COMMUNITY BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS GROWS TO SERVE MORE DES MOINES KIDS & TEENS For over 50 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa (BGCCI) has provided life-changing support for the young people of Des Moines. BGCCI provides a safe, supportive place for kids and teens to be after school and during the summer. BGCCI provides structured programs with caring staff role models in place to address the challenges our young people face. “There are a variety of programs at Club that I think are awesome,” said teen Club member Ashley L. “I love to watch the kids participate in the activities and seeing the looks on their faces when they learn something new. Club is the place to bWe. That’s why I choose to go to Club every day I can.” Today, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa serves 1,900 members a year, efforts are currently underway by the organization to expand that reach and serve even more kids and teens in the Des Moines metro. In 2016, BGCCI launched its Club Pathways capital campaign to nearly double the number of Des Moines metro youth served to 3,300. The campaign aims to create four paths throughout the Des Moines community where a Boys & Girls Club can accompany a child throughout their entire education. “Our goal is to truly remain with a child in their neighborhood and to walk hand-in-hand with them to high school graduation,” said BGCCI CEO Jodie Warth. “By expanding our reach across the Des Moines area, we can ensure more youth get the opportunity to experience the support, programs, and mentorship that comes with being a Boys & Girls Club kid.” Phase I of the Club Pathways campaign notably includes the new E.T. Meredith Jr. Club at East High School as well as the Gregory & Suzie Glazer Burt Club currently under construction at Drake University. This unique Club which will open in August 2019 is only the third Boys & Girls Club in the nation to be located on a private college campus. April 2019 The URBAN EXPERIENCE 29
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