Boys & Girls Club Celebrates First Birthday in Menifee

Menifee Valley Boys & Girls Club Executive Director John Whann and Board Chair Sue Kristjansson join board members Charles Guillen and Steve Kennedy in accepting proclamations from Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez's office. Menifee 24/7 photos: Doug Spoon

What once might have seemed an impossible dream is today a reality that is one year old and growing like a teenager.

The Boys & Girls Club of Menifee Valley celebrated its first birthday Friday with local dignitaries, board members and those who helped transform an idea into an organization that now serves 930 children in Menifee.

"The kids are out there having a great time," said Sue Kristjansson, former Menifee City Council member and chair of the club's board of directors. "They're on the water slide, they're doing the fun stuff. But for me, this was from a parent's perspective. So the parents in this community now have a place to send their kids that's safe, enriching, valuable and works together with the school district to make sure these kids are following through and growing up to be great, responsible people.

"In the past year, I've been absolutely dumbfounded at what John and his staff have done. This confirms for me and all those people that were on the steering committee that we did the right thing at the right time."

Under the leadership of John Whann, who was hired as executive director a year ago, the club has grown from a little-known entity serving just a few children to one whose membership is approaching 1,000. For a $20 annual membership fee, children can participate in activities before and after school during the school year and all day long in the summer.

This past school year, 700 children took part in the club's homework assistance programs, where tutors help them complete their school assignments. A bus, acquired with support from County Supervisor Marion Ashley's office, transports children to and from 12 area schools. The Menifee Union School District provides classroom and playground space for the club at the former Menifee Elementary School on Garbani Road.

Children can also participate in arts and crafts, outdoor sports and activities and field trips. Included in the membership fee are healthy snacks and dinner each day. For an additional fee, children can also participate in sports leagues, take dance (right) and music lessons and more.

"It's really difficult when you're raising a kid here and you don't know if they're getting home from school on time or what they're doing," said Kristjansson, who became involved in such issues as a single parent when her own son was a youngster (he now volunteers at the club). "You wonder what are they doing? Is he in front of a video game? Is he watching cartoons? It always preyed on my mind that we didn't have something like this for the families here."

More than 40 percent of the members receive financial scholarships. To enable this to happen, fundraisers are a big part of the club's support system. The latest fundraising project is a legacy wall, where donors can purchase tiles to be placed on a wall outside the club. Corporation sponsorship tiles cost $100 and individual donations purchase a $50 tile.

Club officials received proclamations Friday by the offices of Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez; Senator Mike Morrell; and County Supervisor Marion Ashley (second photo from top). Members of the club's dance class performed for the guests as well.

"We could not have done this without your support," Whann told the guests. "It means a lot to the staff, the children and the community we serve."

To make a donation or for more information about the club, visit their website here or call 951-246-8845.

Members of the club's dance class count out "1, 2, 3 strikes you're out" during a performance of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame."

John Whann presents a plaque of appreciation to school board members Randy Freeman and Bob O'Donnell and Superintendent Steve Kennedy of the Menifee Union School District.

Dance club members perform a routine to the song "Girls Just Want to Have Fun."

Children watch a display by a guest who brought his collection of exotic birds.

Free time on Friday included tetherball and a water slide.