“To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens” is their mission. They are the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. They strive to provide a safe environment where children can learn, grow, develop positive relationships with adult professionals, enrich their lives and foster hope.
It sounds like a tall order for those who are struggling, but many people have testified that the Boys and Girls Clubs changed their life. It gave them a safe haven and a place of community.
Some of the ways they accomplish their goals are through a series of programs. Some of these are about education and careers, character and leadership, health and life skills, arts, sports, fitness and recreation and other specialized programs.
While all the programs are designed to get kids on the right track, one of the things the Boys and Girls Clubs is most known for is help with education. Under that umbrella, they have Degrees to Diplomas, Be Great: Graduate, Project Learn, Career Launch, and several other technology-based classes.
The Boys and Girls Clubs understands that one of the most important hurdles students face is graduation from high school. Without it, your chances of success in life plummet. It stops you from getting into college, from being considered for many jobs, and may even limit your chances of supporting a family down the road.
So, their Diplomas to Degrees (d2D) program helps students achieve college readiness through helping them to graduate. They provide services such as tutoring, specialized activities, trained facilitators, and a website for students.
BGCA has ties to schools, parents, youth and community members around the country. Their strategy, called Every Member, Every Year, is designed so that all Clubs, regardless of size or location, can partner with these groups to implement at least one of three approaches. They are to provide academic enrichment and school engagement, targeted dropout prevention and intensive intervention and case management. Their main goal is to ensure all Club members graduate from high school on time, ready to go to college.