HARKER HEIGHTS, Texas, April 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Military family members, including children, share some of the burdens of service including frequent dislocation and the separations that come with deployment. The Military Child Education Coalition®(MCEC®), Raytheon Company, and Boys & Girls Clubs of America are joining forces to help address the academic, social and emotional needs of children in military families.

A $25,000 contribution from Raytheon will enable MCEC to offer professional development in the form of a Basic Certification Program for select Boys & Girls Club staff, particularly those at Clubs on military installations. The goal is to provide local services for military-connected youth. Both MCEC and Boys & Girls Clubs of America have long-standing relationships with Raytheon, a company known for its support of service members, veterans and their family members.

"Our goal is to help military children achieve academic success by supporting programs designed to mitigate the challenges of uncertainty and inconsistency that can be a part of military family life," said Pamela Erickson, Raytheon Vice President of Corporate Affairs. "Raytheon has made a deep commitment to supporting not only warfighters and veterans, but their families as well."

The MCEC Basic Certification Program will combine face-to-face and online instruction in a blended learning model. The program develops strategies to address behavioral issues, identifies strengths and stressors, builds resilience, and serves children with exceptional needs.

"We are a coalition of partnerships and this effort will enable us to impact an additional 5,000 children through Boys & Girls Clubs across the nation," said Dr. Mary Keller, CEO of MCEC. "This is a wonderful example of corporate and community support surrounding our military children."

"It's critically important that we support our military families and provide specific services and programs that enable military kids to realize a great future," said Terrill D. McFarland, national vice president, Military & Outreach Services, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "Thanks to MCEC and Raytheon, our Clubs on military installations can impact even more of our military Club youth to achieve success." Professional development and training will be conducted at Boys & Girls Clubs of America National Military Leadership Institute in Orlando, Florida, August 24-28, 2015. For additional information about training and certification opportunities through the Military Child Education Coalition, please contact Todd Buchs, MCEC Vice President for Business Development at Todd.Buchs@MilitaryChild.org.

About the Military Child Education Coalition
Founded in 1998, the Military Child Education Coalition® (MCEC®) is a 501(c)(3) global, nonprofit leadership and advocacy organization focused on ensuring quality educational opportunities for America's four million military and veteran-connected children affected by mobility, family separation, and transition. For more information, visit www.MilitaryChild.org.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America 
For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (GreatFutures.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 4,100 Clubs serve nearly 4 million young people annually through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun, friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Priority programs emphasize academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 57 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at http://www.bgca.org/facebook and http://bgca.org/twitter.

CONTACT: 
Cindy Simerly 
MCEC
254-953-1923 Ext. 1127 
Cindy.Simerly@militarychild.org 

 

SOURCE Raytheon Company; Military Child Education Coalition