Program areas at Boys and Girls Clubs of Lee County
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County (bgclc) is committed to providing a safe, positive, inclusive environment for youth to thrive while they are out of school. Our mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens. Every year 1 in 5 youth have no place to go after school, leaving them unguided, unproductive, and unsafe. 3 in 4 youth lack access to high- quality summer programs, leaving them at risk for significant summer learning loss. At the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County, we provide evidence based, quality programs designed to build skills and knowledge in the areas of education, workforce development, the arts, health & wellness, sports & recreation, and service & leadership. As an outcome driven organization, we strive to ensure success is within reach of every young person who enters our doors, with members on track to achieve academic success, demonstrate good character & citizenship and live a healthy lifestyle. Bgclc currently serves 800+ youth, at eight locations throughout Lee County, in fort myers, north fort myers, cape coral, lehigh acres and bonita springs. We charge a nominal fee, in addition to offering scholarships to low income families to provide access to our Clubs. In may 2022, we purchased a 14,500 square foot facility on 2-acres of land, centrally located in fort myers, that will be transformed over the next few years to become our flagship location. Renovation plans include a state of the art technology hub, teen center, basketball pavilion, sports field, and various program spaces. We anticipate launching a capital campaign in late 2023. Our strategic plan is focused on location expansion and quality program enhancement, along with a robust resource development plan to support accelerated growth and long term sustainability, in order to serve more youth for years to come. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County is also committed to becoming a "connector" in our community, leveraging strategic partnerships, local businesses, and volunteers to expand the services we offer to our youth and their families. We will continue to reach into our community and help address issues such as education gaps, food insecurity, and workforce development. The next several years will be focused on continued growth in order to serve more youth and prepare the next generation for the future.