In The News
BGCSTL & MD Clubs Unite to Serve More Youth
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER ST. LOUIS and MATHEWS-DICKEY BOYS’ & GIRLS’ CLUB UNITE TO SERVE MORE YOUTH
Today, we announce that Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club will soon be joining the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) family of Clubs. The Boards of Directors and staffs of both Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis care deeply about the future of the children in this community and have been exploring ways to collaborate to serve more youth for years. Collectively, both Clubs have served millions of children in the region for more than 113 years. The effective date for the combination agreement is January 1, 2021.
Over the past few years, Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club board and staff have taken steps to build upon the foundation established by Martin Luther Mathews and Hubert “Dickey” Ballentine. These steps have included exploring partnerships with other non-profit organizations. All parties agreed that a partnership would strengthen the organizations, influence the lives of more children and families, and provide more youth access to low-cost, life changing programs and services.
Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club Founder & President Emeritus, Martin Mathews said of the partnership, “Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club has been an important part of the St. Louis community for 60 years, and our biggest contribution to this community are the children we have served. They are our biggest asset and I know that Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis shares our commitment to children and their development. Both Clubs are committed to a future that focuses on our children that I strongly support.”
“There is a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr that seems especially fitting as we embark on this new journey together: “We are not makers of history. We are made by history.” What will ultimately make us successful is the great history that is the foundation of our organizations and that combined will make us a force for change and good,” added Dr. Flint Fowler, President of BGCSTL.
The agreement preserves the Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club name, location and nationally recognized youth sports programs. Joining forces and using the strengths of both Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club and BGCSTL honors and affirms their legacies.
An integration committee will continue to work to finalize all aspects of the new enterprise. In the short term, Club operations will continue as they always have. In the long term, key programs and activities will be enhanced, new programs will be explored, and new data measurement practices will be deployed to ensure positive outcomes in priority areas that include Academic Success, Good Character and Citizenship, Sports & Athletics and Healthy Lifestyles.
In late October, BGCSTL announced it had merged with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bethalto, which has two locations in Illinois.
The combined organization will now be one of the region’s largest youth development agencies serving more than 10,800 kids and teens annually. In addition, the expanded organization will produce better outcomes for all members, extend opportunities for staff professional growth and development and boost fundraising.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis
The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. BGCSTL provides after-school, teen, sports and summer programs to youth across the Bi-State Region while also providing a safe place for them to learn and grow. The Clubs serve youth across the region at twelve locations, including (Adams Park Club, Boys & Girls Club of Bethalto, Boys & Girls Club of Lovejoy, Hazelwood Elementary School Club, Herbert Hoover Club, Mathew-Dickey Boys’ and Girls’ Club, Normandy High School, O’Fallon Park Club, Riverview Gardens Club, Roosevelt High School, Hazelwood Southeast Middle School Club and the Teen Center of Excellence). We also operate the Mentor St. Louis and St. Louis Internship programs.
About Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club
Since 1960, Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club has been an anchor in the community, a place where boys and girls, young men and women have developed their talents, learned respect, restraint and responsibility, and benefited from a wide range of programs and support services. The membership organization serves thousands of young people each year. The Club’s focus is to meet the needs of the community as a sports and recreation facility, while also providing education supports, workforce development and cultural enrichment to those who need it most.
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Recognition Event Honorees 2020
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis Honors
Alumni, Board Members, Community Partners & Staff
At Annual Recognition Event
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) is proud to announce the 2020 Annual Recognition event honorees and Alumni Hall of Honor inductees! Each year the staff, board members, volunteers and supporters are acknowledged and celebrated for their commitment to our organization and the Club kids and teens that we serve.
The BGCSTL Alumni Hall of Honor inductees are Sam Adams, Malcolm Crawford, Ahmad Hicks, Rashidah Ivory, Dr. Kia Moore and Dr. James Paine. The Hall of Honor recognizes outstanding alumni for achievements in their respective fields, commitment to leadership, serving our community’s youth, contributions to the St. Louis community and for living out the mission of the Boys & Girls Club.
Alumni Hall of Honor Inductees: Sam Adams, Malcolm Crawford, Rashidah Ivory, Dr. Kia Moore and Ahmad Hicks along with Dr. Flint Fowler, President Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (not shown Dr. James Paine)
Additional categories and honorees for the evening were as follows:
*Award descriptions below
National Award of Merit
LeAnn Chilton
Cheryl McNeil
Gregory Glore
Peter Strassner
Anita and John McConnell
St. Louis Fire Department
Metropolitan St. Louis Police Department
Richard H. Amberg Award
BGCSTL Board Member Peggy Guest
Service to Youth Award – Staff
Dennis Morgan – 45 years of service
Nicholas Chandler – 15 years
Indigo Sams – 15 years
Patricia Baucom – 10 years
Sharmane Buford – 10 years
Byron West – 10 years
Chrishawn Buford – 5 years
Karmin Crymes – 5 years
Cornelious Ingram – 5 years
Eva Kain – 5 years
Ruth Lederman – 5 years
Mallene Tatum – 5 years
Audrey Wilson – 5 years
Service to Youth Award – Board & Life Trustees
Mark Bulanda – 5 years of service
Sean Joe – 5 years of service
Megan Ridgeway – 5 years of service
Larry Parres – 5 years of service
Barry Upchurch – 5 years of service
Dave Touchette – 20 years of service
Robert Fulstone – 30 years of service
Joan Silber – 30 years of service
BGCSTL President, Dr. Flint Fowler (reflecting on the annual event which has always been close to his heart) said, “This event gives us the opportunity to celebrate the many ways that our staff, board volunteers, alumni and friends contribute to the welfare of the children we serve and highlight our impact. While we recognize the challenges of COVID-19, we believe it is important to recognize the contributions and achievements of so many Club constituents.”
National Service to Youth Award – Board, volunteers and staff who have rendered long and devoted service (five years or more) to the Boys & Girls Club Movement.
National Award of Merit – Individuals and organizations outside Boys & Girls Clubs that have provided outstanding support to local Clubs or the Movement.
Richard H. Amberg Award – Presented to a Board member whose leadership and commitment has a profound impact on the Club’s ability to achieve its mission.
To view more pictures of the evening’s honorees, click here.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis
The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. For over 50 years, BGCSTL has been providing after-school, teen, sports and summer programs to youth in the St. Louis area while also providing a safe place for them to learn and grow. The Clubs serve youth across St. Louis City & County including Adams Park Club, Hazelwood Elementary School Club, Herbert Hoover Club, O’Fallon Park Club, Riverview Gardens Club, Hazelwood Southeast Middle School Club and the Teen Center of Excellence. We also operate dropout prevention programs within two High Schools (Normandy and Roosevelt High School); as well as the Mentor St. Louis and St. Louis Internship programs.
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YOUTH OF THE YEAR WINNER ANNOUNCED AT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER ST. LOUIS GREAT FUTURES GALA
YOUTH OF THE YEAR WINNER ANNOUNCED AT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER ST. LOUIS GREAT FUTURES GALA
Ja’Niyah Banks-Ewing Wins Youth of the Year, $9,000 in Scholarships & A NEW CAR Nearly 250 guests and $450,000 raised for Club kids!
St. Louis, MO, November 9, 2020 – Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) is proud to announce the 2021 Youth of the Year winner is Ja’Niyah Banks-Ewing! Being named Youth of the Year is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can receive and a signature national youth recognition program that celebrates the recipient’s contributions to their family, school, community, and their Boys & Girls Club. The winner was announced at the outdoor 70s themed, drive in tailgate style Great Futures Gala (reimagined), the largest fundraising event for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, which raised $450,000 for Club youth!
Photo caption: Check presentation of the Michael and Wanda DeHaven $5000 Scholarship to 2021 BGCSTL Youth of the Year Ja’Niyah Banks-Ewing by Abby & Travis Sarich and Joe Brown of Frank Leta Honda who presented Ja’Niyah with a new car
Ja’Niyah, age 17, is a senior at Clyde C. Miller Career Academy and has been a member of BGCSTL Herbert Hoover Club for ten years. In addition to winning the Youth of the Year title and honor to represent the Club as a Teen Ambassador, she received the Michael & Wanda DeHaven $5,000 Scholarship, the Missouri State University Youth of the Year renewable $4,000 scholarship, a celebratory dinner courtesy of the Saint Louis Club and a car provided by Frank Leta Honda! Ja’Niyah plans to attend college, become a Dietician and part time Volleyball Coach. She credits the supportive Club staff and multiple programs for shaping her into the young lady she has become, guiding her in the right direction and exposing her to opportunities she would not have had access to if she wasn’t a Club member.
“The Youth of the Year program honors our nation’s most awe-inspiring young people on their path to great futures and encourages all kids to lead, succeed and inspire. All of the honorees are shining examples and living proof that great futures start at the Boys & Girls Clubs. We are so proud of all of this year’s participants who took the time to complete a challenging yet worthwhile process. All possess the ability and ambition to be successful, and should be recognized for their leadership, service, academic achievements and commitment to live a healthy lifestyle,” said Dr. Flint Fowler, President, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis.
Emcee KSDK News Anchor, Rene Knott inspired the crowd, online and attending the event, to help fund the need for Club kids and helped us meet our goal of $100,000!
Another special moment in the evening was St. Louis based Kaldi’s Coffee announcing the launch of a new Great Futures Blend coffee where a portion of the proceeds will support Club programs and services!! The artwork on each bag was created by Club member Gabby and, Club members also created the coffee jingle to promote the new coffee partnership! Click here to listen, and here to order your Great Futures Blend!
2nd Place winner receiving the $2,500 Emerson Scholarship is Teen Center of Excellence member, Diondre Fulton! Award presented by co-chairs Matt & Linda Renner
3rd Place winner receiving a $1,000 Scholarship is Adams Park Club member, Triniti Groves! Award presented by co-chairs Lorenzo & Sheila Boyd
4th Place winner receiving a $500 Scholarship is Teen Center of Excellence member, Troy Staten! Award presented by Ricky & Elizabeth Nix
Special thanks to the Great Futures Gala committee including Co-chairs – Lorenzo & Sheila Boyd, Matt & Linda Renner and Brad & Michele Sowers. And, to the following sponsors for their support: Lead Sponsor, Emerson Foundation; Presenting Sponsors, Centene Charitable Foundation, Express Scripts, Stifel, Matt & Linda Renner and, Brad & Michele Sowers. For more information on how the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis is helping our community, visit www.bgcstl.org.
To view more photos from the event, click here. To hear the emotional Youth of the Year candidate speeches from the evening, follow the links below.
Great Futures Moments – News Brief from BGCSTL 10.9.2020
Click here.
Administrator Wheeler Celebrates Carter Carburetor Superfund Site Cleanup Completion and Future Reuse with BGCSTL
Administrator Wheeler Celebrates Carter Carburetor Superfund Site Cleanup Completion and Future Reuse with Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis
Transfer of site ownership to facilitate construction of golf training facility for inner city youth
St. Louis, Mo. (September 16, 2020) – At an event with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced the completion of site cleanup at the Carter Carburetor Superfund Site in St. Louis, Missouri. EPA and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis entered into a Prospective Purchaser Agreement to transfer ownership of the former Carter Carburetor site property. Upon transfer of ownership, the club will partner with Gateway PGA Reach to develop a youth golf training facility at the site.
“I couldn’t be prouder to sign this Prospective Purchaser Agreement because it opens up a tremendous future for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “Few imagined a polluted, former carburetor plant could be transformed into a golf training center for the youth of St. Louis. But with vision and teamwork it happened.”
“Cleaning up the Carter Carburetor site was no small task given the multiple contaminants, including PCBs, TCE, asbestos, and others,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Jim Gulliford. “The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, the community leaders and partners worked tirelessly with EPA to see this through; and, now that the site has been cleaned up the community can move forward in redeveloping the property into a tremendous community asset.”
“I am grateful to the U.S. EPA, U.S. Department of Justice, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the City of St. Louis, Thompson Coburn LLP and the American Car and Foundry Company for coming together to promote the growth and development of children in the St. Louis region. BGCSTL relies on the generosity and support from a variety of public and private benefactors to help young people realize their potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. Today we are witnessing the power of partnership,” said Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis President Dr. Flint Fowler.
The Carter Carburetor site is a large former manufacturing facility, where operations over decades resulted in contamination from polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and trichloroethylene (TCE). The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis is located next door to the site and prior to EPA’s cleanup, the Carter Carburetor site was the subject of significant community concern regarding the site’s condition and the potential exposures to area children and residents.
In 2013, EPA entered into a $35 million settlement agreement with ACF Industries, Inc. to pave the way for the site’s cleanup, building demolition, and ultimately productive reuse. Cleanup of the site began that year with the removal of asbestos and hazardous debris from buildings on the property. Demolition and removal of the buildings began in 2015. Additional waste removal work, on-site waste treatment, and other cleanup work continued into 2017. The completed cleanup will allow the property in one of St. Louis’s oldest neighborhoods, a designated Environmental Justice area, to be redeveloped and returned to productive use for the community.
EPA and ACF Industries, Inc. completed site work in May 2020. As a part of site cleanup, ACF conducted removal actions to address dilapidated buildings onsite that were heavily contaminated with PCBs and asbestos. The site will be acquired and redeveloped by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, which has long stood in the shadow of this site. In partnership with the Gateway PGA Reach organization, they will build a golf training facility for inner city youth on most of the site property. The St. Louis Land Reutilization Authority owns part of the Site (including an area where PCBs are buried and capped, which it acquired through tax default), which it hopes to develop into a pollinator park, urban prairie feature, or community garden to support the surrounding reuse.
Background
The site was placed on the Administrator’s Emphasis List in the Fall 2019. Established in December 2017 in response to recommendations from EPA’s Superfund Task Force, the list is comprised of sites identified by Administrator Wheeler and EPA regional offices that will benefit from the Administrator’s immediate attention or action to move site cleanups forward. It serves as a mechanism to address site-specific issues that may cause delays in a site’s cleanup progress. The milestones for the Carter Carburetor Site have been achieved and the site qualifies for removal from the list.
EPA remains dedicated to addressing risks at all Superfund sites, not just those on the Administrator’s Emphasis List. The Superfund Task Force Recommendations are aimed at expediting cleanup at all Superfund sites. EPA continues to accelerate progress at Superfund sites across the country.
The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. For over 50 years, BGCSTL has been providing after-school, teen, sports and summer programs to youth in the St. Louis area while also providing a safe place for them to learn and grow. The Clubs serve youth across St. Louis City & County including Adams Park Club, Hazelwood Elementary School Club, Herbert Hoover Club, O’Fallon Park Club, Riverview Gardens Club, Hazelwood Southeast Middle School Club and the Teen Center of Excellence. We also operate dropout prevention programs within two High Schools (Normandy and Roosevelt High School); as well as the Mentor St. Louis and St. Louis Internship programs.
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ACK FLAHERTY DONATES MASKS TO BGCSTL
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS PITCHER JACK FLAHERTY
DONATES MASKS TO
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER ST. LOUIS
DURING COVID-19 CRISIS
St. Louis, MO, September 2020 – Special thanks to St. Louis Cardinals Pitcher Jack Flaherty, Dennis Chang and SDL Synergy for donating a 1,000 masks to Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis youth and employees to use during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jack mentioned growing up with a single working mother who gave him access to after-school care so he understands the importance of the programs that Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis offers and wanted to give back. Jack says of the donation, which is the beginning of what he hopes will be a long term partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs, “We wanted to donate the masks to a place where we knew they would go to good use and while I was never a part of the Boys & Girls Club, we knew this would be the right place. The Boys & Girls Club seeks to enable children to reach their fullest potential across the country and also stresses inclusion of all children which is something we need at this time in our country. We just feel lucky to be able to be involved with such a great organization and I’m honored to help in any way possible. I look forward to spending time with everyone at the Boys & Girls Club in the future.”
BGCSTL President, Dr. Flint Fowler says of the donation, “We are so thankful to Jack who thought of and remembered our youth, especially during these challenging times. This partnership also reflects the great relationship we have with the St. Louis Cardinals that started our founding.”
For more information on how the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis is helping our community, visit www.bgcstl.org.
The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. For over 50 years, BGCSTL has been providing after-school, teen, sports and summer programs to youth in the St. Louis area while also providing a safe place for them to learn and grow. The Clubs serve youth across St. Louis City & County including Adams Park Club, Hazelwood Elementary School Club, Herbert Hoover Club, O’Fallon Park Club, Riverview Gardens Club, Hazelwood Southeast Middle School Club and the Teen Center of Excellence. We also operate dropout prevention programs within two High Schools (Normandy and Roosevelt High School); as well as the Mentor St. Louis and St. Louis Internship programs.
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Great Futures Moments – Enews from BGCSTL Fall 2020
Click here to view.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis
Annual Great Futures Gala Converted to Outdoor Tailgate
Park & Party with a Purpose
St. Louis, MO – September 2020 – The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) annual Great Futures Gala, will be held on Thursday, October 29 in the upper Muny Lot in Forest Park, tailgate and outdoor movie style.
The now outdoor gala will include all of the favorite elements of our past Galas, but under the stars. We’re transforming the upper Muny lot in Forest Park to a 70’s themed tailgate gala that will consist of a center stage with large outdoor movie screens, an emcee, dueling DJ’s, musical entertainment and dinner. Within this enclosed area, people will enjoy our 2020 gala from the privacy and comfort of their cars allowing for more distancing in a safer social environment. Guests will hear the dreams and aspirations of these young leaders and stories of how Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis has influenced their lives.
The “Great Futures Gala is the largest fundraiser benefitting youth at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis and showcases the youth who embody the ideals of the Club’s mission to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens! Club teens and Youth of the Year candidates will share their stories of how the Club has impacted their lives throughout the evening followed by the selection of the 2021 Youth of the Year!
Event proceeds are used to send teens to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Keystone Leadership Conference as well as provided support for the Diplomas to Degrees program, Mentor St. Louis, Keystone Clubs, Money Matters, and Career Launch programs. Thanks to our Lead Sponsor, Emerson Foundation.
Event Co-chairs: Lorenzo & Sheila Boyd, Matt & Linda Renner and Brad & Michele Sowers
If you’ll be missing the celebration, we invite you to volunteer, donate, mentor or register your youth for membership. For ticket information, visit www.bgcstl.org.
Calendar Format
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis
Great Futures Gala – Party & Park with a Purpose
Thursday, October 29, 2020
5 pm
Muny Lot, Forest Park
www.bgcstl.org
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis
The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. For over 50 years, BGCSTL has been providing after-school, teen, sports and summer programs to youth in the St. Louis area while also providing a safe place for them to learn and grow. The Clubs serve youth across St. Louis City & County including Adams Park Club, Hazelwood Elementary School Club, Herbert Hoover Club, O’Fallon Park Club, Riverview Gardens Club, Hazelwood Southeast Middle School Club and the Teen Center of Excellence. We also operate dropout prevention programs within two High Schools (Normandy and Roosevelt High School); as well as the Mentor St. Louis and St. Louis Internship programs.
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BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER ST. LOUIS MERGES WITH BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF BETHALTO, IL
EXCLUSIVE: BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER ST. LOUIS MERGES WITH
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF BETHALTO, IL
St. Louis, MO, October, 2020: After years of exploration and discussions, the Boards of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) and the Boys & Girls Club of Bethalto unanimously voted to merge. All parties agreed that a merger would strengthen the organizations, impact the lives of more children and families, and provide more youth access to low-cost, life changing programs and services. Integration activities are currently underway and should be completed by year’s end.
The combined organization is now one of the region’s largest youth development agencies serving more than 8,856 (BGCSTL 7575 + Bethalto 1281) kids and teens annually. In addition, the merger will expand opportunities for staff, enhance fundraising and produce better outcomes for kids.
The Boys & Girls Club of Bethalto will operate under the banner of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, while retaining their local identity and relationships. Members of all organizations will continue to attend their home Clubs.
“Collectively these organizations have provided young people safe places, positive mentors and life-enhancing programs for nearly 105 years. By coming together, they will create an even stronger and more efficient organization, positioned to meet the needs of youth in their communities for decades to come. I look forward to seeing the organization grow its reach and increase its positive impact through expanded programming, especially in essential areas like workforce readiness. Under the leadership of Flint Fowler and through the efforts of dedicated staff, volunteers, and community members, the expanded BGC of Greater St Louis will shape a brighter future for thousands of kids and teens in Missouri and Illinois,” stated Jim Clark, president of Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
The merger will be accomplished over a period of time. An integration committee has been named and over the next year the details of operating a single entity will be finalized. In the short term, Club operations will continue as they always have. In the long term, operations will likely not change significantly but new programs will be added and new measurements put into place to ensure positive outcomes in priority areas that include Academic Success, Good Character and Citizenship, and Healthy Lifestyles.
Both organizations are chartered by Boys & Girls Clubs of America. The national office provides a wide array of resources – from program best practices to professional development opportunities – to help local member organizations achieve priority outcomes of Academic Success, Healthy Lifestyles and Good Character & Citizenship.
Dr. Flint Fowler, President of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis says of the merger, “I’m excited about this unique opportunity to combine efforts with the Boys & Girls Club of Bethalto. We have a shared goal to provide the best possible services to our youth members and believe our collective efforts will produce powerful results for the Greater St. Louis community. This decision was made following months of exploration, benchmarking and analysis. The unanimous conclusion is to merge our organizations to create a more effective, efficient and results oriented enterprise for members as well as staff.”
Kathleen A. Wilson, Executive Director for Boys & Girls Club of Bethalto said of the merger, “Our desire to serve more youth and the growing need in our community far exceeds our capacity. This partnership/merger will increase our resources and allow us to provide more opportunities to current members, while increasing our ability to add youth from our waiting list and in the future, expand to surrounding areas of need. With this investment we can easily double our impact on those we serve.”
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (the combined organizations) will now operate nine locations across the Greater St. Louis region (MO/IL) serving over 8,856 (BGCSTL 7575 + Bethalto 1281) youth. At our Clubs, youth participate in afterschool, teen, and summer camp programming geared towards academic success; healthy lifestyles; and good character and citizenship development. The organizations are also focused on providing an optimal Club experience for all members.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis
The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. BGCSTL provides after-school, teen, sports and summer programs to youth across the Bi-State Region while also providing a safe place for them to learn and grow. The Clubs serve youth across the region at nine locations, including (Adams Park Club, Boys & Girls Club of Bethalto, Boys & Girls Club of Lovejoy, Hazelwood Elementary School Club, Herbert Hoover Club, O’Fallon Park Club, Riverview Gardens Club, Hazelwood Southeast Middle School Club and the Teen Center of Excellence). We also operate dropout prevention programs within two High Schools (Normandy and Roosevelt High School); as well as Mentor St. Louis and St. Louis Internship Program.
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WE STAND FOR EQUITY & JUSTICE
The Board of Directors of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis continues to demand an end to dehumanization, prejudice, bigotry, hatred and injustice in all their forms. The senseless deaths of black people at the hands of some police officers cannot be tolerated and requires new measures of accountability.
For nearly 60 years the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis has provided hope and opportunity for all youth, particularly those who need us most. We’ve promised to inspire and enable young people to realize their full potential, preparing them for a world where they can participate as full and equal citizens. Unfortunately, because of institutionalized and systemic racism and bigotry, that reality has not been available to all.
We take a stand for social justice, equity and inclusion, and against dehumanization, bigotry, discrimination, oppression and hate. We have avoided the term “races” intentionally, because we are all part of the same race – the HUMAN RACE. We pledge to use our influence, affluence, access and privilege to help make sure that the words of the U.S Constitution ring true for everyone, regardless of ethnicity, nationality, culture, creed or color. We pledge to work towards eliminating disparities and demanding accountability on behalf of our youth so that success is within reach of all the children.
Today we each pledge in the memory of George Floyd, to listen, learn and act in order to rid our communities of all vestiges of dehumanization, bigotry, prejudice and hatred, which are now so deeply woven into the fabric of our nation. Our support will be used to foster civic engagement, accountability and leadership skills so that Club members can safely become agents of and allies for change. Download the full document, here.
