Club Esteem

Made possible through the collaborative partnership of the Junior League of South Brevard, Club Esteem, and the City of Melbourne, Florida.

Project Name: Club Esteem Youth and Family Center – A project of the Junior League of South Brevard made possible through the collaborative partnership of the Junior League, Club Esteem, and the City of Melbourne, Florida.

Project Description: The Junior League of South Brevard (JLSB) is in the process of establishing the Club Esteem Youth and Family Center to provide programs and services for at-risk youth ages 4 to 18 in the Lipscomb Park Community of South Melbourne. The Youth Center will be a 3100 square foot building with a computer center, a library/resource room, three classrooms, office and storage, and handicapped accessible bathrooms. Programs in the Youth and Family Center will be run by Club Esteem, a non-profit organization whose mission is to help economically disadvantaged children be the best they can be. The Center will provide programs six days per week including: academic tutoring, college preparation, mentoring, counseling, career development classes, goal setting and motivational sessions, computer skills, art and dance classes, field trips, parenting groups, and family support. All services will be free to at-risk children and families. Club Esteem strives to develop a strong sense of self-worth within at-risk children so that they will resist negative pressures in society and make positive decisions for their future.

Sponsoring Organization: The Club Esteem Youth and Family Center is a project of the Junior League of South Brevard, Florida, Inc. - a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote volunteerism, develop the potential of women, and improve the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. The motto of the JLSB is “Our Commitment is Our Community.” The JLSB has over 250 active and sustaining members who support Junior League projects through direct community service and fundraising activities such as our annual Festival of Trees and Rummage Roundup which net approximately $115,000 per year. The JLSB has a history of establishing important facilities in our community including two foster care homes for abused and neglected children, a woman’s shelter, and transitional housing apartments for women and children survivors of domestic violence.

For the current Club Esteem Youth and Family Center project, the JLSB is overseeing and coordinating the project and will fund construction costs through fundraising, grant writing, corporate partnerships, and a Federal HUD Community Development Block Grant. Ongoing operating costs will be funded by the City of Melbourne. Program costs will be funded by Club Esteem. This project is a model collaboration between non-profit organizations, local and federal government, and private businesses all working together to help at-risk children in our community. We invite you to join our partnership!

In addition to overseeing construction of the Youth and Family Center, the JLSB is assisting in Club Esteem’s development and expansion by providing furnishings; providing training for, and serving on, the Club Board of Directors; and providing funding for an Executive Director to coordinate volunteers, write sustaining grants, work with children, and increase parent involvement.

Volunteerism of Junior League Members: Junior League members provide direct volunteer support to Club Esteem. All construction related activities have been coordinated by JLSB volunteers including legal contracts with the City, grant writing, architectural design, preparation of building bids, permitting, etc. In addition, over 75% of active JLSB members have been personally involved with Club Esteem by providing monthly dinners and birthday celebrations at Club Esteem Meetings, providing each CE member with a new school outfit and personal care kit, tutoring, donating school and art supplies, serving on the CE Board of Directors, organizing a talent show, providing a Club Esteem / JLSB Family Thanksgiving Dinner, providing the annual Christmas party (organized and sponsored by the JLSB for the past 12 years). The JLSB also educates other community organizations about Club Esteem and coordinates activities between these organizations and Club Esteem including: Church Group sponsored zoo trip, Law firm sponsored professional baseball game, professional catering of Club Esteem Banquet (200+ people), Girl Scout Troop Pen Pals and Thanksgiving Craft Projects, Fitness Trainer Guest Speaker, Church Group donation of school supplies, and much more. All activities were provided to Club Esteem free of charge.

We Welcome Your Involvement! There are unlimited opportunities for anyone in the community to become involved with Club Esteem. Volunteers are needed to:

• Serve as a mentor, group leader, tutor, motivational speaker, etc. (commitments can be short or long term depending on your desire)

• Teach children basic computer skills

• Assist Club Esteem with different activities (for example, church group, business, scout group, civic group organizing a trip to the zoo, baseball game, art activity; collecting school supplies, etc.)

• Serve on the Board of Directors

• Donate in-kind construction and subcontracting services

• Underwrite programs and activities

Club Esteem Ground breaking: On March 8, 2003 at 10:00 am at the Lipscomb Park Community Center, 3316 South Monroe Street, Melbourne a ground breaking ceremony for the center will be held. The public is welcome to attend the ceremony. The building of the Club Esteem Youth and Family Center is a project of the Junior League of South Brevard, Florida, Inc. - a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote voluntarism, develop the potential of women, and improve the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. The JLSB has over 250 active and sustaining members who support Junior League projects through direct community service and fundraising activities such as our annual Festival of Trees and Rummage Roundup which net approximately $115,000 per year. The JLSB has a history of establishing important facilities in our community including two foster care homes for abused and neglected children, a woman’s shelter, and transitional housing apartments for women and children survivors of domestic violence.

Further information about Club Esteem can be found at their website: www.clubesteem.org.