The Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County has been serving local youth for 50 years.
Since March 1971, when what was then known as the Boys Club of Palm Beach County Inc. opened its first facility, the nonprofit has been giving kids the tools and support they need to build good character, finish high school on time and prepare for college or a career.
“Our clubs are a second home for our club members,” says Jaene Miranda, president and CEO of BGCPBC. “We provide a safe space to be outside of school hours.”
In 1989, the clubs opened to girls and changed its name to reflect that. Today, the organization has 17 clubs, and each year serves at least 10,000 children ages 6 to 18. “Our clubs are strategically located throughout Palm Beach County in areas where children need us most,” says Miranda.
The clubs have been operating at reduced capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Miranda is hoping for a return to full capacity this summer as vaccines become more widely available. Like many charities, the Boys & Girls Clubs have focused on meal distribution during the pandemic. Last year, the clubs served 1.2 million meals to children and gave more than 100,000 club members’ families a week’s worth of groceries.
When schools were closed, the organization set up a website for online classes. It also extended club hours to help families who needed to return to work without leaving their kids at home alone. “Our clubs were classrooms during the day, and when that school bell rang, we transitioned to our after-school programming,” says Miranda. In addition, BGCPBC has hired 60 certified teachers for extra academic support. “We are working to limit an achievement gap caused by distance learning,” Miranda notes.
This year, the organization awarded four-year university scholarships to seven teenage finalists in its Youth of the Year competition. The winner, Anajiah Graham of Belle Glade, received a full scholarship with room and board.
“We’ve proven that our clubs break the cycle of poverty in Palm Beach County,” says Miranda. “I believe no other program has this type of reach in the county, nor the results, because of our staff’s passion for our club members and making our community stronger.”
For more information, call 561-683-3287 or visit bgcpbc.org.