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We had a delightful experience of spending an afternoon at Brookhaven Boys & Girls Club in Atlanta GA. We were able to see what its younger members experience on a day to day basis. My boys were thrilled to take part in the art classes and really enjoyed playing a game of pool tailored to their height in the Game Room. My oldest son particularly enjoyed his tutoring session from one of the teenage members who volunteers to assist the younger kids in the Learning Center. We finished our tour in the garden that was built and maintained by the students of the Boys & Girls Club, very inspiring.
Our day at the Boys & Girls Club really open my eyes to how awesome this program is. The mission statements says it best. To save and change the lives of children and teens, especially those who need us most, to provide a safe, positive engaging envirement and programs that prepare and inspire them to achieve Great Futures. The Boys & Girls Club is for those families who want to provide their children with a positive place to go, care and guidance from professional staffs and impacted-driven programming.
There are so many graduates of the Boys & Girls Club who have gone on to do great things. Including but not limited to Kerry Washington, Denzel Washington, Shaquille O’ Neal and host of others you can find online at GreatFutures.org/Alumni. The Boys & Girls Club are all about giving a young person a start at a great future and while the names before mentioned we can identify with because of their famous status there are also CEOs, attorneys, doctors, small business owners, stay at home moms etc who also attribute their success in some part to the Boys & Girls Club of America.
The program focus on three core areas a childs academic success, healthy lifestyle along with character and leadership development. Which all makes for an excellent formula for creating a successful individual in the future.
- Club members graduate from high school at a rate of 87% compared to the national average of 66%.
- Club members finish college at a rate of 25% compared to the national average of 16%.
- Club membership show an average improvement of 12% in their grades.
- More than 57 % of national Club alumni surveyed said the Club “saved their life.”
If you want to learn more about the Boys and Girls Club now is the perfect time national Boys and Girls Club week Open the Door Take The Tour begins April 7-13, 2013. Local communities are encouraged to visit a local Club and see the magic happening behind their blue doors or, take the virtual Club tour here.
Clubs across the country have planned fun daily activities for club members, their parents, and the entire neighborhood to enjoy. These events include teen forums, carnivals, health fairs and so much more. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta (BGCMA) is launching the “75 Blue Doors” Project to celebrate its 75th anniversary and show how local Clubs are “opening doors” for youth in and around Atlanta. For more information on this initiative please click here.
If you don’t have a child between the ages of 6-18, but are interested in learning more and helping out this deserving organization Boys & Girls Club of America is always seeking out volunteers as well as donations and partnerships. If you want to be a part of creating a great future click here.
I wrote this review while participating in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. I attended an information session and received a gift bag and promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.
