jacob reflects that working with youth forces him out of his own head and into the real world allowing his adult worries to melt away. Every day, he strives to be the mentor he wished he had when he was growing up.
“I learn just as much, if not more, from the kids,” Jacob said. “They’re way smarter than you could imagine and I gain a lot from my conversations from them.”
His commitment to the mission was further solidified at the recent Boys & Girls Club of America’s National Conference. Surrounded by like-minded peers, a work event turned into moments of self-reflection, sparking a renewed drive to keep growing alongside the organization.
It is because of teammates like Jacob, with big, incredible hearts that we are able to give kids more than just an after-school program, we give them a place where they empowered, accepted, and part of something bigger.
Thank you, Jacob for showing up every day!
Coming up at the Clubouse
Summer is right around the corner! Become a Camp Champion today and give kids an experience of a lifetime through transformative programming.
June 15 - July 31
Summit for America’s Youth
The BGCA Summit for America’s Youth brings together hundreds of teens and mentors to connect with their peers and advocate for critical issues affecting youth with members of Congress — keep an eye out for coverage.
July 12-18, 2026
Interested in volunteering? Join us at our upcoming Kohl’s Back to School Shopping Spree where local kids get to pick out the gear they need to head into a new school year feeling confident.
July 18, 2026 - 7am - 9am - Redlands
August 1, 2026 - 7am - 9am - Riverside
As Spring ends and the temperature outside starts to rise, June is shaking up to be an exciting month!
We can’t wait to see you — whether you’re dropping by for Summer Camp or joining us for Back-to-School Shopping, there is always a place for you at the Clubhouse.
Warmly,
Michael Wells
Chief Executive Officer