BGC of the Pomo Nation Receives Charitable Donation Westridge School 4th Grade Class on Convocation Day In April 2009, the Boys & Girls Club of the Pomo Nation received a donation from the Westridge School in Pasedena, CA. The mission of the Westridge School, a school for 4th to 12th grade girls, is to teach students to self-advocate by becoming strong, confident individuals who focus on the core values of respect, inclusiveness, friendship, honesty and compassion. While planning their student’s booth at the school’s annual Earth Day Fair, 4th grade teachers Danielle Houser and Susi Pettersson decided to donate the proceeds to a charitable program related to the student’s recent studies of the Pomo Tribe. After researching a number of programs, the teacher’s discovered the SMART Girls program at the Boys & Girls Club of the Pomo Nation. SMART Girls is offered through Boys & Girls Clubs of America for girls ages 8 to 17. It works to enhance self-esteem and encourage a healthy lifestyle, priorities for the Pomo Nation Club and the Westridge School alike. Students made recycled lockets that were sold at the booth. The girls learned about SMART Girls and told booth visitors about the program and the Boys & Girls Clubs in Indian Country initiative. In all, nearly $1,000 was raised! “With this donation, we hoped to tie in the present day life of the Pomo with their past history,” said Ms. Houser. Pomo Nation SMART Girls facilitator April Jackson praised Ms. Houser, Ms. Pettersson and the Westridge School for their gift, saying “Your donation will impact the lives of our SMART Girls by helping to make them caring, productive citizens. We hope to follow the great example you have set by paying our time and energy forward.”