Members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County's Teen Center recently received a guitar signed by country music great and Vero Beach native Jake Owen. The guitar was donated by Melody Music in Vero Beach. Aware of the Club's Music Makers program, Melody Music Owner Anthony Borzello asked Owen to sign the guitar on a recent trip to Vero Beach.

"It's great that Jake Owen would autograph a guitar donated by Melody Music for us teens here at the Club. We're lucky that Melody Music gives back to the community," said Teen Center member Dace Bentley.

Music Makers is just one of several of the Boys & Girls Club's Arts programs. In 2008, members of the Club's Teen Center formed a new percussion group called S.T.A.M.I.N.A (Students Taking After-school Music Into New Avenues). The group uses five gallon buckets, drumsticks and household bowls and pans to create beats and routines. They practice several days a week and have performed at Relay for Life, the Hibiscus Festival, Indian River County Library and the Boys & Girls Club's Day for Kids and Angel's Dinner events.

A United Way and Children's Services Advisory Committee agency, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County provides quality after-school and summer programs to more than 2,000 kids at three clubhouse locations, two in Vero Beach and one in Sebastian, and through the Youth Volunteer Corps program. Plans call for expanding into Fellsmere and building a new club in Vero Beach in 2010.

The top priority of the Boys & Girls Clubs is helping kids succeed in school and in life. For more information call (772) 299-7449 or visit www.bgcirc.org.