An Ounce of Prevention

I supervise an after school program social/recreational/enrichment program for youth in grades 7-9 - not directly affiliated with BGC but a similar quality OST model. Attendance is growing - we have anywhere from 45-100 kids here most days. Most of our are kids on the fringe - they are clearly at a fork with two paths to choose from, and my staff and I are committed to ensuring they choose the right one. We offer transportation to a central site after school and activity bus service home. Youth get support they need from caring qualified adults, help with homework, and much needed physical exercise (known to improve not only physical but mental health). They can also choose from a variety of other modest offerings each day. We do not charge a participation fee, because most of our participants cannot afford it. With no revenue stream, we rely on community financial support. We KNOW what we do is making a dfference in this lives of these kids - it is evidenced by those who have been with us from the beginning who are now here as high schoolers in a volunteer capacity. It is evidenced by the sense of future they have...and a hopefulness for the future that wasn't present four or five years ago. Sounds like all is well, right? Well, think again. We are barely keeping our head above water financially. Although we have support from our generous business community, times our tough for them, and my program suffers indirectly as a result. It's not their fault - they have bills to pay too.

Interestingly, I can run a really good (not great like I'd like it to be) program for about $45,000 a school year - $45,000!!! That's all it would take to sustain what we have - not to grow mind you, but to simply sustain - to pay staff, to repair equipment, to purchase something new from time to time. With about 4000 kids passing through our doors annually, it doesn't take a genius to see what a good investment this is. We have just entered our fifth year - hanging on by a thread. Unfortunately these yearly financial struggles are wearing me down - it's getting harder and harder by the day.

What happened to our commitment to youth, families and communities? Why is is so difficult for our policymakers to see that it takes fewer resources to build capacity than it does to fund the alternatives (incarceration, public assistance etc. etc. etc.)? This is as important an investment as any I can think of, and the research is there to support it. Those of us in the trenches see it everyday...why does this have to be so hard?

Great Article to call attention to all the good the Boys and Girls Clubs of America do.
As a board member of our local Club here in Wellington, Florida it makes me proud that my contribution is going in the right direction for all our Latch-Key kids in our midst. Maybe this story will stiimulate more local good citizens to join local club boards and contribute and get back more than they put in as I do.

Al Paglia
Wellington, Florida

I grew up in the 50's and graduated from HS in the early 60's. My parents were a moral compass in my life but when they weren't there, I was involved in the Boy Scouts and other youth activities up until the time I started working. The author of this piece makes a great point: all social programs are not a rat hole to through money down endlessly. Many have proven to be exactly that, but a well managed outfit like the Scouts or the BGCA is an investment in the future health of the country.

I grew up in the 50's and graduated from HS in the early 60's. My parents were a moral compass in my life but when they weren't there, I was involved in the Boy Scouts and other youth activities up until the time I started working. The author of this piece makes a great point: all social programs are not a rat hole to through money down endlessly. Many have proven to be exactly that, but a well managed outfit like the Scouts or the BGCA is an investment in the future health of the country.

I grew up in the 50's and graduated from HS in the early 60's. My parents were a moral compass in my life but when they weren't there, I was involved in the Boy Scouts and other youth activities up until the time I started working. The author of this piece makes a great point: all social programs are not a rat hole to through money down endlessly. Many have proven to be exactly that, but a well managed outfit like the Scouts or the BGCA is an investment in the future health of the country.

It seems there is always a new non-profit group thinking they've found the solution to after-school and tutoring. If the educational community would just chill and let the kids have a little fun after school, grades would improve. Heck, in their 101st year, Clubs were doing Homework Hour before society, all of a sudden, thought homework hour was important. I have been involved with the Clubs as a Club member, a parent and a volunteer. They ARE the best thing going. In too many of our coimmunities, the citizens have a hard time supporting the kids on the other side of the tracks. Kids are kids. It's there parents are the ones who have problems and BGCA is looking into that now, too. . . .As usual ahead of the curve.

As an employee for five years the club has been a source of hope for what communities can accomplish when they work together. All staff at our club are challenged and rewarded daily by the children who pass through our doors and their success is only a reminder of the importance of our task. The club stands for hope and opportunity. We now employ former members and they prove to be some of our best staff, giving back to the kids in their community with dedication and passion. That is a positive cycle I am proud to be a part of.

The Boys and Girls club IS a success. My 2 children WANT to go there so I just enrolled them. I work from home and so they do not need any type of after school care and never have, but they saw their friends from school going so they want to go.
The director for the Beaches location in Jacksonville Florida is fantastic. He gave me a detailed tour and I was very impressed with him and the facilities.
I actually worked for a non profit years ago who's money raised went solely to the Boys and Girls club.

Prevention IS the answer... it really is.

Go to www.bgca.org. It will tell you a lot about the program and help you find a club near you. You can also donate to support them.

My daughter has been a member of The BGC for almost 10 years. It was an affordable place for her to go during the summer and since starting there at age 6 she has grown with the club. For the past three years she has been a volunteer at her club and has learned valuable lessons on how to take direction, apply for a job, and interview skills. What started out as an affordable place to send her fro the summer months has turned onto one of the best places she could have gone. She has made many friends over the years and still keeps in touch with may of the staff members she worked with.

Would like to know more about the program.

I do not know all the details of the BGCA but if it keeps children in school it must be good. There is a 40%;drop out rate here in this county(Frankliin Co. Ga) Would like to know more about the program. Do you have information on the program? W. Brown, 885 Aderhold Rd, Carnesville, GA 30521. Thank you.