COVER STORY 50 SEPTEMBER 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition For 60 years, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County (BGCBC) have stood as a safe, supportive environment providing opportunities and transformation for thousands of young people during the summer months and after-school hours. Acting as a stabilizing force for many families, the organization has produced strong community leaders who are now giving back to encourage and mentor today’s youth, including Broward College President Torey Alston, U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Ryan Perry and BGCBC Nan Knox Club Director Coach Markes Thomas. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County operates 17 clubs in Broward, including six state-of-the-art teen centers. Their most recent addition was the Heirholzer Teen Center, which opened August 14 at 212 N.W. 16th St. in Pompano Beach, providing mentorship, life skills and workforce readiness with added emphasis on physical and mental well-being. The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County is to enable all young people, especially those who need it most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Few people embody the Boys & Girls Clubs’ mission like Co-CEO Matt Organ, who has served the organization for 44 years. Overseeing operations, Organ said, “It’s about 90 full-time staff members and about 250 part-time staff, closer to 300 in summer. It’s a pretty large operation with about 11,200 young people a week that we’re providing services for.” And he sees firsthand the lasting impact of keeping the doors open and the lights on. “Our business is youth development,” Matt explained. “We’re not so concerned about scoring 30 points in a basketball game. We’re concerned about their grades, their future credit score, their financial literacy. That’s the difference.” Four pillars of youth development Their youth development program is based on four key pillars. Academic Success: Programs such as Power Hour provide after-school homework help and tutoring, STEM education and literacy support for classroom success and lifelong learning. “We’ve made a large investment in the areas of technology,” said Organ, adding, “If we don’t stay ahead of that curve, we’re not preparing them for when they go on to their next life after the Boys and Girls Clubs.” Character & Leadership: Clubs nurture future leaders by encouraging community involvement, accountability and integrity. While the clubs are not faith-based, Chris Gentile, Co-CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County, explained the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County have strong partnerships with churches and Christian organizations, and staff encourage youth to engage in local youth groups and volunteer service. “We have a Boys & Girls Club creed that is about respect and integrity they recite daily,” Chris said. They also learn to serve others. “We do a project every year with Habitat for Humanity where about 15 or 20 of our kids help build houses. And when Habitat gives the keys to the family, they participate in that ceremony. Our kids don’t have a lot, but they’re taught to give back,” he added. Health & Well-Being: Through physical activity, nutrition education and mental health resources, members learn to lead balanced, healthy lives. Recognizing the growing number of youths experiencing mental health challenges in recent years, Organ said BGCBC created a Life & Resiliency Department to address those needs. “We’ve actually embedded some of our Life and Resiliency coordinators inside the different clubs, so they can have free-flowing conversations with kids and really learn more.” These coordinators are trained in social work and serve as a first line of support, helping kids open up, triaging needs and connecting them with professional resources when necessary. Life & Workforce Readiness: Teen centers focus on career discovery, including career fairs, trade certifications and résumé-building skills. Recognizing that technology is now central to workforce readiness and career development, clubs are building content media rooms where young people can learn digital skills, produce media and explore career paths in tech-related fields. They’ve also expanded programming to include social media strategy and analytics, giving teens hands-on experience in areas where they can eventually freelance or build careers. “If we’re giving them the tools, not just being in front of it but studying the back end, they can really make money off of that — even consulting,” Organ said. Humble beginnings Gentile reminded us of the clubs’ humble beginnings in the late 1860s, when two sisters gathered in Hartford, Connecticut, to keep boys off the streets and into safe, productive activities. The first Boys Clubs were opened in Fort Lauderdale in 1965 by a committee of 15 community leaders, including Harry Greep, Hugh Anderson, Samuel Townsend, Davis Weir and George Gore, among others. They utilized two abandoned church buildings at what are now the Lester H. White and Nan Knox Units. In 1990 programming was expanded to include girls, becoming the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County with a mission to enable all young people to reach their full potential. There are now more than 5 million kids involved in Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide, with Broward County playing a significant role as the fifth-largest club in the country. By the numbers Despite a $19 million annual budget, the clubs keep membership at just $15 a year, ensuring accessibility for every family. For those who cannot afford even that, scholarships are available. “We’ll even ask a child to volunteer, so they have skin in the game,” Organ added. In addition, BGCBC provides free daily snacks and hot suppers at every club location, ensuring that no child goes hungry after school and reinforcing the club’s role as a stabilizing force in many families. The support for these programs comes from a combination of grants from community foundations and government entities, community partnerships, corporate sponsors, dedicated donors, community volunteers and strong board members. The return on investment is powerful: an economic study conducted by BGCBC a few years ago found that every $1 invested yields $18.45 in community benefit. This ci t p S c j f a Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward Marks 60 Years of Changing Lives Shelly Pond Good News Editor Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County Senior Leadership Team, pictured from Left to Right: Nicole Melendez, Vice President of Strategy; Kerry Becker, Vice President of Development & Events; Henry Estrada, Vice President of Safety & Special Projects; Nicole Chaplin, Senior Director of Marketing, Communications & Community Engagement; Matt Organ, Co-Chief Executive Officer; Niurka Rodanes, Senior Director of Talent, Benefits & Culture; Marsha Williams, Senior Director of Club Operations; Chris Gentile, Co-Chief Executive Officer; Manuel Casas, Vice President of Facilities
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjE2MjU=