The Boys & Girls Club Story

STEM Matters

Last Friday at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, I had the honor to take part in the opening of the newest Center of Innovation. It joins five Centers already in operation at Boys & Girls Clubs, including one overseas, and will provide youth with access to technologies to stimulate creative approaches to STEM, including robotics, 3D printing and a realistic flight simulator. A full-time STEM expert will work with children and teens to develop STEM skills and critical thinking.

Funded by a $5 million grant from Raytheon, 22 Centers are expected to be up and running by 2019, shining examples of best practices in out-of-school time STEM learning. Using state-of-the-art equipment, kids can take part in hands-on learning activities and experiments. Club areas are remade into warm, inviting spaces that inspire creativity. With the opening of this latest Center, Joint Base Andrews Youth Programs led by Vince Eure is sure to see continued success.

While many underrepresented youth aspire to academic and career success, there is a shortage of both interested and adequately prepared K-12 students in STEM subjects, especially among minority youth and young women. Research shows that after-school and summer learning advance STEM knowledge and interest in STEM-related careers. And that's significant. By 2018, the Commerce Department tells us, STEM-related jobs are expected to grow nearly twice as fast as those in any other field.

As the nation’s largest provider of out-of-school time programming, Boys & Girls Clubs of America has created and is implementing a cross-disciplinary approach that channels young people’s natural curiosity and empowers them to create new solutions to real-world challenges. Centers of Innovation are outstanding examples of what Clubs are capable of.

This partnership supports our STEM strategy, creating awareness and excitement among youth who might not otherwise have access and opportunities to thrive in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math. BGCA is proud to partner with Raytheon to help kids acquire these important skills.

Police Chief Cites Club as Key to City's Ongoing Drop in Juvenile Crime

A stop in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to meet with community leaders and volunteers at the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha, proved to be an insightful visit. New Chief Executive Officer Jake McGhee is focused on growing the organization and deepening its impact on the lives of youth in the community. Thanks to a strong board and past executives, the Club is well positioned as an important community partner that makes a difference for the kids who need it most.

Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha

In fact, in an open letter to the community, Kenosha Chief of Police John Morrissey cited the Club as a prime reason behind the nearly 50 percent decline in juvenile arrests and court referrals in the city since 2008.

Led by President Matt Carlson and Chair Mike Pitts, the Board of Directors for the Club is focused on expanding services and meeting additional needs of youth, positioning itself for the city’s next phase of growth.

This, along with an optimal Club experience for members and ongoing reinforcement of its message, will ensure the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha continues to make meaningful contributions to the well-being of the city and its citizens by doing what it does best — providing Kenosha's kids with the tools and resources they need to achieve great futures.

Congratulations to the team in Kenosha for their commitment, passion and dedication to making a bigger difference.

New Delaware Club Proves There's Power in Partnering

The expansive new facility can serve up to 200 more youth a day than the two Clubs it is replacing.

Last week, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware opened the doors to its brand new facility, the Greater Dover Boys & Girls Club and Kent County Community Center in Dover. The 75,000-square-foot building is the result of a unique partnership between the Club and Kent County government to benefit youth and families in the community. It was an honor to participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony, where Delaware Governor Jack Markell and Sen. Tom Carper were among several elected officials and civic leaders in attendance.

Built from the ground up, the new structure consolidates two older Clubs that serve a combined average of 100 kids a day. In comparison, the new Club can accommodate up to 300 youth daily and was developed to provide members with an optimal Club Experience. It comes complete with a teen center, all the latest technology for STEM-related learning and, of course, a traditional games room. It’s a shining example of the power of partnerships that also maintains a laser focus on the kids and teens who need Clubs most.

Seated left to right are Gov. Markell, Sen. Carper, County Administrator Michael Petit de Mange, County Levy Court President P. Brooks Banta and County Commissioner Jody Sweeney.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware, a statewide organization, has made fantastic advancements the past few years. Their teen membership grew last year by 590 (24%), average daily attendance by 901 (37%) and registered members by 1,742 (18%). Through a combination of school-based sites and standalone facilities, Clubs in Delaware are able to capitalize on synergies and cost efficiency that support their ability to serve more youth and provide additional programming.

This public-private partnership demonstrates what is achievable when the need is great and a community comes together. Congratulations to President and CEO George Krupanski and his team for their leadership and efforts in bringing this fabulous project to fruition.