In the 50 years since it first opened its doors as the Herbert Hoover Boy’s Club in St. Louis, Flint Fowler, the president of Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, conservatively estimates serving well over 100,000 children and youth through after-school and summer programs to strengthen and support academics, increase recreation and develop character.
“We mesh well with what schools and families need. We are open at times when parents are more likely to need us,” Fowler said. “Research tells us the most dangerous time for a child is between the hours of 3 and 6, and that’s generally when they are out of school and their parents are still at work.”
Rather than leaving the children on their own, the club provides structured, organized activities with adult supervision.
“It’s more than just stopping kids from doing bad things; it’s really about equipping them with skills, ability and knowledge,” he said.
The club serves about seven thousand young people, ages 6 to 18, each year. Boys make up 60 percent of members, and 40 percent are girls.
Although girls have participated in competitive swim teams, family nights and other programs for many years, Fowler said it officially added girls to the organization’s name in 1993 to align with the national organization and its affiliates.
The club offers a variety of sports activities, including cheerleading, football, baseball, basketball, T-ball, tennis, and track and field. In addition, the children get to go on field trips. Kids have access to computers, homework help and can swim, play foosball, do arts and crafts and participate in leadership groups.
“Kids that attend more frequently are more likely to graduate from high school on time, have plans for post-secondary activity – either college or trade school, military or work – and are less likely to get in trouble or participate in delinquent behavior, and overall live a more healthy lifestyle,” Fowler said.
Club members get free oral health services at its main location and have since the club opened in 1967.
“Tooth decay is one of those things that you really don’t pay attention to until it’s almost too late and, by then, kids are missing days in school, they’re dealing with the pain, the embarrassment of not having a decent smile, which can affect self-esteem,” Fowler said.
“So not only is it not healthy but it is also detrimental to their self-image, and if you don’t have a positive self-image, it’s difficult for you to have the confidence you need to go out and try new things and take reasonable risks in terms of doing new things.”
Fowler said from 1967 to 2007, they operated out of one location, Herbert Hoover on North Grand Boulevard, and have been adding locations and partnerships each year since. Now there is the original location, O’Fallon Park in North City and Adams Park in South City. There are school-based locations in St. Louis County: Southeast Middle School and Grannemann Elementary, both in Spanish Lake in the Hazelwood School District; Ferguson Middle School and Lee Hamilton Elementary in Ferguson-Florissant School District; and Highland Elementary in Riverview Gardens School District. The club operates high school dropout prevention programs at Normandy and Roosevelt high schools as well as Mentor St. Louis programs in five elementary schools.
“We are also working to establish a teen center in Ferguson to serve as a program site for high school students from Ferguson-Florissant and Riverview Gardens and Normandy high schools,” Fowler said. Fowler said the club is working on adding sites in Jennings and an additional site in Normandy, possibly by the beginning of the school year in 2018.
Twenty years ago, the club had an annual budget of about $800,000. Fowler said it is now just under $7 million.
Like most nonprofits, Fowler said the Club tries not to charge parents the full cost of activities, which he says is about $5,000 per child. The cost for membership for children and youth is only $25 per year. The difference is made up through United Way donations and from individuals, corporate and business support, as well as fundraisers.
Among the many notable youngsters who were part of the club over the years are many men and women who are doctors, lawyers, civic leaders, politicians and professional athletes. Many are still in St. Louis, making a positive impact.
“Fifty years is a long time and anybody would be proud of that,” Fowler said, “but I think it’s the impact that we’re having that is really the key.”
On Thursday, June 1, the Club will hold its 2017 Annual Recognition Event, celebrating distinguished volunteers, board members, supporters, alumni and Hall of Honor inductees. The event takes place at the Palladium at 1400 Park Place from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
For more information, visit www.bgcstl.org.
