BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF WORCESTER
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Mission Statement
Our Mission is to help youth, especially those who need us most, develop the qualities needed to become responsible citizens and community leaders, through caring professional staff who forge relationships with our youth members and influence their ability to succeed in life.
About This Cause
Crime and violence, cultural/language barriers, poverty, and lack of resources are some of the obstacles many of the youth we serve deal with on a daily basis. These issues become barriers to educational and recreational opportunities, and prohibit the development of strong support systems that help youth become healthy and successful adults. The areas in which the Main South Clubhouse, Freedom Way Clubhouse, Kids Club and Plumley Village Extension are located are considered the most distressed and disadvantaged areas in the city of Worcester, according to area demographics from the school system and Census 2000. We have consulted the Socioeconomic Mapping and Resources Topography, or SMART, system in assessing risk factors in the neighborhoods. This system, developed by the National Institute of Justice and the International Association of Chiefs of Police, is a geographic information system which allows census tract level information to be mapped for planning use. It identifies risk factors in neighborhoods, and assigns a Community Disadvantage Index based upon these factors. The scale is 1-10, with 10 the most distressed. The Community Disadvantage Index is a 10 for all of our Clubhouses but Plumley Village. The Plumley Village Extension is considered distressed, with a score of 9. We serve 8,000 children per year through our three locations in Worcester, and our average daily attendance is over 400 youth. Of the registered members, 45% are female and 30% are between the ages of 13 and 18. We serve a diverse population of youth; Hispanic – 55%, African-American – 20%, Caucasian – 15%, Multiracial – 7%, and Asian – 2%. Ninety-two percent of the members are low-income and qualify for free or reduced lunch programs. Since 1889, the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester has been a leader in providing youth development opportunities for the city’s most disadvantaged children and teens. The Club is one of the original fifteen Boys Clubs and a founding member of the national organization Boys & Girls Clubs of America. In 1914, our organization built a clubhouse on Ionic Avenue in downtown Worcester. At the time of its construction, the concept of a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to youth was innovative and cutting-edge. It was also advantageous that the Club was located in the center of a neighborhood housing many of Worcester's immigrants. Girls began participating officially in Club activities in 1979, and their level of participation increased over the years, as did the number of activities specifically geared toward them. In 1991, the name of the organization was changed to the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester, formally recognizing the participation of girls. In 2003, our organization embarked on a capital campaign to replace the 90 year old Ionic Avenue Clubhouse. Thanks to the support of the entire Worcester community, in September 2006 we successfully completed a $9.5 million capital campaign and built a state-of-the-art facility that is the centerpiece of a revitalization effort in the city’s Main South area. Our 44,700 square foot building incorporates multiple program areas, including a learning center, a technology lab, a six-lane swimming pool, a full-size gymnasium, a teen room, a games room, and an arts suite. The Boys & Girls Club of Worcester has an enviable reputation, within the national Boys & Girls Club organization, the city of Worcester, among other youth service agencies, and with the United Way of Central Massachusetts. The Club’s Executive Director and Director of Operations are both National Training Associates for Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and have been recognized at the Distinguished Level of the Academy of Boys & Girls Club Professionals. City officials have praised the Club’s commitment to continue programs in Great Brook Valley despite significant federal and state funding cuts. The Club is highly regarded in Worcester. The Club is seen as a resource, expert in youth development. Club staff serve on numerous committees and task forces related to youth and non-profit administration. The Club was selected as one of 60 sites for a Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Gang Prevention through Targeted Outreach initiative. The Club was also recognized by the United Way of Central Massachusetts in collaboration with the Hope Coalition, the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and YouthNet as one of its first Community Impact awardees. In 2009, our Club was selected to participate in the Advanced Leadership Program, developed by University of Michigan in conjunction with Boys & Girls Clubs of America. In 2011 we took a leadership role in creating the YouthConnect collaboration, comprised of local youth development agencies, which is overseen by the Club’s Director of Community Impact. Other successes include: • In 2009, we renovated our Great Brook Valley Clubhouse to better serve more youth. • We hired a Targeted Outreach Director to help oversee our outreach sites in Great Brook Valley and Plumley Village, and to supervise our caseworkers who work individually with youth-at-risk and former gang members. • We created exciting events such as “Arts in the Afternoon” and “Heroes Day” that support our mission and attract new fans to our organization. • In 2010, we hired a volunteer coordinator to screen all volunteer applicants, and to provide training and support. • We have engaged board members to make face-to-face solicitations and have increased both major gifts and new donors. • We will be launching the “Foundation for the Future” campaign in fall, 2012. This initiative will help us build capacity by creating a building maintenance fund and an operational reserve. • In 2011, we hired a Director of Community Impact to oversee program quality and evaluate the effectiveness of our services. In addition, we invested in an Efforts to Outcome (ETO) software system that helps our staff assess their programs and creates reports on outcomes to share with donors.