The Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County hosted an open house last week as a way of giving the community the opportunity to visit the club and learn about the different programs and services that it has to offer.
Coordinated by Monroe Boys & Girls Club Director Jeff Rasmussen, the event took place on Wednesday, Jan. 21 at the Monroe facility (261 Sky River Parkway). Still relatively new to the job, Rasmussen took over the position in mid-December.
An active member of the Monroe community, Rasmussen is a former member of the Monroe Parks Board, and is currently serving in his second year on the Monroe City Council. Additionally, he serves on the East County Board of Directors for Housing Hope, a nonprofit organization dedicated to alleviating homelessness.
He comes to the director position with roughly 15 years of experience in investment banking and financial services, which is how he discovered his love for working in social services.
When his previous employer, Washington Federal Savings in Snohomish, strongly encouraged him to take an active role in the community, Rasmussen quickly realized how much he enjoyed serving the area in which he worked. Particularly, he found great value in his work with organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County, and became very passionate about giving back.
He got to know Snohomish Boys & Girls Club Area Director Marci Volmer, who eventually told him when the position became vacant in Monroe. After careful consideration and a lot of planning, he decided to proceed with the career change.
"It was a transition that was relatively easy,GÇ¥ Rasmussen said. "I was doing what I'm doing; it's just that now I'm making a career out of it.GÇ¥
When searching for its new director, the club considered Rasmussen for a variety of reasons, including his passion for the cause and his dedication to the community, Volmer said.
"The Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County was really committed to finding somebody who was already really invested in Monroe, and already a part of the community,GÇ¥ Volmer said. "I know, from having known Jeff for years, that he is very passionate about this community, and that's already kind of trickling through the club.GÇ¥
The Monroe Boys & Girls Club, which has been in Monroe for 17 years, provides services to approximately 1,000 kids in the community. Each day, kids get dropped off at the club as early as 6 a.m. and are fed a hot breakfast before being taken to school. Approximately 50 kids eat breakfast at the club each morning, and in the afternoon, they serve approximately 100 kids a healthy snack.
In the afternoons, students begin arriving at the club as soon as school gets out and are allowed to have open gym time, as well as time in the tech room to work on their homework.
The club is open from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, with Saturdays dedicated to its sports programming. Winter is basketball season at the club, with volleyball and flag football starting up in the spring.
In addition to a full-sized gymnasium, the club features a game room, tech room, teen room, kitchen, craft room and eating area. Structured programming includes groups like the science club, SMART girls club and sewing club.
The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County is to "enable all young people, especially those who need us the most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.GÇ¥ Licensed childcare is available to kids in kindergarten through fifth grade, and drop in services are available to all kids from kindergarten through 12th grade.
The club tries to never turn anyone away, and a drop-in membership can be obtained for just $30 per year GÇô an amount that is significantly lower than cost. Licensed child-care services, which include daily transportation to and from school, are available for a higher fee. On average, the kids who visit the Monroe club are in between eight and 11 years of age.
In addition to being provided with an opportunity to be healthy and active, kids are encouraged to interact, learn and grow while spending time at the club.
So far, Rasmussen is adapting to his new role quite seamlessly, and enjoying the new routine.
"It's been amazing GÇô it's been so much fun,GÇ¥ Rasmussen said.-á "The coolest thing is I come to work and, at the end of the day, I'm leaving knowing that I've probably made an impact on someone.GÇ¥
When he worked in investment banking, there wasn't a whole lot of opportunity to play catch. But at the Boys & Girls Club, that's the type of thing that happens regularly. And if one of the kids wants to throw around a football or shoot some hoops with him, Rasmussen doesn't hesitate for a second.
"That's the thing that makes this so much fun,GÇ¥ Rasmussen said. "This is an organization where that's what we want.GÇ¥
And, fortunately, it's a well-known fact that if things like budget reports and newsletters aren't done by 2:30 p.m. when the kids start pouring in, they likely won't be completed until the next day.
Rasmussen's goal is to work with the kids to find ways to make the club even more inviting and comfortable. At the top of his agenda is sprucing up the teen room, and he's already working with the teens to find out what works well for them.
"We're here for the community,GÇ¥ Rasmussen said. "We want to have the kids come here and hang out with us, as opposed to going home and hanging out alone.GÇ¥
Rasmussen lives in Monroe with his wife, Jacci, and their two young sons, Kameryn and Kellyn.
For more information on the Monroe Boys and Girls Club, visit bgcsc.org/snohomish-clubs/monroe-club, or www.facebook.com/pages/Monroe-Boys-Girls-Club/177393052420153.
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