South Franklin Community Center

Wholesome & Worth-While Activities for EVERYONE!

2012-02-03T14:05:00.002-07:00

We have a lot of great after school activities for all ages here at the South Franklin Community Center! Come to one or come to all, we would love to see you and get to know you!

After school tutoring which is Monday-Thursday from 3:30-5:30 PM for all elementary school through high school aged kids. We also have an English class Monday's and Wednesday's from 5:30-6:30 PM for all parents and families.

Another class that we have is our Healthy cooking class for adults and kids, the class for the adults is the first Thursday of every month at 10:00 AM and the kids healthy cooking class is the first Friday of every month from 3:30-4:00 PM which is during Homework Heroes. We have a Zumba class as well that is every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for 18 years and older from 9:00-9:45 AM; its a great way to meet new people, stay in shape, and have some fun.

We also have music lessons for piano and guitar on Wednesday's and Thursday's from 3:30-5:00 PM. So feel free to come and play a few notes and create a melody :)

Last but not least we have our Friday activity; every Friday which is 3:00-5:00 PM day called Homework Heroes for all the kids who have been coming to tutoring Monday-Thursday. We have a lot of fun and exciting activities planed for the year!

We hope to see you soon!

Homework Heroes: BYU Men's Soccer Team

2012-01-24T10:16:00.001-07:00

We had a great turn out last Friday when we had the BYU Men's Soccer Team come out to Homework Heroes.

The kids had a blast playing games and doing drills with the different team members.

We can't begin to express how grateful we are that they came and for the fun time that we had with the team members.

Thank You!!! BYU Men's Soccer Team!! GO COUGARS!!

Remember that Homework Heroes is every Friday from 3:00-5:00 PM and we have a lot of fun activities planned for all to participate in!! Hope to see you soon!!

BYU Men's Soccer Team @ Homework Heroes

2012-01-12T11:02:00.000-07:00

The BYU Men's Soccer Team will be coming NEXT WEEK to Homework Heroes!

Be there Friday January 20, 2012 3-5 PM; they will be doing soccer drills, playing games, taking pictures, signing autographs for all the kids who come! Hope to see you there!!

You won't want to miss out on this fun event, it will be a great experience and who wouldn't want to come and spend a couple of hours with the BYU Men's Soccer Team :)

Adventure is out there!

2012-01-05T13:34:00.002-07:00

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be in Boy Scouts?!? Come to the open house on Tuesday January 10th @ 6:30PM to find out more. Hope to see you there!

Neighborhood Christmas Event!

2011-12-09T10:27:00.001-07:00

On Saturday, December 17, the Franklin South neighborhood isinvited to participate in a fun family service event and share the joy ofChristmas.

Neighbors can meet with other members of the community inthe north parking lot of Community Action Services and Food Bank (815 S.Freedom Blvd.) at 6:30 p.m. to go Christmas caroling with llamas and collectcanned food for the food bank.

Llamas?!

Yes, llamas!

Bring your kids and grandkids to meet a few new fluffyfriends, sing Christmas carols and do a good deed. Participants will be dividedinto groups and will receive a llama, carol books, maps and a shopping cart fortransporting the food. Caroling will mostly take place within walking distance. As is the case with all our events, it's free of charge.

Thanks to the group Carollama for helping to organize thisevent for us.

We hope to see you all there!

What do you love about South Franklin Community Center?

2011-11-16T10:25:00.001-07:00

Just recently we had our PR Intern do a video on the South Franklin Community Center and he asked those who are involved with the community center why the love it. Take a look!

Why do you love South Franklin Community Center?

South Franklin Community Center is a great place where families and children of the Franklin South community can come to learn and have a great time. It offers so many different opportunities and fun experiences for all those who come. I have loved working with the community center and getting to know the wonderful volunteers and the amazing families that live within the community. It is great to see so many people get involved with the different activities and programs that go on within the community center. Everyone who is involved is an important part to making this wonderful community center what it is. Thank you for all you do and I am so thrilled to be working at the South Franklin Community Center and look forward to the great things that are going to keep happening!

Give Thanks!

2011-11-09T10:32:00.002-07:00

As the holiday season approaches with Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner; and the spirit of cheer begins to fill the air, we wanted to give thanks to those who make South Franklin what it is. Without our wonderful volunteers, parents, local agencies, United Way, sponsors, The Boulders apartment complex; all of this wouldn't be possible.

Tiny Tunes

Zumba

Soccer

Community Garden

Day of Caring

The Boulders Staff

Tutoring

NuSkin Service Project

United Way

Thank you to everyone who plays a key part in making the South Franklin Community Center possible, you are the heart and soul of what we are. Without all of your hard work and dedication, we would not be where we are today, and we have nothing but love and gratitude for you and your kindness. THANK YOU!

Come Support Homework Heroes @ Pizza Pie Cafe

2011-11-01T08:49:00.002-06:00

Recently, we’ve highlighted a few of the volunteers at the South Franklin Community Center. Ryan Nitta, a UVU student studying Spanish, is another one of our fabulous volunteers.Ryan heads up the activities for the Homework Heroes program. Every Friday, any of the kids that came in to get help from on their homework during the week, get to go do an awesome activity with Ryan.

So far, students have played games and had treats. But then Ryan had an idea.

“I had asked around for donations for snacks, but I felt like, it’s always so dependent on another person,” said Ryan. “I thought we could create more of an environment that’s better suited for the success ofthe kids."

Ryan thought, with a little help, Homework Heroes could really have some stellar events. So Ryan has worked out a fundraiser with Pizza Pie Café in Provo in order to raise money for activities for Friday’s Hero’s.Ryan says this way the kids can really be rewarded for their hard work during the week.

Here’s how the fundraiser will work:

WHO:

You of course!

WHAT:

Pizza Pie Café in Provo (Google Maps) will donate 25% of all their revenue for 3 days to the Homework Hero’s Club.

WHERE:

Pizza Pie Café in Provo: 2235 North University Parkway

WHEN:

November 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)

HOW:

1. Call Ryan (714-393-2824) he will get you as many cards as you want.

2. Go eat lunch or dinner at the delicious, all-you-can eat Pizza Pie Café in Provo

(You’re eating that day anyway, right?)

3. Give them the card when you pay for your meal.

That’s it! We'll see you there!

RUN. KICK. GOAL.

2011-10-25T13:27:00.000-06:00

We had a great turn out for Saturday's soccer tournament, all teams played hard and fought to the very end. Even though it was single elimination, the players still went home with smiles on their faces and memories of a great fall season!

And the winners are (drum roll please)...5-7 year old teams: EVERYONE!, 8-10 year old teams: TITANS, 11-13 year old teams: SACAGAWEA, 14-18 year old teams: AMERICAN LEGION! Way to go each team, congratulations on your victory this season. We could tell that your love of soccer was only magnified through your wonderful coaches and hard work, which made each goal and win even sweeter! Thank you for a great season to all of you who helped make it possible! See you in the Spring!

Soccer Tournament

2011-10-21T10:46:00.001-06:00

This Saturday, October 22nd is the Fall Soccer League Tournament, it has been a great season and the coaches and players have worked hard! All those practices and games have made it very rewarding for each team and it's players.

If you want to come out and cheer for the teams, the games will start at 9:00AM and go until 2:00PM; teams will be playing at The Boulders Apartment Complex field and Dixon Middle School field.

Everyone involved has been an intricate player this season; the sponsors, coaches, players, referees, the parents who come out to watch and support, The Boulders Apartment Complex, Franklin Elementary, Dixon Middle School, United Way, and those who run the soccer league.

A big THANK YOU to all who made this season a successful and fun season for the players and community!

Musical Melodies

2011-10-18T10:24:00.002-06:00

The volunteers here at South Franklin are true heroes, who love to work with the children and people in the community. Rachel who is one of our piano teachers is a great example of a dedicated volunteer.

Rachel is a freshman at BYU who is a Pre-Music Education major who loves music and is excited to share her talents and love of music with those who come to the Community Center. Rachel first heard about this opportunity to teach at the Service Fair during New Student Orientation at the beginning of this Fall Semester.

"I wanted to volunteer at the Community Centerbecause, back home in New York, I spent most of my past two summersvolunteering or working as a counselor at the Waterman Conservation EducationCenter, where I worked with kids. I really enjoyed this experience and figuredthat I would get a similar one from volunteering at South Franklin. Also, I ama Pre-Music Education Major at BYU, so giving the kids piano lessons is goodteaching experience for me."

"Also, I had a great teacher back in NY, fromwhom I received free voice lessons. Through these lessons, I truly began tolove music and I know that piano lessons are expensive, so I hope to influencethese kids to love music and just have a great experience, just as my teacherdid for me."

Thank you to Rachel and all of our great volunteers, you are the heart and soul of this community center and we appreciate all the time and dedication you put into making it run!

Everyday Hero: Josh Lewis

2011-10-10T13:40:00.003-06:00

We love all of our volunteers at South Franklin. Each one of them dedicates their own unique set of skills and talents to benefit the Community Center. Two weeks ago, one South Franklin volunteer received much-deserved recognition at halftime of the BYU football game.

Josh Lewis, a volunteer soccer coach for the South Franklin Soccer League, was recognized at the game as an “Everyday Hero”. We couldn’t agree more! Josh has been coaching soccer for the South Franklin Soccer league for the last 3 years. He grew up playing soccer. and even played some at Lone Peak High School in Highland. Josh is a student at BYU and gives his own time to coach the soccer games.

“I had coaches and friends and family that supported me. I feel like this is something I can do to give back and share with others what they gave to me,” said Josh. Josh said he has had many special experiences with the kids, and really enjoys volunteering as a coach for the soccer league.

Congratulations to Josh, and thanks again to all our wonderful volunteers!

Homework Heroes

2011-10-04T09:29:00.000-06:00

Homework Heroes is a reward incentive program that is held every Friday from 3:00-5:00pm for children grades K-12, who have come to tutoring through out the week. It is a great way to reward and congratulate the children for working so hard on their homework they have brought to tutoring.

Our volunteers create kid-friendly activities for all ages to participate in. The activities are engaging and worthwhile for all who interact. The volunteers have planned out a variety of activities, such as: indoor and outdoors sports, fun games, cooking classes, movie day, themed days, etc.

Homework Heroes is a lot of fun for all who participate, even the volunteers get to have a fun time when they are engaged in creating and implementing the activities they have planned.

It is also a great way to come and volunteer for any BYU or UVU student, we have a lot of fun and its a great way to spend a Friday afternoon. The children are fun to be around and you can't help but smile and laugh when you are around them. Games, fun, and laughter...what more could you ask for!

Homework Heroes is awesome!

After School Tutoring!

2011-09-21T15:32:00.002-06:00

Monday-Thursday we have tutors from UVU and BYU at the Community Centerto help the children with their homework; it is a great after school programthat gives children the one-on-one time for school assignments they may have.

Our tutoring program runs Monday 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM, Tuesday 2:30 PM to 5:30PM, Wednesday 2:30-6:30, and Thursday 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM; children from allgrades kindergarten to 12^th grade are welcome to come and get helpwith their homework. This is a great opportunity for students from BYU and UVUto come and serve within the community.

Day of Caring

2011-09-09T14:21:00.001-06:00

United Way Day of Caring is for local businesses and organizations to provide service to their community. Yesterday was Day of Caring in Utah County and over 1200 volunteers came to 31 project sites to help with landscaping, painting, repairing, and cleaning.

South Franklin Community Center was one of the sites that received help from over 25 volunteers to help organize and categorize the library catalog. We now have about 4,000 books sorted and labeled into 17 different genres. This system will improve the kids experience in our library. They can now come in and find a book within seconds.

Thanks to all those who came and helped from Brigham Young University's MPA program and Utah Community Credit Union. We couldn't have done it without you!

Parental Gratitude

2011-09-01T12:16:00.000-06:00

The soccer league is not just for kids to come and get their wiggles out. Parents are there every Saturday to watch and cheer on their kids. We appreciate parent involvement and support in the league because without them we wouldn't have a league.

Last Saturday we were scheduled to have a game at 9am for the 8-10 year old's at the Boulders field. When 9 o'clock rolled around there were two teams on the field warmed up, and ready to start playing. However, there were no referees to enforce the rules. That's when I noticed three gentlemen/parents standing right outside the midfield line. These parents are there every week running up and down the side lines shouting tips to the players. I asked if they had referee experience. None of them did, but they knew the game just as well if not better than anyone else. All three gentlemen agreed to volunteer as referees for the game. On rare occasions do we have three refs at one game. This game was ideal for players because we were able to have two sideline refs and one on the field. I was so grateful to have parents there so early in the morning to help us with the soccer league. A big shout out to all the parents who are at our fields every weekend giving moral support to their children. Thank you!

Hooray for soccer!

2011-08-25T15:07:00.001-06:00

We are now officially in our 6th season of the South Franklin Soccer League! Our first set of games was last Saturday (August 20). Games were going on at The Boulders and Franklin Elementary in Provo from 9am-1pm.

After two scrimmage days for youth to come sign up we currently have 109 kids playing in the program. There is still space to register but time is running out. Last day to register is August 27th. You can register by going to Centro Hispano (817 South 200 West Provo) or United Way (148 North 100 West Provo) and asking for a form. Any children from ages 5-18 can sign up and remember it's free!

Every weekend we look forward to a successful game day. Come join us and see what all the fun is about!

If you have any soccer experience, we are looking for referees to help during games on Saturdays. Please contact us if you're interested.

Boulders Apartments Pool Party

2011-08-18T16:32:00.002-06:00

This afternoon Boulders Apartments hosted a pool party from 2-4 p.m.! Hopefully you had the good fortune of attending and enjoying the free sack lunch distributed by Boulders management, housekeeping and maintenance staff. Yum!

Representatives from different community organizations also attended in order to share information about their activities with party attendees. Utah Valley University's office of School, College & University Partnership signed up youth K-12 for free tutoring for the coming school year. Sign-ups were also available for the South Franklin Soccer League.

Representatives from the Provo Circles Initiative also came to share information about Circles and sign people up. As you can see, in South Franklin we're all about getting involved together and sharing. If you want any more information on any of these programs that were represented at the party, contact us!

We at South Franklin Community Center wish to thank the Boulders Apartments again (and again and again) for their generous donation of a space to use to gather as neighbors. Thanks for the smiles and the genuine care of the office staff, management, and maintenance crew, who are always hard at work to make our homes a safe and happy place to live!

Teen Adventures

2011-08-15T13:19:00.000-06:00

Becca, an AmeriCorps member with United Way of Utah County, has spent almost 300 hours at South Franklin Community Center this summer running Open Hours, refereeing soccer games, and putting together activities for the neighborhood youth. She wanted to share a few thoughts and memories from her interactions with the teenagers.

I have a blast when the teens come to soccer, girls’ night or whatever activity we may be doing at the time. Although we’ve only had a few teens show up to soccer, it’s to still fun to play Meta el Gol and just get to know each other better. Girls’ night was really fun! I brought my fingernail polish that changes color in the sun and we had a blast watching it work.

At the Bonfire Night we had tons of fun, but it wasn’t the fun I was expecting: We drove up to South Fork Park just to find out that no open fires were allowed, so we played games the whole night! We played Dynamite, which is played with a Nerf football, practically the whole time! After awhile another group cleared the field to play Ultimate Frisbee and they told us we could play with them if we wanted to. We decided to go with it! Those people were a blast to play with! Then when it started to get dark we played some soccer with another group of people. I’d say we made the best night we could without a bonfire.

I have fun hanging out with the teens and so do the other AmeriCorps volunteers like Lindsey and Dallin. I hope the teens have had as much fun as I have, and more. I wish them the best in their life goals and I know they can reach them.

Day Camp: A Message from Noelle

2011-08-02T11:14:00.003-06:00

Noelle Olivete is an AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Associate with United Way of Utah County and served as director of the South Franklin Community Center's Summer Day Camp for 2011.

There were seven weeks of camp…and it was questionable if I would survive those weeks! Looking back, I have to say that camp was a success! As each week passed, I learned so much about what activities to do and what worked best for the entire group.

My favorite part of camp was getting to know each child on a personal level. In addition, being able to improve and teach them new skills was really rewarding. Whether it be on field trips, at the community garden, or just at the community center, I felt that it was important to focus on having a goal for them to reach. Some of the goals included giving the group challenges, teambuilding activities, developing the feeling of self-accomplishment, exploring new ideas and concepts, doing service, and so on. I have to say that preparing these activities presented a challenge for me but I would not trade this experience for anything! To see the facial expression of each child enjoying themselves during an activity or thinking things through during a challenge makes my job so fulfilling.

During these seven weeks, I know that I have gained so much insight as I interacted with each child; I have learned so much from them. I hope that they were able to have a good experience during camp and that they have gained something from coming. I love that I was able to be small part of their lives! I hope that by working with them as well as our amazing volunteers, that together we have instilled in them to keep moving forward in life—to make good choices and know that each and every one of them has so much potential.

It is my hope that the South Franklin Community Center's Summer Day Camp keeps improving as the years go by. I hope that it will continue to impact and unite the families within the community.

Day Camp: Closing Social

2011-07-29T14:54:00.000-06:00

Day Camp has come to a close for Summer 2011! To celebrate, a closing social was held at the community center this afternoon. Following a delicious potluck lunch served outside in shade of the trees, campers and their families were treated to a slideshow and special program in the community center.

After the slideshow, several campers from each group shared their favorite part of day camp. The younger group treated the rest of the campers and audience to a dance set to Taio Cruz’s song “Dynamite.”

Summer Camp 2011 was a great success. Special thanks to our volunteers who made our camp possible and to our staff members for their support.

If you missed any of our reports from camp, be sure to check the archives. Visit our Facebook page for more pictures.

See you next summer!

Photos by Mark Hartman

Day Camp: Museum of Peoples and Cultures

2011-07-27T15:34:00.000-06:00

With Day Camp coming to a close at the end of this week, the campers had time for one final field trip, this time to the Museum of Peoples and Cultures at BYU. The museum started as part of BYU’s Department of Archaeology in the 1960s, becoming an official museum in 1981.

Today’s visit began with a lecture by one of the museum staff members about the Fremont people who lived in this part of Utah more than a thousand years ago. Campers were shown various artifacts, and given a demonstration on telling a story based on archaeological evidence. After the demonstration, the campers had a chance to put what they had learned to the test.

Outside the museum is a sand pit with buried artifacts. After a brief safety lecture and some instruction, the campers were let loose to see what they could find.

Once they had discovered their arrowhead and beads, the campers made necklaces from their discoveries.

Thanks to the Museum of Peoples and Cultures staff for a fun and educational trip. To learn more about the museum, visit their web site. As always, thanks to Utah Valley Paratransit and our volunteers, without whom these trips would not be possible.

Photos by Mark Hartman

Day Camp: Hike Day

2011-07-26T12:12:00.002-06:00

Day Camp tries to give children of the South Franklin community an opportunity to experience things that they might not otherwise have the chance to do. Last week, the campers traveled to Rock Canyon for Hike Day.

After arriving at the entrance to Rock Canyon, the campers had a safety lecture. Once the lecture was finished, the campers split into groups and went on their way up the canyon. Along the way they learned about nature and health.

Thanks to Utah Valley Paratransit for providing transportation and to our volunteers for giving their time and energy to make these field trips a success!

Photos by Noelle Olivette

Day Camp: Provo Library

2011-07-19T16:52:00.000-06:00

Day Camp’s educational field trips continued last week with a visit to the Provo Library, specifically the George and Delores Doré Eccles Children’s Library in the Old Wing. Campers had the opportunity to take a tour of library facilities, learn how to get a library card, and have some fun in the Children’s Program room.

After entering the program room, campers were informed of the goal for the day: build a bobblehead! For those who aren’t familiar, a bobblehead is a doll with an oversized, moveable head on a spring. When you tap the head, it “bobbles” back and forth, giving the doll its name. A traditional bobblehead would be too complicated, so children’s program participants built theirs out of clay and pipe cleaners.

Some campers decided not to make a bobblehead but to let their creativity flow.

Thanks to the Provo Library Children’s Program for letting us visit and to Utah Valley Paratransit for the ride to the library. As always thanks to our volunteers!

Photos by Mark Hartman

Day Camp: Provo Rehab and Nursing

2011-07-08T15:26:00.003-06:00

Day Camp ended for the week with the second field trip of the year, a visit to Provo Rehab and Nursing, a 24-hour care facility. Today’s trip taught the campers about serving others and having fun.

The trip started off with the campers splitting into groups to prepare games to play with the residents in the courtyard of the facility. Each group was in charge of a specific game, including ring toss, mini golf, and a cupcake walk. Campers also had a chance to interact on a personal level with the residents, whether it was helping them with the games or just visiting with them. One resident played a housekeeper in the Sound of Music, the 1965 film starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer!

At the end of the visit, the campers and residents thanked each other, and some campers helped the residents back to their rooms.

Thanks to Utah Valley Paratransit for the transportation, to our volunteers for helping with camp, and to Provo Rehab and Nursing for a wonderful visit!

Want to see more pictures? Visit our Facebook page.

Photos by Mark Hartman

Day Camp: Teamwork Field Day

2011-07-06T13:19:00.001-06:00

Day Campers continued their summer of learning and fun at Tuesday’s combined field day. The special guest was U.S. Army Lieutenant Dane Sawyer who came to camp to teach about teamwork and discipline. Lt. Sawyer demonstrated the proper way to do push-ups, and helped the campers understand why discipline and teamwork were important in the Army.

Following his presentation, the campers split into teams and prepared for a day of field games.

The outdoor portion started with some stretching and instruction, after which the games began! First up was a pushup and situp competition, followed by a relay race, an obstacle course, and a three-legged race.

While the day was exhausting, the campers loved it and repeatedly asked for another day like this in the future. Thanks to Lt. Sawyer, our staffers, and our volunteers for their help in making this day possible!

For more photos from Teamwork Field Day, be sure to visit our Facebook page.

Photos by Mark Hartman

Day Camp: Home Depot Kids' Workshop

2011-06-30T14:22:00.007-06:00

Day Camp isn’t just about having fun, it’s also about learning. Today the campers did both when the Home Depot Kids’ Workshop came to South Franklin. Kids’ Workshop is a program that teaches kids about tool safety and simple skills to “instill a sense of accomplishment.” The campers at South Franklin were fortunate to have Danny from the Home Depot come to camp and bring the Kids’ Workshop program with him.

Each camper was given a kid-sized orange Home Depot apron and a small workshop project kit. Campers could choose to build either a helicopter or a sailboat. After some safety instructions and a quick reminder to follow the directions included in each kit, the campers got to work.

We're grateful to Danny and the Kids’ Workshop program for taking the time to teach the campers while having fun at the same time. For more information on the Kids’ Workshop program, visit their web site.

We're also grateful to our volunteers. We had a great volunteer turnout today, which enabled the campers to receive the personal attention they needed while working on their projects. It's not too late to volunteer. Visit our Google Doc signup page for more information!

For more photos from the Home Depot's Kids' Workshop, visit our Facebook page.

Photos by Mark Hartman

Day Camp: Bean Life Science Museum

2011-06-29T09:41:00.003-06:00

The fun at Day Camp continued Tuesday with the first field trip of the year. Eager campers boarded United Way buses for the short trip to the Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum on the campus of Brigham Young University. According to the museum’s web site, the Bean Museum opened to the public in 1978 and is accredited by the American Association of Museums, a distinguished honor. In addition to collections of plants and animals made available for researchers, the museum has many public exhibits and educational programs.

The Day Camp group was treated to the Ecosystems Show, a live animal show where students learn about different ecosystems and how animals adapt to their environments. Our show was presented by Kira, an educator at the museum. Throughout her presentation, she answered campers’ questions and did a great job of keeping them engaged in the program.

The highlight of the program was the live animal portion. Campers got to see a frog and touch a turtle and a snake. Some campers were more enthusiastic than others.

After the presentation, campers were encouraged to wander around the museum and look at the exhibits. Both campers and volunteers enjoyed themselves.

Thanks to Kira and the Bean Museum for a wonderful field trip! For more information on the museum, visit their web site.

Find more photos from our trip to the Bean Museum on our Facebook page.

Photos by Mark Hartman

Day Camp: Living Legends

2011-06-20T15:59:00.001-06:00

Week 2 of Day Camp started Monday when campers met with some special visitors as members of BYU’s Living Legends came to perform for a combined day camp session. Living Legends is a performing arts group from the School of Music at BYU which celebrates the music and dance traditions of Native Americans, Latin Americans, and the peoples of the islands of the South Pacific. Each individual performance represented a different native people or location, including the Hoop Dance from New Mexico and another dance from Tahiti. After the performers completed their program, there was a short Question & Answer session with the campers.

Thanks to Jared, Amber, and Sam from Living Legends for performing for Day Camp, and special thanks to our volunteers for helping out. It's not too late to volunteer! Visit our Google Doc signup sheet for more information.

Photos by Mark Hartman

Day Camp: Firefighter Presentation

2011-06-17T16:30:00.008-06:00

Day Camp continued Wednesday at the Boulders with a combined session of the two age groups for a visit from Provo City firefighters and their fire engines. Campers learned basic fire safety tips the firefighters, after which the two groups toured Engine No. 4, a 55-foot-long ladder truck, and Brush Engine No. 4, a heavy duty pickup truck turned into a brush firefighting vehicle. Two lucky campers were selected to try on a firefighter’s gear, including boots, oxygen tank, and hat.

After the fire engine tour, the real fun began. The firefighters unrolled a hose from Brush Engine No. 4 with the help of some campers, while other campers set up orange traffic cones on the soccer field as targets for the streams of water and to ensure the safety of the campers. After a quick safety lecture and demonstration of the powerful hoses, each camper got to try their hand at the hose (with the assistance of a firefighter, of course). Once each camper finished their turn at the hose, they lined up on the other side of the traffic cones to enjoy the cool water in the warm spring sun.

Special thanks to Provo City Firefighters Joe Clarke and Joel Burrows of Station No. 4 for bringing their equipment and putting on a great demonstration for the campers.

Want to see more photos from the firefighters visit to day camp? Visit our Facebook page.

Photos by Mark Hartman

Day Camp 2011

2011-06-14T15:15:00.004-06:00

Summer was in the air at the Boulders on Monday morning as the South Franklin Community Center kicked off the Day Camp 2011. Eager campers enjoyed a treat of muffins, fruit, and milk and juice while they registered and made name tags. After registration, the campers introduced themselves and played some get-to-know-you games.

Campers also learned what they’ll be doing this year. Throughout the summer, day camp participants will have the opportunity to play games, watch demonstrations from public safety officers and other guests, and go on a number of field trips.

The day camp is split into two age groups. The first group is for children ages 6 through 8 and meets from 9 to 11:30 am, while the second group serves children ages 9 through 13 and meets from noon to 3:30pm. On certain days the groups will combine and meet together at 10 am, such as on field trip and presentation days.

Special thanks to our volunteers for their help today. It’s not too late to sign up to volunteer at Day Camp. Visit the Google Doc signup sheet for more information.

More photos from day camp can be found at our Facebook page.

Photos by Matt Chambers

Thank you NuSkin

2011-06-07T11:00:00.001-06:00

Several NuSkin employees came to the South Franklin Community Center to help with a painting service project. They were hard at work cleaning off the surface of storage sheds on 650 West in the Boulders. They also primed all eight sheds, and were able to add color to two of the sheds, all within two hours. All of the employees came ready to work and willing to participate in something special going on in their community.

The sheds are being painted as part of a teen program beginning this summer. One of the activities being held is a mural drawing. Teenagers from the area will be submitting designs to be approved of, the youth will then have the opportunity to paint it themselves onto one of the sheds that have been primed and painted with a basic background color. This project will be going on all summer long and we are very excited to see the final product.

If you happen to be in the neighborhood go ahead and take a look at the progress. If you know of any teens who live in the Franklin South neighborhood please invite them to submit a drawing.

Thank you to all the NuSkin employees for getting us started with this project!

Come to the Neighborhood Potluck Tomorrow (Saturday)!

2011-06-03T11:38:00.000-06:00

(Para español, véase abajo)

We have many reasons to celebrate: a successful soccer season is drawing to a close, summer activities are beginning, school is out for the next couple months, and...it stopped raining! Since there are so many things to be happy about, we're not just having a party--we're having a HUGE party! This Saturday, June 4 at 1:30 p.m., we will all meet for a giant potluck/barbecue on the field in the middle of the Boulders apartments (750 S. 650 W. in Provo). We hope to see neighborhood residents from around the Franklin South area, community center and soccer volunteers, and our soccer sponsors.

Here are the TOP 5 REASONS to come to tomorrow's potluck:

1. It will be lunch time, and you will be hungry anyway.

2. When you share with your neighbors, you grow closer. They say that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach...I confess that, as a woman, you can also win me over with yummy food. Bring something delicious; we'll be great friends!

3. Several community organizations and services will be there to talk more about what they offer. These groups include the American Heart Association, the Provo City Library, Help Me Grow, the Circles Initiative, and many others. There will also be games and a face painter. You can find out how to benefit from the South Franklin Community Center and others' programs if you come to the party!

4. Otto, the owner of Diego's Taco Shop, is helping to prepare meat, rice and beans. Cricket Wireless, who is sponsoring the barbecue (thanks, Cricket!), will also be grilling hot dogs. You really don't want to miss these delicious entrees!

5. If you don't come and bring delicious dishes with fruits and vegetables, all our bodies will be sad because we won't get enough essential vitamins and minerals.And all the food will be pretty much the same color, which will be boring.

Oh, and don't forget dessert! SUPER IMPORTANT!

...So we'd love for you to come to the party tomorrow! See you then, good neighbor!

Tenemos muchos motivos para celebrar: una temporada muy exitosa de futbol se esta terminando, las actividades de verano empiezan ya, no hay escuela por los proximos meses, y...ha dejado de llover! Debido a que tenemos tantas razones por las que debemos estar felices, no vamos a tener simplemente una fiesta...vamos a tener una fiesta ENORME! Este sabado, el 4 de junio a las 1:30 p.m., nos reuniremos para una barbacoa/comida "de traje" (que cada uno traiga algo para compartir) en el campo de los apartamentos Boulders (750 Sur 650 Oeste en Provo). Esperamos ver residentes del barrio de Franklin Sur, voluntarios del centro comuntario y de futbol, y nuestros patrocinadores de futbol.

Abajo siguen 5 BUENAS RAZONES para venir a la fiesta manana:

1. Sera la hora de almorzar, y tendras hambre.

2. Cuando compartes con tus vecinos, se acercan mas. Se dice que se llega al corazon del hombre a traves del estomago...yo digo que, como mujer, tambien puedes ganar mi amistad con una buena comida! Trae algo delicioso manana; seremos grandes amigos!

3. Varias organizaciones y servicios estaran alli para hablar de los recursos que ofrecen. Estos grupos incluyen la American Heart Association (asociacion americana del corazon), la Provo City Library (biblioteca de la cuidad de Provo), Help Me Grow ('ayudame a crecer'), the Circles Initiative (la iniciative de 'Circulos'), y muchos mas. tambien habran juegos y maquillaje artistico. Puedes averiguar como beneficiarse de los programas del South Franklin Community Center y los demas cuando vengas a la fiesta!

4. Otto, el propietario de Diego's Taco Shop, estara ayudando a preparar carne, arroz y frijoles. Cricket Wireless, el sponsor de la barbacoa (gracias, Cricket!), tambien estara alli asando perritos calientes a la parrilla. No querras perder estos platos principales!

5. Si no vienes tu con frutas y verduras (LAS SALSAS!), nuestros cuerpos estaran tristes por falta de vitaminas y minerales esenciales. Y toda la comida sera de casi el mismo color--que aburrido.

O, y no te olvides del postre! SUPER IMPORTANTE!

...Asi que, nos encantaria que vinieras a la fiesta manana. Hasta entonces, buen vecino!

We LIVE UNITED!

2011-05-24T11:47:00.000-06:00

South Franklin Community Center was started by United Way to create opportunities for a better life for all. United Way advances the common good by focusing on education, income and health in the community. To promote healthy living within Utah County, United Way employees participated in "Bike to Work Day". Provo City and UTA teamed up to host this event that began at 8am on Tuesday, May 17th at the Historic County Courthouse. A bike and helmets were given away, and the city provided free registration for bike licenses, free bike tune-ups courtesy of Bingham Cyclery, and a free breakfast sponsored by Jamba Juice and Einstein Bagels. Over 100 people participated in this 3-mile bike ride around Provo with Mayor John Curtis.

By reducing pollution and increasing exercise all across the community we can LIVE UNITED. We invite you to join us. You can give, you can advocate and you can volunteer. To find out more call 211.

Team Work

2011-05-19T10:03:00.001-06:00

I know the weather has been pretty lousy lately, but we at South Franklin know the antidote to be able to keep our spirits high. We focus on team building activities, especially during soccer on Saturdays. Whether stretching together...

giving a pep talk...

or cheering each other on...

we never let the weather discourage us. If you would like to be apart of this wonderful antidote for bad weather, join us this Saturday from 9am to 1pm at the Boulders or Franklin Elementary fields. Don't forget the next 2 Saturdays are team pictures for picture day! So come looking your best for the camera.

Registration is now closed but remember to come back for fall season, starting August. We also have great things coming up like Summer Camp. We'll split the kids into 3 different age groups so they can enjoy appropriate age related activities. Please contact us if you're interested in volunteering, participating, or have questions, concerns, or suggestions. 801-691-5338 or southfranklin@unitedwayuc.org

Cancelled soccer games

2011-05-06T00:09:00.002-06:00

Due to the sporadic weather, we had to cancel last Saturday's soccer games, but don't worry we won't miss a beat. We are continuing this Saturday by playing those games we missed. We will keep registration open another week and the season tournament will now be June 4th. We hope to see you guys out there to support your team. This Saturday looks like great, warm weather and the kids are anxious to play some games. If you have any questions you can call 801-691-5338 or email southfranklin@unitedwayuc.org.

We are still looking for refs to help out this season. You can sign up for games using the link on the right.

Easter Egg Hunt

2011-04-27T12:45:00.000-06:00

‎"Easter, the day Jesus rose from the dead...what should we do?

How 'bout eggs?

What does that have to do with Jesus?

Ok, We'll hide em...

I am not following your logic...

Don't worry there's a bunny. " ~ Comedian, Jim Gaffigan

Well we didn't have a bunny, but we did have eggs and the kids raced to find them. After playing soccer for an hour these kids still had the energy to run around the playground looking for the eggs the Easter bunny left behind. Needless to say, we spectators had a blast watching the children enjoy their well deserved candy.

Easter is over but our soccer season continues. This Saturday come watch kids ages 5-18 play their heart out. Registration ends this month so be the first to sign up.

First Game of the Season

2011-04-21T16:53:00.001-06:00

GOAL!!

We had such a great turn out for our games last Saturday! There were kids having fun, parents registering their children, coaches smiling, and others cheering for their teams. Our next games are this Saturday the 23rd at Boulders and Franklin Elementary.

The little kids are so fun to watch!

Our 2 older age groups play at the Franklin field where they can have more room to stretch.

We are also going to be hosting an Easter egg hunt for the kids ages 5-7 at 12pm at the Boulders playground. It's going to be so fun and cute! We will have pictures posted from that next week, but come and experience it yourself this Saturday. If you have little kids at home bring them too because I'm sure they would love another Easter egg hunt.

Games tomorrow

2011-04-15T11:34:00.000-06:00

Sunny with a high of 63 degrees! Perfect weather for our soccer games tomorrow. Come, bring a blanket and friends to cheer for your favorite team. You will also be able to register tomorrow during games, for all kids ages 5-18. Some games will be at Boulders field, others will be at Franklin Elementary starting at 9am until 1pm.

Soccer games cancelled last Saturday

2011-04-11T15:41:00.004-06:00

Even though the weather wasn't looking good, we still all hoped it would clear for our first games on Saturday. Sadly enough it didn't and we were forced to cancel all the games. We appreciate everyone who had plans to come out to play, volunteer, or watch. Luckily, this weekend is looking good and we are looking forward to the start of the season...again.

If you are interested in signing up for a team, you can pick up a form at Centro Hispano (817 S 200 W Provo) or United Way (148 N 100 W Provo). If you are interested in volunteering please call 801-374-2588. It's a free soccer league for kids from ages 5-18, and it's run entirely by dedicated volunteers.

Piano and Violin Recital

2011-04-08T16:49:00.001-06:00

Yesterday was our second musical recital at the Community Center and it was a complete success! Everyone who attended felt the overwhelming appreciation for our donors, especially Dani, who was in the audience and donated the three violins we currently use. The students did an amazing job despite the pressure to perform. We want to thank our donors, teachers, and students for sharing their gifts and making this a fun event for everyone.

Starla performed her solo beautifully, and then was joined by her teacher Angela in a duet.

Pablito, who is only 3 years old, played "Mary had a little lamb". Then his mother, Ericka played " Twinkle, twinkle little star". Both did an amazing job along side their teacher Devin.

Karen and Barbara ended the night with a duet of "Twinkle, twinkle little star" on the violin.

Dani and her kids came out to watch the recital.

We hope you'll join us at the next recital, whether you are a student, a teacher, or an audience member!

Game Day

2011-04-06T12:17:00.002-06:00

Though the weather is still flirting with winter, spring is in the air and soccer season is here. Mark your calendars because the South Franklin Community Center’s Soccer League has its first game day on April 9th. Run completely by community volunteers and donations, the program is a part of United Way of Utah County’s focus on education and helping children succeed in school and beyond. The South Franklin Community Center is in its 5th season of providing a free soccer league to families in Utah County. On April 9th, eight games are scheduled and soccer players, ages 5-18, are eager to start the season off with a win. Don’t miss out; grab a blanket, a poster, your favorite fold out chair and your best friend. See you on the sidelines!

POSTER IDEAS: GOAL!! -GO, FIGHT, WIN!- Nice Shot- Beckham’s got nothing on YOU!

The soccer league is still in need of volunteers, specifically referees. If you are interested in volunteering, visit http://bit.ly/ehcNB2 .

When: April 9, 2011

Where: Boulder Apartment Field & Franklin Elementary Field

Time: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

By: Allyse Robertson from United Way of Utah County

Soccer Registration!

2011-03-31T10:31:00.001-06:00

Hello, sports fans!

Last Saturday, March 26, we kicked off our spring soccer season with a scrimmage and registration day. From 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., families from around the Franklin South neighborhood--as well as friends from as far away as Orem and Springville--convened at the Boulders field to dust off their dribbles for the new season. So far 73 kids between the ages of 5 and 18 have signed up to play.

The skill and enthusiasm of the players who came impressed us onlookers, and passers-by of all ages stopped to watch. The coaches who came to meet their teams also had a lot of fun. Can you find the three coaches in the photo below?

Adam, Brittany and Adella are 3 of 32 coaches who have committed to leading the South Franklin Soccer League this spring. We know our players will have an incredible experience because all the coaches are such incredible people!

The best news of all? Soccer registration is not over! If you or someone you know would like to play, fill out a form at Centro Hispano (817 S. Freedom Blvd., Provo) or United Way of Utah County (148 N. 100 W, Provo). The first game is Saturday, April 9, but you can register any time during the month of April. As always, participation is free. Call us or email us with any questions. See you soon!

Tobacco Prevention!

2011-03-28T11:28:00.001-06:00

Centro Hispano's Respira Utah came to the Community Center to educate kids on tobacco prevention and cessation to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke. Through outreach efforts to the children in the South Franklin area the kids will have the knowledge necessary to live healthy lives smoke free.

A fun activity for the kids to participate in while learning!

Special thanks to those involved in planning this event for the youth!

Be a Philanthropist Grant to Fund Summer Activities for Teens

2011-03-24T10:31:00.000-06:00

Hello, friends of South Franklin!

It's a very busy time of year for us at the South Franklin Community Center. This Saturday, March 26 from 9-12 we will be kicking off our spring soccer season with scrimmages, sign-ups and an opportunity to meet the coaches. We are very thankful to all our volunteer coaches and referees who have committed to spending time with South Franklin's families over the next couple months. Thank you, thank you!

If you are not currently signed up to participate in soccer and you would like to help, we would love for you to be a referee. Sign up using the link to the right.

In addition to preparing for soccer and holding our regular classes and programs, we are also starting to plan our summer activities. It may seem a little early to be thinking about summer (although the more it rains, the more I think about it!), but a lot goes into planning the summer camps for the kids. If you have volunteered at South Franklin, you know what wonderful kids we have in the neighborhood, and you know that they are definitely worth the effort.

In past years we have focused on creating fun, high-quality learning experiences for the children, such as museum trips, fire department and police visits, cultural awareness days with groups like BYU's Living Legends dance group, nutrition days, music days, and more. We hope to build on the current program by dividing the children into two age groups to better serve their skills and interests. But we are also very excited to focus on the teenagers this coming summer. We are pleased to announce a new teen activities campaign!

This effort has no name. It is not a camp or a program. We simply want to focus more on the wonderful youth ages 13-18 who live in the South Franklin neighborhood. They are good young men and women who work hard in school, care for their siblings, support their parents, and have dreams. More details will be forthcoming, but we hope to hold regular sports activities, break dancing classes, age-appropriate music events, and more. This wish of ours will be funded by a generous grant from Be a Philanthropist.

Be a Philanthropist is a grassroots philanthropy organization funded by students of Brigham Young University. The group focuses on high impact efforts. We are grateful to Be a Philanthropist for recognizing the significance of working with the youth of South Franklin. If you want to learn more about them, their website can be found here.

Thanks to Be a Philanthropist, our soccer volunteers, our sponsors, and all our other volunteers. You really are making a difference!

Relief is on the way

2011-03-17T13:01:00.000-06:00

During the past few days, it seems like the world has been bombarded with bad news. Difficult situations are happening internationally, as well as locally. As I was feeling bogged down with recent events this morning, I was touched to see the great response from members of the community and members around the world.

When the Boulders Apartments in Provo were struck with tragedy last night, we were grateful for the local Red Cross, who were on the scene quickly. They helped set-up a temporary shelter and make sure all community members were ok. When a local disaster occurred, they speedily responded and provided relief.

I have also been impressed with the different organizations, including the Red Cross, who have helped with the tsunami recovery in Japan. Individuals throughout the world are looking for places to donate and ways to help with relief efforts. If you are interested in helping tsunami victims in Japan, visit the InterAction site for a list of organizations. If you are interested in helping with disasters in Utah, talk to the Red Cross. It’s truly amazing to see that during a crisis, community members will step up to provide the relief that’s needed.

Written by Carrie Toolson of United Way of Utah County

Open Hours for the children at South Franklin

2011-02-22T17:00:00.001-07:00

Open hours is an after school program for the kids to come and hangout with awesome volunteers. When the weather is good, they get to play kickball, soccer, basketball or other games outside. When the weather keeps the kids indoors the Community Center is available to accommodate many activities. The favorites for the kids are pool, ping pong, or cards. On some days there are structured games like BINGO or a guest speaker for the children to have good role models. It's always a fun time at the Community Center and we invite as many volunteers to attend open hours as possible. To sign-up to volunteer, click on the link to the right.

To see more pictures "Like" us on Facebook and check out all the wonderful activities the children can participate in. Keep checking our blog for pictures coming soon from the Utah Flash clinic on March 25th.

Class this Saturday

2011-02-16T13:31:00.001-07:00

February 19th we are having a class at the Community Center that you will want to attend. It will teach you the basics on finances and there will be information on help with taxes. Everyone is welcome to attend and be educated on things that everyone needs to know. We will be having the Spanish class at 11am and English class at 12pm. Please come and invite others!
750 S 650 W Provo behind the leasing office in the apartment complex.

Volunteers wanted for soccer season

2011-02-08T12:35:00.001-07:00

Our first of the year soccer season is approaching and to prepare for it we are looking for volunteers to coach, co-coach, referee, and come to the games to help.

This is the schedule for the season:

Meeting for all volunteers March 9^th at 6:15pm

Scrimmage is March 26 at the Boulders

Practice 1-2 times a week beginning the week of the 28^th in March

No game will be held that Saturday due to LDS Conference

Games every Saturday starting April 9^th and ending May 28^th

Coaches need to have at least one co-coach that speaks Spanish if they don’t themselves and they have to be over 18.

You can also be a referee which would include coming to Saturday games when you can for as many games as you can. We’ll have a google doc with the schedule for you to look at and sign up for when it gets closer.

For others who want to volunteer but not to coach or ref, we need someone on Fridays to paint the fields and on Saturdays to help set-up, take down, keep score, take pictures and other things like that.

Here is the google doc for everyone to sign up:

https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AkcdG21uour0dE5kaFpTeUphcFVjV2ZjYXVSVmpIbUE&hl=en&authkey=CNH84twG

We need lots of coaches, refs and all the help we can get! I hope you can help out this season! It's so much fun and great experience!

Valentines Day Tiny Tunes

2011-02-04T13:46:00.000-07:00

Our Tiny Tunes class was so exciting! Kids were singing songs about giving out Valentines. They read books about friendship. They danced with ribbons and made cute Valentines card flowers. This class, which is offered at the Community Center Fridays at 10:30am, has been a special bonding experience for parents and their kids. They learn new songs and games to be able to play through out the week. Everyone is welcome to come to this class with their little kids. The kids really seem to enjoy it and the teachers are the best!

MLK Day of Service- A day on, not a day off

2011-01-24T13:23:00.003-07:00

January 17^th, 2011 marks the 25^th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday. To honor his legacy Americans had the opportunity to serve in their community. The idea behind “a day on not a day off” is to remind us that this is not a day without homework, but a day to strengthen communities, empower individuals, build barriers, and create solutions.

"We must work unceasingly to uplift this nation that we love to a higher destiny, to a higher plateau of compassion, to a more noble expression of humanness"
-Dr. Martin Luther King

On Monday, students from BYU and UVU came to the South Franklin Community Center to serve by creating a better atmosphere for community members. With their help we were able to clean the carpet, clean windows, tables, white boards, chairs, build book shelves, organize books in the library, rearrange furniture, help with maintenance needs, and spread the word about classes and events going on at the South Franklin Community Center. All their wonderful work has made the Community Center more pleasant for people to come to. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped answer Dr. King’s challenge to do something for others.

Final products!!!

Volunteer Opportunities Galore

2011-01-05T10:10:00.001-07:00

We have a lot of volunteer opportunities coming up! What a great time to get in your hours for a school assignment, or have it be a good New Year's resolution to help in your community. Here are some good deeds you can contribute to:

Open hours- mentor a child
Teach guitar lessons
Bikes for service- help community members do service in exchange for a bike
Tutoring
Teach a class
Throw a party
Help with Martin Luther King Jr. Day of service event

If you are interested please call Kim Cruz at 801-691-5338 or email at sfccboulders@hotmail.com

Looking for volunteers!!

2010-12-30T12:12:00.002-07:00

We are going to be starting open hours Monday through Friday, 3-5pm beginning January. This is a chance to be a mentor for the kids in the neighborhood who come to the Community Center to have fun. The children can study, do homework, play games, or just be social. If you can help during these hours, or for one hour a week, or one hour a month, we'd appreciate it. This is a great volunteer opportunity if you need hours for your school semester or if you want to help out in your community.

If you are interested you can sign yourself up by going to our google doc at:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AkcdG21uour0dHVKZGVCeWtFTmZaclFCSHh6Y3czTkE&hl=en&authkey=CMzEq6wM
(There are 2 sheets; first tab is for "contact info", the other tab is "calendar" for you to sign up for available days. Tabs are located at the bottom bar of the page. Please, don't forget to fill out both sheets)

If you have any questions contact Kim Cruz at 801-691-5338 or email sfccboulders@hotmail.com

Story KSL did on piano recital at Community Center

2010-12-16T09:05:00.005-07:00

Gifted piano keeps on giving

December 15th, 2010 @ 9:55pm

By Amanda Butterfield

PROVO -- Several young pianists finished up their first piano recital in Utah County Wednesday night. It never would have happened without the donation of one woman -- Cindy Rogers.

"I grew up taking lessons when I was young and played my whole life," Rogers said.

Cindy Rogers donated a piano to the children of South Franklin Community Center

Divorced 15 years ago, Rogers had to provide for three children alone. Although she loved the piano, she never could afford to own one.

That is until one day when a piano showed up at her house.

"I was shocked!" Rogers said.

It was an upright Baldwin piano that, now, a whole new generation of musicians are learning to play on.

"It's fun playing the piano," said Sidney Nunez, one of the 10 or so youths who takes free piano lessons at the South Franklin Community Center in Provo.

In the past decade, Cindy's circumstances improved and she got another piano, but she couldn't bear to sell her old one, so she decided to pay it forward and donated it.

Sidney and her brother, David, have been taking lessons on it from BYU student Angela Gong, who is a volunteer teacher.

"Music has been important to me, so I was trying to find a way I could share that," Gong said.

Gong teaches about 10 children a week, sometimes more. She decided to hold a recital so her students could show their parents what they had learned.

"Me and my sister are playing 'Heart and Soul,'" David said.

Playing in a recital is something these students would never have been able to do if not for Roger's donation. Rogers is just glad others are enjoying her piano.

"Music just brings so much joy into people's lives," she said.

As for the whoever gave the piano to Rogers all those years ago, "I never found out," she said.

For video go to: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=13673769

Sub for Santa Sponsors

2010-12-16T08:57:00.003-07:00

With all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it’s easy to get caught up in the stress of the season. Sometimes it’s easy to worry more about what Christmas ISN’T than what it IS – encouraging peace on earth and good will toward men.

There are plenty of things that can be done to touch the lives of those around us. You can visit a nursing home and the residents there. You can also drop off a plate of cookies or a thoughtful card for a struggling neighbor.

If you or someone you know is looking to make a financial contribution this holiday season, you can also become a sponsor for United Way of Utah County’s Sub for Santa program. About 280 families with approximately 700 kids still need sponsors. Sub for Santa not only helps provide children with Christmas presents, but it helps fosters financial stability through workshops where applicants learn about low-cost Christmas traditions, budgeting and other community resources that are available.

For more information about becoming a Sub for Santa sponsor, visit www.unitedwayuc.org/subforsanta or call 801-356-6300.

Volunteer Opportunity for this Holiday Season

2010-12-08T10:03:00.001-07:00

Hello volunteers! We have a fun and exciting volunteer opportunity for you. We are looking for 2-5 people to help watch children for 2 hours during a neighborhood leadership meeting this Saturday from 12-2. The children will range from ages 0-12. We have toys, games, and crafts to help you have a good time. This is a one-time event and a good way to help your community during this holiday season.

Also, lunch will be provided for you! The meeting is held at South Franklin Community Center in Provo, UT. The address is 750 S 650 W, the building is behind the leasing office. If you're interested send an email to sfccboulders@hotmail.com or call Kim at 801-691-5338.

Poll: What do YOU think is the best way to spread Christmas cheer?

2010-11-30T09:29:00.001-07:00

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-24T10:41:00.000-07:00

Fall has come and gone and now winter is sneaking up on us! But before the snow had a chance to settle on the ground, we welcomed the holidays with a wonderful Thanksgiving Day party. The BYU Center for Service and Learning sponsored our event as part of their usual Friday Service Date Night and it was a success! ( Most everything that happens at the South Franklin Community Center is a success. Correction: Everything that happens at the South Franklin Community Center is a success, but some things are more successful than others J). We had fun craft and art projects, cookie decorating, a candy walk, and face painting all going on. Thank to you all the wonderful volunteers who came and made a difference- it was a blast and we all had fun! Check out their blog here for more fun pics and comments.

One of the craft projects was making a turkey using a plastic cup. So creative!

As you can see, the community center was packed with volunteers and kids, all coming together to share what they were thankful for.

The event was not only fun but educational as well! There's nothing like a good book to start off the holiday season.

Soccer Tournament Recap

2010-11-18T09:47:00.005-07:00

This weekend, I had the opportunity to go to some of the tournament games for the South Franklin Community Center Soccer Program.

Though the youngest division (ages 5-7) didn’t actually compete in the tournament, they did have one last day of games. The kids were adorable! It was fun to watch them chase after the ball in little swarms. The kids would all pack together in a tangle of arms, legs and different colored jerseys to try and be the one to kick the ball in whatever direction they could. It looked like they all had a lot of fun and had such great sportsmanship!

You could tell the coaches were great with the kids and that they had a lot of fun as well.

I also watched the oldest division (12-15 years old) compete for the tournament title. Things got a little crazy when there was a tie between two teams in the playoffs. They actually ended up doing a penalty kick shoot-out of sorts. It was pretty intense!

The red team took the tournament for the older division. Though it was definitely cold, the weather stayed nice and I think everyone had a good time. I know I had a lot of fun watching the games!

By Whitney Condie, Public Relations Intern for United Way of Utah County

Time flies when you're playing soccer!

2010-11-11T14:48:00.002-07:00

Can you believe it? This Saturday, November 13^th, is our last day of Fall season soccer for the South Franklin Program. Sad? Yes, but we are going to end with a bang! The day will start off with the little ones (5-7 year olds) at 9a.m. showing off what they have learned this past season about technique, rules, and most important: teamwork! Starting at 10am we have our first tournament game for the 12-15 year olds. Then at 1pm we start our tournament games for the 8-11 year olds. What a day! Come and cheer on your team!

No plans on Friday??

2010-11-09T12:58:00.003-07:00

Looking for a fun date night this Friday? BYU Center for Service and learning is hosting Service Date Night at the South Franklin Community Center! We are having a Thanksgiving Event and couples will be in charge of activities such as face painting, cookie decorating, and book readings. To register (it’s free) click on this link. Help others and have a great time!

https://centerforservice.byu.edu/content/get-involved

See you there!!

Halloween Carnival

2010-11-05T10:12:00.006-06:00

Last Thursday we had a Trunk or Treat at the Community Center. We had tons of great events for the kids: cupcake walk, face painting, bag decorating, not to mention a parking lot full of scary cars to trick or treat to. All of this was possible through our amazing volunteers, Our Teams tutoring program, Community Action, and community members and children. We want to thank everyone for coming out and making this night such a success!

A wizard practicing magic from the back of his car for a night.

Our very own cute forester who took time out from her ecological restoration to share some treats with the kids.

No, those are not ordinary Christmas trees, those are volunteers whose favorite holiday would appear to be Christmas.

If you're thinking that's a real person dressed as a scarecrow you'd be right! But she didn't move a muscle until you approached her.

Dora, Winnie, Pirate of the Caribbean, and Sacagawea dropped by for an appearance.

Cupcake Walk or Run: donated by the generous Sweet Tooth Fairy and Community Action.

Some of the teachers from the Community Center sharing treats and information with everyone. Laraine teaches crocheting and handed out cute Halloween necklaces with ghosts, pumpkins, and bats to the kids. She has quite a talent. Come and see for yourself.

Everyone had a blast and got enough candy to last them til Halloween Day.

Let's not forget about our little ones!

2010-11-04T16:58:00.001-06:00

The best things come in small packages.

Soccer is spelled T-E-A-M!

2010-11-01T13:02:00.001-06:00

Picture Time has been going down with the South Franklin Soccer Program! Here are some team pictures and candid shots taken by our wonderful photographer Matt Chambers! This season we have some excellent coaches, referees, parents, and kids participating, which makes every Saturday the best day of the week. Take a look!

We have a few sponsors who have been with us since the beginning, and El MexSal and Mercado Latino are two of them. Thank you so much for your support!

Sweet action shot! Taking one for the team.

I thought this was about the most precious picture I have ever seen. I think they are brothers, and the one on the left is younger, just giving his older brother some soccer advice. Cute!

More pictures will be coming soon. Stay tuned.....

Eat for a cause

2010-10-28T13:36:00.003-06:00

Come eat at the California Pizza Kitchen ANYTIME on NOVEMBER 1st to raise money for the South Franklin Community Center. Just click on the image to the right to print the flier or mention the "South Franklin Community Center Fundraiser" and 20% of what you spend will go toward the Community Center.

The Community Center was started and is currently directed by members of the AmeriCorps VISTA program. AmeriCorps is a federal program of full time volunteers committed to fighting poverty. VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) members dedicate a year of full-time service to help develop communities across the nation.

Some programs currently in place at the Community Center are: tutoring, English class, Institute, Family Home Evening, playgroups, 12-step addiction recovery class, health class, Spanish class, kids fitness class, piano class, dance class, and book club. Also associated with the Community Center is the South Franklin Soccer Program – a free soccer league for kids ages five to fifteen.

These groups and classes are the results of community collaborations and are mainly comprised of volunteers and donations. However, there are things that we can not provide for that require us to get funding other ways. With the community center growing and more people getting involved, our needs are also growing. We therefore ask if you would be able to support us in our goal to raise money for the Community Center, so that we can continue to supply the center and its classes and programs with the necessary materials.

We hope that you will consider this opportunity to serve our neighbors. Please spread the word and/ or bring friends with you when you go to California Pizza Kitchen on Monday.

Check out our cute videos from our last Tiny Tunes class!

2010-10-19T14:58:00.000-06:00

Check out our cute videos from our last Tiny Tunes class!

2010-10-19T12:40:00.001-06:00

Tiny Tunes

2010-10-18T11:26:00.000-06:00

Our Tiny Tunes class is back on our calendar for every Friday morning. This class is directed toward parents with small children who like to sing and learn. With fall upon us, the theme has been leaves changing colors, pumpkins, and scarecrows. The children have a blast learning different things like new songs, colors, numbers, and how to be a part of a group.

One little, two little, three little leaves...

Four little, five little, six little leaves...

Seven little, eight little, nine little leaves...

We blow them all away. Whoosh!

Making a craft project.

Say cheese!

2010-10-14T16:01:00.003-06:00

The 16th and the 23rd is picture day for the South Franklin Community Center Soccer League. We want to send a shout out to our sponsors who make this league possible. Thank you for making it possible for kids to be apart of the community.

If you're attacking, you don't get as tired as when you're chasing.

Soccer is simple, but it is difficult to play simple.

Our wonderful volunteer referees taking a break.

Winning doesn't really matter as long as you win.

"Play us a song you're the Piano Man"...and Woman...and Children

2010-10-12T11:59:00.001-06:00

This fall we have had TONS of new classes start up at the Community Center. Here are a few pictures from our new Piano class, taught by Angela and Devin. Both of our teachers have been playing piano since they were little, and are well-qualified and very talented! Each week community members come and learn the basics of piano, and we look forward to seeing a performance at the end of this year.

For those of you who don’t remember how the community center got the piano (and for those of you who do remember) here is the article that will refresh your memory of the touching story:

http://bit.ly/aLE47z

The piano has been put to very good use, and not only during the piano class. All the kids who come into the community center can’t help but play a little tune or pound on the keys when they see it not being played!

This is Devin.

This is Angela.

Angela played a fun game to start of the class. She would play a note on the piano, then whoever had the blind fold on had to try and play the same note. This kind of activity will help the students with pitch and key recognition.

We are so appreciative of all our volunteers and donors who make the community center classes and events possible! Thank you Angela and Devin!

Walmart

2010-10-07T10:25:00.001-06:00

Hey we've updated our Walmart Wish List, by clicking on the link to the right you can see our list to make a generous donation.

Thanks to all our wonderful sponsors and volunteers we are able to provide free classes to the neighborhood children and adults. We are so grateful for all the wonderful help we receive on a regular basis. Thank you and if you're considering making a donation please think of all the amazing people that would benefit from your assistance. All of the things on the Wish List will help us reach our goals by continuing to make the Community Center a safe and welcoming place.

Special thanks to Worldwide Books!

2010-10-04T10:41:00.001-06:00

Last Thursday at tutoring in the Community Center there were enough volunteers for each child to pair up with and everyone was doing homework, reading or playing a game. We want to thank all our volunteers for making this possible. These kids are truly benefiting from mentors like you. We would like to express appreciation to our sponsor, Worldwide Books for providing our library collection for the Community Center. They have donated so many books in Spanish and English for the kids and families to enjoy. We thank you for making our library a success.

Spotlight Maria!

2010-09-28T09:55:00.000-06:00

One of our volunteers has been putting in such great effort at tutoring with the kids that we decided to spotlight her and show her our appreciation. We want to recognize Maria for being a volunteer for South Franklin Community Center since it first started in January of 2009. The kids have been able to focus on their studies and have fun with her. We want to thank and acknowledge her for all her generosity to the community.

Here's some more pictures from tutoring last week:

Soccer-ific

2010-09-21T14:56:00.005-06:00

This seasons turn out for the soccer league has been great! Thanks to all our wonderful sponsors and volunteers. There are 140 kids among our 12 teams, boys and girls alike. Games are held every Saturday morning at the South Franklin field. Last weekend was our most intense game yet as two teams played it out for a tie game. Come out and watch all the excitement! Just a reminder there will be no games held on October 2.

Dedicated parents and fans watch and cheer for their team!

Good Game!

Day of Caring - Thank You VitalSmarts!

2010-09-13T09:49:00.010-06:00

This year's United Way of Utah County's Day of Caring brought 15 amazing volunteers from VitalSmarts to help at the South Franklin Community Center. The volunteers worked for three hours to put up fliers, paint the inside of the community center and paint the soccer field. Thank you VitalSmarts for all your help and hard work! Your combined 45 hours of service have helped make the community center look great! Here are some pictures:

Soccer Time

2010-08-25T16:10:00.004-06:00

The soccer league is taking off this Saturday at our Pre-Season Scrimmage! Coaches and kids are excited to get started.
This month Sports Mechanix featured an article about the South Franklin Soccer Program. Check it out HERE

Ssssummer Ssssquash

2010-08-23T14:18:00.007-06:00

The Community Center was visited again by Angela and Raven with the Food Sense Program who taught an amazing Nutrition Cooking Class. This month’s featured vegetable was SQUASH, which we learned takes on many different faces. After learning the ins and outs of the squash family, Raven and Angela taught us how to make Zucchini Fries! Of course with the word “fries” in it, the kids were excited to get started. To see the simple yet tasty recipe for Zucchini Fries click HERE. While the fries were baking we played “Concentration” and were tested on our squash expertise. The kids showed how smart they were while looking for matches of summer, pattypan, crookneck, and other squashes. Pattypan? Yes, that’s a real squash. To end a great class we all ate the delicious AND healthy Zucchini Fries. French Fries, eat your heart out.

Learning about the squash family

The fries were easy and fun to make!

The finished product!