Submitted by Jennifer Ganley, South Lake Chamber of Commerce
The Kiwanis Club of South Lake (KCOSL) was pleased to welcome Richard Yount to the August 4 meeting. Richard presented the club with information about the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Florida (BGCCF). BGCCF consists of 39 clubs in 6 counties with four in Lake County, and one in Clermont. The mission of the BGCCF is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens.
Richard told the club about one of the first children he worked with. Michael was a young boy living with a single father. His mother had died in an automobile accident, and his stepmother had died of a drug overdose. Michael got good grades and volunteered through the program. The club had a culture of family, and the younger children looked to him as a role model.
The BGCCF gave Michael a purpose. When it came time to go to college, Michael earned a full scholarship that the club had received from an anonymous donor. He broke the cycle of poverty and now has a rewarding career in aviation. Michael said that when he went home, he didn’t know what would be on the other side of the door. When he went to his club, he knew what would be waiting for him on the other side of the door: a safe, nurturing environment, and people who cared about him.
These clubs provide a lifeline for children in need. They are located in neighborhoods that on average, rank in the 9th percentile for household income, and the 82nd percentile for incarceration. The majority of club members come from single-parent households earning less than $40,000 per year. Every day after school, and all summer long, the BGCCF provides at-risk children with the academic support, extracurricular enrichment, and the positive, supportive role models they need to become responsible, caring citizens.
Core programs of the BGCCF include Education & Career Development, Character & Leadership Development, Health & Life Skills, The Arts, and Sports, Fitness & Recreation. BGCCF works with children, but they build adults. As members in the program, these children are more likely to make good decisions, to stay in school, and to graduate with the skills and confidence they need to succeed.
Last year, 94% of high school seniors graduated, 98% of club members were promoted to the next grade level, 87% of high school graduates enrolled in post-secondary education or the US military, and $2.5million in scholarship money, facilitated by the organization, was awarded to members.
KCOSL was honored to present the BGCCF with a $1000 check to continue their important work. To learn more about the BGCCF, to make a donation, or to become a volunteer, visit them at bgccf.org
Kiwanis International is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child at a time. The Kiwanis Club of South Lake meets every Thursday morning at 7:30 am at the Citrus Tower Conference Center, 2757 Citrus Tower Boulevard. Stop by and check us out. We’d love to meet you! For additional information about Kiwanis, please visit kcosl.org or Kiwanis.org
