Our Mission Statement: The Great Valley Community Organization helps build a strong, vibrant and connected community by providing facilities, activities and programs enriching the lives of all local residents.

September Newsletter 2017
What's In This Issue?


Did you know you could put GVCO on your United Way donor form?

GVCO #47309


Amazon will donate 0.5% of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to GVCO whenever you shop on AmazonSmile. AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support GVCO every time you shop, at no cost to you. 

Please sign up at: https://smile.amazon.com/
and designate GVCO as your charity.
Thank you!

DONOR SPOTLIGHT
The Moules Family
 
"[We] believe in their mission 100%." Pam Moules is passionate when she discusses GVCO and its new center. Pam, a stay-at-home mom to three boys - ages 26 and 15 - and Dave, a VP at Pfizer, have loved living in Malvern and are strong vocal supporters of our new Community Center.
Their first experience with GVCO was when their youngest son, Matthew (now 15) participated in Junior Hoopsters. Like so many of us, Matt's first time playing organized basketball came at the knees of the mighty coach Keith (Walsh), and they immediately were drawn in by the "fun and easy league" that is GVBL. Matt's older twin brothers Michael and Jonathan joined the high school league, and Pam and Dave "got to know a number of the original board members personally."
What struck the Moules family as they came to know many of the founders of GVCO, was that "[GVCO's founders'] commitment to this community comes from a genuine desire to leave this a better place than they found it." GVCO's commitment to the families in our area rings especially true for Pam and Dave, who tragically lost their son, Jonathan, almost four years ago when he was just 22. When Pam and Dave decided to start a foundation in Jonathan's honor and memory, "GVCO was there to support us."
The mission of the Jonathan Moules Memorial Steps4Hope Foundation is to provide funding for educational programs, financial resources to help those facing the challenges of the disease of addiction and support for families grieving the loss of a loved one. Steps4Hope, with the help of its partner, GVCO, will be holding its annual   5k Fundraiser  at Great Valley High School on Sunday October 15.
Pam would like to invite local families and community members to come out and support Steps4Hope which will, in turn, continue to bring addiction awareness education and help to this community now and in the future. Because GVCO has, in Pam's words, "created a needed fellowship within our community which is inclusive of all ages, interests and needs," GVCO is proud to support the Jonathan Moules Foundation.
Pam and Dave are looking forward to this continued partnership when GVCO's new center opens. Pam believes the center "will offer our entire community a top-notch place for sports, recreation, arts, educational programing, and a variety of wellness resources.  I think they have the needs of this community covered and I'm excited about all of it."  
BUSINESS SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

Joe Shawn is a freelance artist, graphic designer and owner of The Busy Brush Design Co.  Designing logos and branding companies is one of his passions.  Being a proud Great Valley Dad, Joe has had the pleasure of working with several local businesses, charities and 501 (c)(3) corps.   Joe is also the Art director and Sr. Graphic Designer at Montco Crafts in Phoenixville. He creates kids coloring crafts and activities and have licenses with Nickelodeon, Hasbro, American Greetings and more.

The Shawn Family has been involved with GVCO since Great Valley Football League began in 2010.  In 2014, Joe's wife started Great Valley Competitive Cheerleading as well.  Over the years, Joe has made logos, signs, countless flyers, social medial propaganda, websites and anything else that is needed.  On occasion. you can also spy Joe painting faces at Patriot's Day or the Fall Festival.  He always finds time to help out in any way he can.  

According to Mr. Shawn, "GVCO is a wonderful organization that has personally changed our lives for the better.  We will continue to assist where needed, both on a volunteer level and through donation to the capital campaign for the new facility."

Thank you, Joe for your continued support of GVCO!
COMMUNITY CORNER


All 4 year colleges in the U.S. accept both the SAT and ACT, and none of them prefer one test over the other.
Since students have the choice of which test they submit, they should take whichever test they are better at. 
 
If you are interested in a free diagnostic test from Ivy Experience, check out their website for more details.

Carousel Arts Consultants presents:
THE WIZARD OF OZ
Rehearsals begin in October and are held at the Chester Valley Grange. 

Visit the  CAC website for more details and to register.
Be a Part of Conv
Surrey Logo
Inside the Phillies
Oct. 12, 2017

A conversation with baseball legend Bill Giles, Phillies Chairman Emeritus moderated by Scott Palmer, Phillies Director of Public Affairs.


Steps4Hope 5k Run / 1 mile Walk 

October 15 at GVHS

Go to the website for more information and to register.

 

Visit their website for upcoming events.



Duane Milne Office
50+ Expo

October 14,2017
KD Markley Elementary School
10:00 - 1:00
 
If you have an event to include in our community corner,  please e-mail GVCO .  
GVFL CREATES A COMMUNITY FEEL

I'm often asked what makes GVFL special?  And I always come back to the sense of community that we try to create with the players, coaches and parents.  Football, by virtue of the physical, emotional and mental aspects of the game, lends itself to creating a comraderie that seems different than other sports.  We try to feed on that and support all of the football and cheer activities with a community feel - from our partnership with the HS team on Youth Night, to Grandparents Day, Cancer Awareness and our end-of season activities, we are always building on that community feel.  It's what makes GVFL special - and quite frankly it's what makes everything that happens at GVCO just a little different.

Vince McAneney - GVFL President


 
BUILDING CONNECTIONS CAMPAIGN
Have you seen us in the news lately?


GREAT VALLEY GIRLS YOUTH LACROSSE
Girls youth lacrosse beginning in the spring.

We are thrilled to introduce the Great Valley Girls Youth Lacrosse program, which will host its first season in Spring 2018.  The program will be offered through the Great Valley Community Organization to Kindergarten through 8th Grade girls residing in the Great Valley School District, and will participate as a member of the Philadelphia Area Girls Lacrosse Association.  The season will run from late March - early June.  No prior lacrosse experience is necessary to play.  Registration is now open.  Please visit our lacrosse homepage for more info and to register.  We will need volunteers to get this program running!  We are run 100% by volunteers. If you would like to get involved with the program in any way please email us at lacrosse@gvco.org.  


GREAT VALLEY FOOTBALL LEAGUE
The GVFL 2017 season is off to a great start!

The 2017 Great Valley Junior Patriots are off to a great start! We can't believe that it's been eight years of football in our corn field behind GVBL.   But what we can believe is that our cheerleaders and football players are having a great time.  We just had our Youth Night at GVHS where the cheerleaders spent time with the HS cheerleaders and were right there with them cheering during the first half.  And it's always fun to see our GVFL players walk up to the stadium with their HS counterparts, many of whom now started their football career with GVFL.  We continue to have the GVHS field as our home location and it always brings a smile to see our younger players taking the field for the first time in full equipment!  Our flag program is also into their season and they are all enjoying themselves.  

A special reminder that our BBQ, BEER and BINGO will be held this Saturday night 9/16. Purchase ticket HERE!.  

**TICKETS WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR!!**

And mark your calendars for a good old fashioned Fall Festival at the GVFL field on Saturday 10/8.  Dunk tank, face painting, relay races, obstacle courses and a return of the helicopter ball drop are all scheduled.  We hope you can join us.

Get your tickets
Sunday October 8

CARING HANDS FOUNDATION
Caring Hands Foundation partners with The Palm Tree.
 
This past July, The Palm Tree "partnered" with the GVCO Caring Hands Foundation for a Christmas in July sale and raised over $1000.  This was an outstanding example of how our community can work together, creating a "win-win" for both organization, ultimately for the betterment of the community.

Also, Caring Hands will be hosting a car wash on September 24th. Information below.




GREAT VALLEY BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Registration for GVBL winter league is OPEN!
 
GVBL is gearing up for another fun and exciting season! Registration is now OPEN on our website for the 2017-2018 season of GVBL Winter Basketball, for boys & girls in grades 1st-8th! The fee is $145 for registrations received on or before October 5th. Teams will practice one night per week. Game times are typically Friday night through Sunday afternoon during the regular season.  Our Junior Hoopsters Program, for preK-K, will begin registration on September 18th and our High School League, for grades 9th-12th, will begin registration in late October. More information will be coming soon.
 
The 2017-2018 tournament team season is right around the corner.  The tryout schedule will be posted on GVBL's website soon.  Stay tuned!
 
Please save the date for our much anticipated annual fundraiser. We are happy to announce we will be returning to The Desmond Hotel on Friday, March 2, 2018 from 7:00-11:30 pm. The theme this year is March Madness Throwback Edition "A blast from the past as we build our future!" 
 

GREAT VALLEY CREW CLUB
Crew fall regatta schedule is posted.

GREAT VALLEY COMPETITIVE CHEER
Competition cheer registration is OPEN.

Our season begins on October 17 and runs through April. We practice three times a week, including one night of tumbling. We compete in five or six local competitions from January through May. In addition, based on parent interest, we may travel to one competition that will require an over-night stay.  Athletes ages 7-14 of all skill levels are welcome. 

Our mission of Great Valley Competitive Cheer is to promote sportsmanship, athleticism and excellence in the sport of cheerleading while building confidence and team-centric skills in a controlled, safety oriented environment.   This mentality coupled with our passion to develop our athletes physically, mentally and emotionally is what sets us apart from other programs.  Our professional coaching staff is invested in each and every athlete and we make it our personal mission to see that everyone reaches their full potential through positive guidance and superior instruction.  Our focus is on strength training and conditioning, tumbling, elite stunting and choreography. Our teams and coaches form unbreakable bonds that last a lifetime! 


 
CHALLENGER GYM PROGRAM
Come join Challenger Gym fall session!

The Challenger Gym Program was created to fill a niche for kids with extra needs, as an alternative to participating in traditional community sports programs.
 
Each child is paired with a volunteer high school buddy.  Some of last year's activities included obstacle courses, bowling, balloon fun, relay races and lots of throwing games!
 
Participants from first grade through high school are encouraged to join!
High school volunteers are needed as buddies to participants!
 
Dates: Wednesdays 11/1-12/13 (no class on 11/22)
Time: 4:15-5:15
Location:   GVBL Center,  19 N. Bacton Hill Rd., Malvern

If you are interested in signing your child up as a participant or if you would like to become a high school volunteer, please email us.

VFES








CharlestownPaving

All Phase Electric





























GVCO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Great Valley Community Organization | news@gvco.org | http://www.gvco.org
19 N. Bacton Hill Road, Malvern, PA 19355
Tel: (610) 990-6168