BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF WHITTIER INC

IN A WORLD WHERE MANY OF OUR CHILDREN ARE OFTEN EXPOSED TO THE UNFORGIVING REALITIES OF LIFE AT MUCH TOO EARLY AN AGE, THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF WHITTIER SERVES AS A BEACON OF HOPE, LOVE, AND STRENGTH TO THE CHILDREN OF OUR COMMUNITY. THE CLUB OFFERS YOUNG PEOPLE WHAT THEY NEED MOST, ADULTS WHO RESPECT AND LISTEN TO THEM, A SAFE ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY CAN HAVE FUN AND BE THEMSELVES, AND INTERESTING CONSTRUCTIVE ACTIVITIES THAT CHANNEL YOUTHFUL ENERGY INTO CHALLENGING PURSUITS. WE CURRENTLY OPERATE OUR PROGRAMS AT 36 LOCATIONS, THE MAIN CLUBHOUSE ON GREENLEAF AVENUE IN WHITTIER, AND 35 ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL SITES. WE CONCENTRATE ON IDENTIFYING AND ENGAGING OUR CITY'S AT-RISK YOUTH, ALTHOUGH THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF WHITTIER IS A PLACE THAT ANY CHILD CAN FIND SAFETY, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND THE STRENGTH TO GROW AND BECOME A CONTRIBUTING MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY. THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF WHITTIER ANNUALLY SERVES APPROXIMATELY 3,600 REGISTERED CLUB MEMBERS, AGES 6 TO 18 IN WHITTIER AND THE SURROUNDING CITIES. MORE THAN 86% OF OUR MEMBERS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FREE OR REDUCED COST SCHOOL LUNCH AND 49% OF OUR CHILDREN COME FROM SINGLE-PARENT HOMES. WE ARE DEDICATED TO POSITIVELY IMPACTING AND TRANSFORMING OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR YOUTH. EACH YEAR, WE TOUCH THE LIVES OF MORE THAN 4,500 KIDS, GIVING THEM HOPE, SKILLS AND TOOLS THEY NEED TO GROW THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. THE MONEY WE RAISE EACH DAY GOES DIRECTLY TO SUPPORTING PROGRAMS FOR OUR YOUTH. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS WE HAVE SEEN MANY CHANGES IN OUR WORLD, IN OUR COUNTRY, AND IN OUR COMMUNITY. MANY OF THEM UNFORESEEN TRAGEDIES. BUT THROUGH IT ALL, THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF WHITTIER HAS REMAINED FOCUSED ON OUR MISSION. WE UNDERSTAND THE STABILITY OUR CLUB BRINGS TO THIS COMMUNITY AND THE ROLE THAT WE PLAY IN ITS FUTURE. WE KNOW THAT MANY OF OUR KIDS ARE EXPOSED AT HOME TO THE SOMETIMES HARSH REALITIES OF LIFE. JOBS LOST, FAMILIES TORN APART, NO FOOD, CROWDED HOUSING. THE LIST GOES ON AND ON BUT THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF WHITTIER HAS AND WILL ALWAYS REMAIN A PLACE THAT OUR KIDS KNOW AS STABLE, FUN, AND THEIR SECOND HOME. WORKING TOGETHER, OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, VOLUNTEERS, STAFF, AND DONORS ARE DRIVING POSITIVE OUTCOMES IN THE AREAS OF LITERACY, HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, TEEN SERVICES AND COLLEGE PREPARATION.