BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF TAMPA BAY INC

IN 2023, BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF TAMPA BAY PROUDLY SERVED 12,702 YOUTH AGES 5-18 THROUGHOUT HILLSBOROUGH AND PASCO COUNTIES AT 25 CLUBS. IN SERVING YOUTH, OUR MISSION IS TO IDENTIFY THOSE "WHO NEED US THE MOST AND FOR BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF TAMPA BAY, THAT FOCUS IS ON FAMILIES AND YOUTH FACING THE EFFECTS OF POVERTY. OF THE YOUTH SERVED THROUGHOUT OUR CLUBS, 89% LIVE AT OR BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. TO BEST COMBAT THE EFFECT OF POVERTY ON YOUNG INDIVIDUALS, BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS PROVIDES THREE PILLARS OF DEVELOPMENT TO OUR YOUTH. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THE FIRST PILLAR OF ACADEMIC SUCCESS IS FOCUSED ON GRADE ADVANCEMENT AND ULTIMATELY HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. THIS IS ACHIEVED THROUGH STRUCTURED PROGRAMS THAT ENHANCE THE CHILD'S LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. IN 2023, THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE AMONG HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS WHO REGULARLY ATTENDED OUR CLUBS WAS 100%. THE ORGANIZATION ADDED PROGRAMMING AROUND LITERACY TO ENHANCE LEARNING AND ALLOW OUR MEMBERS TO KEEP UP WITH THEIR PEERS. THE SECOND PILLAR OF FOCUSED DEVELOPMENT IS HEALTH & WELLNESS. WITH 89% OF OUR YOUTH QUALIFYING FOR FREE OR REDUCED SCHOOL LUNCHES, THE FOCUS ON HEALTH, NUTRITION AND WELLNESS IS CRITICAL TO THEIR ACADEMIC SUCCESS. YOUTH IN OUR CLUBS PARTICIPATE IN PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT HEALTHY EATING HABITS. OTHER PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON WELLNESS INCLUDE HEALTHY DECISION MAKING TO PREVENT YOUTH FROM TAKING ON RISKY BEHAVIORS. THIS FOCUS AREA ALSO INCLUDED AN ASPECT OF MENTAL HEALTH IN WHICH WE HELPED MEMBERS IDENTIFY ISSUES AND TRAINED ALL OF OUR STAFF ON HOW TO SUPPORT MEMBERS AND IDENTIFY MORE SERIOUS CONCERNS. THE THIRD PILLAR OF DEVELOPMENT IS CHARACTER & LEADERSHIP. PROGRAMS HERE FOCUS ON INSTILLING A SENSE OF CONFIDENCE AND EXPOSURE TO THE COMMUNITY AROUND THEM THROUGH EDUCATION AND SERVICE. MORE THAN 745 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE WERE COMPLETED BY OUR YOUTH MEMBERS IN 2023. COMBINED WITH FOCUSED PROGRAMMING, OUR CLUBS SERVE AS A SAFE PLACE YOUTH CAN FIND STRUCTURE AND A SENSE OF BELONGING. THROUGH MENTORING, A SENSE OF SELF-WORTH, ABILITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY AROUND THEM, AND INDEPENDENCE ARE CRITICAL LIFE SKILLS DEVELOPED AT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF TAMPA BAY.