***2002 CAMP SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 3-7 CALL 672-7664 , 437-5505 OR 857-3483 TO REGISTER.
GYC TENNIS CAMP
The Gonzales Youth Center in cooperation with the USA Tennis 1-2-3 Program and the National Junior Tennis League held it's first Tennis Camp session the week of June 4. There were 31 eager young boys and girls age 9-14 that took part in the week long camp. Coaches Les Talley, Helen Talley, Leon Netardus, Jack Finch, Allan Lundgren and Alexia de la Rosa generously donated their time to help generate interest in the game and teach the basics to the younger generation.
If there are those who were unable to attend and are still interested, please call Pat Anders at 437-5505 or 672-7664 to get put on a waiting list. You will be notified when the next session is scheduled.
PARTICIPANTS:
Ashley Catchings,Jonalynn Camarillo, Amber Taylor, Mysti Pitts, Jeffery Pitts, Joshua Seratto, David Tieken, Mindi Miller, Johathon Miller, Devin Gibson, Joseph Chavez, Sarah Williamson, Amanda Bennett, Ashley Bennett, Jasmin Hodges, Katelyn Keyser, James Keyser, Lacey DuBose, Kirstie Hull, Trey Williams, Bradley Fehner, Jason Tomas, Brittany Maldonado, Heather Patterson, Christen Fehner, Jamie McMains and Ckody Burton.
COACHES: Leslie Talley, Helen Talley, Leon Netardus, Jack Finch, Alexia De La Rosa and Allan Lundgren
Not pictured: Jonathon Sanford, Scott Sanford, Joe White, Michael Futrell, and Coach: Allan Lundgren
Birthday Offering Creative Ministries, Presbyterian Women PC (USA) Grant
GYC ambasadors Jeffery English, Pat Anders, Bianca Stewert, Perri Bell and Brittany Torres at Presbyterian Women's Luncheon in New Braunfels, TX.
GONZALES INQUIRER-JANUARY 2001
The Gonzales Youth Center has just received its "dream grant," a gift which will provide incredible opportunities as well as challenges.
The center will soon get $123,760 from the Birthday Offering Creative Ministries, Presbyterian Women PC (USA). The grant will be used to fund a project known as Rural Reach, which will allow young people who live outside Gonzales to attend the Youth Center.
The grant will pay for a bus, drivers, insurance, and other driving expenses, as well as expanded hours and staff. It will also include support and worldwide publicity. A local match of $73,216 will be required over the next two years. The first funds from the grant will be received in October of 2001.
"This is one of five worldwide projects funded for the year," said center director Pat Anders. "They received 80 applicants from all over the world." In order to be eligible, a project had to be new-or an extension to a new area of service as in the case of the Gonzales Youth Center.
Presbyterian Women is an organization of over 300,000 women in the Presbyterian Church (USA). "We on behalf of the Presbyterian Women and the Presbyterian Church (USA) are delighted to participate with you in this ministry," said a letter to the Youth Center about the grant award. "May you be blessed as you continue to serve those in need in your part of the world."
Perri Bell of Gonzales, was moderator of the Presbyterian Women of Gonzales when she decided to seek help for the Youth Center. "I became aware of the money that gets granted to projects all over the world. I thought not one of those projects was more in need or more worthy of funds than the Gonzales Youth Center. I knew how well Pat has been doing here with very little money and I thought, why not see if we can get some of that money for the Youth Center.
"Lois McGarity went to the World Wide Mission Conference and brought back an application form. I brought it back to Pat Anders. She and Barbara Crozier assisted with the writing of a narrative."
The application an project were endorsed by Mission Presbytery (which includes four states) and the Mission Presbytery Creative Ministries Committee and by Phin and Sylvia Washer.
"The inception of the Youth Center was 1995," said Anders. "We started in January of that year really getting serious about it. Ralph Dowling of American National Bank put forth a major effort, as did the First Baptist Church, which gave us an agreement to use this building. Without that help, we wouldn't be here."
Creating the Youth Center was an uphill battle at first, she said. "It was something not everyone agreed would work or last. Now, five years later, we are not only lasting, but are bursting at the seams. We've had great community support. Otherwise we wouldn't be able to stay open."
The community support will have to increase with the start of Rural Reach. "This is really going to step up our growth. We will have to grow physically. We really need help with volunteers, tutors, and people who are computer literate to help with our computer lab," said Anders."
The grant will make it possible for children who live outside Gonzales to attend the Youth Center, by providing a way home. It will also give them access to all the summer programs and will make it easier to take the members on field trips.
