Great Futures Start Here

Children who are unsupervised after school have a greater chance of becoming involved in gang activity, drug use and sexual misconduct.

As a matter of fact, there were over 1,300 juvenile arrests in Lake and Sumter counties in 2013. In Florida’s Circuit 5, which encompasses 5 Central Florida counties, Leesburg and Clermont ranked first and second in juvenile felony arrests.

According to the FBI, juvenile crime peaks between 3–6p.m.

Fortunately, those are the same hours the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lake and Sumter Counties serves 2,000 at-risk children ages 6–18. The organization instills character and self-esteem into these children through a staff of caring, supportive adults and engaging programs that enrich the mind, body and spirit.

The results speak for themselves.

In 2013, no child in the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lake and Sumter Counties was arrested and none of the female teenagers became pregnant. More than 85 percent of the Club’s elementary school students read at or above their grade level, compared to 33 percent of their peers. Most importantly, 100 percent of the Club’s high school seniors graduated with a solid plan in place for the future.

Those statistics perfectly reflect how the organization is so much more than an ordinary afterschool program. One day, students may learn about robotics. The following day, they may audition for a role in a play, participate in math bingo to reinforce concepts learned in class or attend a financial literacy class to learn about balancing a checkbook or saving for retirement.

“We are the best-kept secret in Lake and Sumter counties,” says Freddy Williams, who became the Club’s Chief Executive Officer in 2012. “We go above and beyond to make sure today’s youth does not become a lost generation.”

Few people realize the depth and scope of the programs offered by the Boys & Girls Club of Lake and Sumter Counties. More than 50 programs are offered in five core areas:

• Education and Career Development: Helping students fulfill their potential in school and creating goals and plans for the future. Each child must complete his or her homework during “Power Hour.”

• Character and Leadership Development: Helping students develop leadership skills through planning and decision-making and developing a strong moral compass.

• Health and Life Skills: Teaching children about the importance of a healthy diet and engaging in social activities to enhance interpersonal skills. Last year, the Club provided 75,000 healthy snacks to students.

• Arts: Allowing children to participate in creative, visual and performing arts to develop their creativity and spark innovation.

• Sports, Fitness and Recreation: Helping children increase their physical fitness levels while reducing stress and understanding the importance of teamwork.

“Each of these five core areas work together to create a wellrounded young person,” Freddy says. “Everything we do is fun, and we promote the spirit of fun across the board.”

Students also participate in activities outside the Club’s walls. For instance, they performed more than 30,000 hours of community service in 2013 by maintaining local parks and providing meals to elderly. In addition, high school students complete internships at local businesses that support the Boys & Girls Club of Lake and Sumter Counties.

“This allows our corporate sponsors to see how their money is going to good use.”

Speaking of money, publications such as US News and World Report, Forbes, Newsweek, Smart Money, and Worth have recognized Boys & Girls Clubs for efficient use of donor dollars. For every dollar donated, 91 cents is spent on the Club’s direct program services. When those programs help children excel in school, taxpayers are spared millions of dollars.

”Our organization provides an immediate tax savings of $9,000 per year per child who is not held back a grade level,” Freddy says. “Additionally, we provide an aggregate tax savings of over $29 million for every 100 seniors we help graduate from high school. We provide tremendous returns to the community because of the responsible citizens we produce.”

On a national level, Chronicle of Philanthropy has recognized the Boys & Girls Clubs as the top youth-serving organization for 18 consecutive years. That’s because students who are part of the Club excel in both school and their personal lives thanks to the positive, fun environment and innovative programs that inspire, educate and guide them to fulfill their potential.

Boys & Girls Club of Lake and Sumter Counties has two locations in Leesburg, as well as one location each in Umatilla, Eustis, Lady Lake and Clermont. They also serve youth through outreach programs at Bushnell Elementary School and Wildwood Elementary School.

For more information, visit www.bgclsc.org or call 352.787.5258