The Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club recently changed its name to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis to more strongly align with the national brand.
For more than four decades, the Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club has helped serve children throughout the St. Louis area. The group is changing its name to reflect the organization’s growing footprint and to create a more defined association with the national Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Since 2007, Herbert Hoover has expanded beyond its flagship location at Sportsman’s Park to three additional locations − Adams Park, Southeast Middle School and East Middle School − and currently serves nearly 10,000 youth in more than 90 area zip codes. Beyond these four locations, the organization recently acquired and assumed operations of Mentor St. Louis, a literacy-based mentoring program operating in five St. Louis elementary schools (Cote Brilliante, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Farragut, Jefferson and Sherman) that provides support to more than 500 students.
“I am thrilled about this exciting milestone for our Club. The name change captures our vision to serve more kids, in more communities, while staying true to our mission – to inspire and enable young people to realize their full potential as responsive, productive, caring citizens,” said Flint W. Fowler, president of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis.
Local club leaders have talked about changing the name for a number of years, said Barry Upchurch, chairman of the board.
The original name “Herbert Hoover” came out of its association with the club’s first location, Sportsman’s Park.
“The name change is consistent with how we have expanded our organization,” Upchurch said. “Along with that we acquired and merged with Mentor St. Louis.”
In 2010, 17 percent of the organization’s funding came from the United Way of Greater St. Louis, and 36 percent came from other contributions, according to annual reports. Emerson has been a big supporter of technology.
Out of the 10,000 children served, 81 percent come from single-family homes and 97 percent are African American.
The core principles of the Club have not changed, and the group will continue to provide educational, vocational, recreational and social development programs to children ages six to 18. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis has a strategic plan that calls for the proactive expansion into communities and neighborhoods to reach kids with the greatest needs, and looks forward to reaching even more young people throughout the St. Louis area.
“We will continue to equip young people with the skills and abilities they need to make a positive difference for themselves, their neighborhoods and the global community,” Fowler said.
For more information about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, or to donate, volunteer or join, visit www.bgcstl.com.
