Former Club Kid - Karen Rizzuto

The Black Canyon Boys & Girls Club Celebrates 20 Years

Former Club Kid

The Black Canyon Boys & Girls Club (BCBGC) became the big 2-0 in 2019. To celebrate this momentous occasion, the Club has partnered with the Montrose Daily Press on a special project; to bring to the readers of the Press an article each week to highlight various aspects of the Club and show the impact it has had in Montrose & Olathe. The readers will get insight from current parents, former Club kids, current Club kids, past Club staff, and more. So, join us each week as we show why “Great Futures Start Here!”

This week’s article lets me touch base with another former Club member which I have noted has come to be my favorite type of article since starting this series. I love to see how former Club kids grew up and how the Club impacted their future.

Karrin Rizzuto started attending the Black Canyon Boys & Girls Club (BCBGC) as a Club kid when she was 10, in 2000. When she was 15, she became a Club volunteer before moving on to a junior staff position until she was 18 in 2008. She attended the Olathe Club Unit. The Olathe Unit at this time was initially housed at the Olathe Middle School before moving to a building by the downtown park and then to a trailer next to Colorow Care Center. When asked about one of her fondest memories of her time at Club she recalled: “we had a girl’s group and Candy Baxter was the leader. When it was time for girl's group, she would blast the song ‘This One’s for the Girls’ by Martina McBride down the hall and we had to be to the group before the song was over.” She noted the value she sees in the BCBGC as there is not a lot to do in a small town and it gave the kids something fun to do after school where they could hang out with friends in a safe environment and gain experience about being responsible.

Karrin’s sister was also a BCBGC member. She stated she keeps in contact with a few different former kids and staff from Club, including local magician, Ty Gallenbeck. Karrin even worked for him part-time at one point as a magician’s assistant! Although her magic days are behind her, Karrin works wonders in other ways by having one of the toughest jobs as a stay-at-home mom and wife with a step-daughter and two kids of her own. She also has a CNA license and is skilled in massage therapy. With her kids in mind, I asked if she would ever think about sending them to a Boys & Girls Club. She replied that she would definitely tour the facility first but thinks it would be valuable to have something for them to do without the aid of a cell phone or TV.

Karrin no longer lives in the immediate area, moving to Grand Junction after her time at Club in 2008. In her limited spare time, she likes to go camping with her family. If she had one piece of advice for the BCBGC kids of today she noted: “never be afraid to express yourself. Always do what makes you happy. You are the most beautiful when you’re happy.” Thank you Karrin for letting me interview you for this article series and to learn more about your personal experience at the BCBGC.

On a final parting note, the BCBGC is doing a donor drive through December 31, 2019. Anyone who becomes a monthly donor, for any monthly amount, during that time will be entered into a drawing to win two VIP tickets to the Montrose Wine & Food Festival (valued at $200). The winner will be chosen and announced on March 1, 2020 (existing monthly donors will be automatically entered to win). As an added bonus, any amount you donate to the BCBGC will be eligible for a Child Care Tax Credit on your Colorado state taxes (so if you donate $15 a month, totaling $180 for the year, you would be eligible to receive $90 back on your taxes). You can sign up to become a monthly donor today at https://bcbgc2.ddock.gives/. For more information on the Montrose Wine & Food Festival, please visit www.montrosewinefestival.com. For more information on the Colorado Child Care Tax Credit, visit https://tax.colorado.gov/sites/tax/files/Income%2035.pdf.

Bud Taylor is the Executive Director for the Black Canyon Boys & Girls Club (BCBGC) and had been for the past three years. Prior to that, he was a BCBGC kid, junior staff member, and board director. Feel free to contact Bud Taylor by e-mail at btaylor@bcbgc.org or visit the Club’s website for more information, www.bcbgc.org.