About Bethlehem Opportunities Unlimited

Bethlehem Opportunities Unlimited (BOU) is a not-for-profit organization that promotes prevention education and safe, healthy activities for the youth in our community. Our ongoing purpose is to prevent drug and alcohol use and other risky behaviors among young people residing in the Town of Bethlehem or attending school in the Bethlehem Central School District. To help meet these goals, BOU awards grants for a wide variety of initiatives targeting students, parents, younger children and the community. BOU also collaborates with other organizations such as Student Senate and Bethlehem Parks and Recreation to promote healthy youth development. To learn more about BOU or join our Board, please contact the BOU Board (boubethlehem@gmail.com). Donations can be made by check payable to “BOU” and mailed to BOU, PO Box 492, Delmar NY 12054. BOU is a 501(c) (3) organization.

Mar. 3: Don’t miss the 8th annual Bethlehem Community Spelling Bee

It’s T-I-M-E for the 8th Annual Bethlehem Community Spelling Bee. This BC community event will be held on Tuesday, March 3, 2020 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Bethlehem Central High School cafeteria. (Snow date: Wednesday, March 11.)

Bethlehem Opportunities Unlimited (BOU) is excited to organize this fun event that will involve the entire community while raising funds to provide grants for Bethlehem youth programs.

The Bethlehem Community Spelling Bee is a team-based spelling competition, where adults and teens from community groups, businesses and schools form teams of three to five people for an evening of friendly competition. No one spells alone. Last year’s event was a rousing success with more than 20 teams participating.

There are many ways you can be part of this great community event:

Become a sponsor

• Becoming a team sponsor and/or entering your own team ($120); and/or
• Donating an item to the event’s raffle; and/or
• Sponsoring a word for a team to spell ($120).

Use this Google form for all BOU Community Bee sponsorship opportunities.

Your contribution will be acknowledged in the event program as well as throughout the evening by our master of ceremonies. Any donated raffle items will display your business’ name prominently. If you are unable to access the sponsorship link above, you can view or download all sponsorship information here.

Register a team

• Register to compete as a team in the Spelling Bee

If you have any questions regarding team registration or becoming a sponsor, please email bouspellingbee@gmail.com

List of Events

• Talking with Your Teen “Overwhelmed and Under Pressure” – Thursday, November 14, 2019, BCHS Cafeteria, start at 6:30 p.m. Download or print event flyer for Talking with Your Teen.

• Life After BC – Thursday, January 2, 2020
  BCHS Room G-100, starting at 7 p.m. (BC alum panelists arrive at 6 p.m.)
• 8th Annual Community Spelling Bee – Tuesday, March 3, 2020
  (Snow date: TBD)
  BCHS Cafeteria and LMC, starting at 6:30 p.m.

Grants & Activities

Anyone can apply for grant funding. Most applications are developed by parent organizations, collaborations of District staff, or community groups. Grant application forms can be obtained by clicking below. Submit completed grant applications to bougrants@gmail.com. Applications are reviewed by the BOU Board for consistency with goals, cost-effectiveness, and available alternative funding.

• Grant Request Form [PDF]

Below are grants that were awarded in the 2014-2015 school year:

• BC Physical Education Dept. Color Dash 5K
• BCMS Costume Ball
• Bethlehem Youth Court Training
• BCHS Girls Night Out
• BC Kids Vote Too
• 5th Grade “Survivor” Day at Town Park
• Bethlehem Senior Celebration

Supporting BOU, “Memo to School” Pads for Sale

“Memo to School Pads” are for sale for $3 in the main offices of all BC schools or at any BOU event. Individual donations, fundraising events and these sales benefit the BOU’s youth activities and prevention education programs. BOU will be selling pads at each of the school open houses. See list of Open Houses below:

• Eagle Elementary Open House 
  Thursday, September 12, 2019
  Grades K-2 at 6:15 p.m., Grades 3-5 at 7:30 p.m.
• Elsmere Elementary Open House
  Thursday, September 12, 2019
  Grades K-2 at 6:15 p.m., Grades 3-5 at 7:30 p.m.
• Glenmont Elementary Open House
  Thursday, September 12, 2019
  Grades 3-5 at 6:15 p.m., Grades K-2 at 7:30 p.m.
• Hamagrael Elementary Open House
  Thursday, September 12, 2019
  Grades K-2 at 6:15 p.m., Grades 3-5 at 7:30 p.m.
• Slingerlands Elementary Open House
  Thursday, September 12, 2019
  Grades K-2 at 6:15 p.m., Grades 3-5 at 7:30 p.m.
• Middle School Grade 6 Open House
  Tuesday, September 17, 2019 at 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
• Middle School Grade 7 Open House
  Thursday, September 19, 2019 at 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m
• Middle School Grade 8 Open House
  Tuesday, September 24, 2019 at 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m
• High School Open House
  Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.