In this day and age, no one should need to be told who the Boys & Girls Club is. That famous Saul Bass-designed logo of two clasping hands symbolizing support and unity has become as much a part of American iconography as the script Coca-Cola or the shield of a highway sign. Nationally, the organization serves 4.2 million young people annually, or one in every 16 American youngsters.
It is, in short, an institution. And yet, as well as we all know what the Boys & Girls Club is, our understanding of all they do often fails to tell the whole story.
“People don’t really know the true depth of Boys and Girls Club,” said Jaala Miller, vice president of Programs and Impact for Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry. “It’s for all kids and teens, providing amazing programs and opportunities to help them learn, grow, and thrive.”
A perfect example is the common misconception that Boys & Girls Club is simply an after-school program, when in fact it is an entire system of programs grouped around four outcome-driven priorities. These kids aren’t just enjoying a safe place to be around their friends and peers, they’re being given tools and skills that they’ll take with them long after they leave the club, helping them attain their best life possible.
The first of these priorities helps reinforce the lessons and guidance kids receive during school, focusing on academic achievement.
“Our partnership with our area school districts is really important when it comes to academic success,” Miller said. “At the club level, all of our sites offer Power Hour, which is dedicated homework time, allowing kids to have peer-to-peer homework support. We also have dedicated volunteers who come in to provide additional academic assistance, so that homework support is a huge benefit.”
Beyond Power Hour, Boys & Girls Club programs focus on volunteer- assisted programs like Math Masters, and literacy through digital instruction on i-Ready Reading and traditional reading instruction. “Our ultimate goal is to ensure each kid will be operating at or above their grade level,” Miller said.
The second priority, healthy lifestyles, takes a holistic approach to a child’s well-being.
“We’re really focused on the whole child, so we’re looking at not only their physical health but their mental health as well,” Miller said. “This incorporates a lot of our physical activities – soccer, basketball, cheer, flag football, pickleball. … I know at our Hilton Head Island club in particular, tennis and soccer are two of the top sports.”
Miller noted that the healthy lifestyles priority is also served through cooking classes, designed to do far more than just show kids how to follow recipes, but also how to be mindful of nutrition in what they make and enjoy.
A third priority for helping kids reach their full potential is the club’s good character and leadership program, with specific disciplines for boys and girls. The Smart Girls program helps guide girls through the transition out of middle and high school and into young womanhood, while the Boys to Men program does the same for the boys, helping them with aspects of growing up from finding a career to believing in themselves.
“These are some of the programs I’m most passionate about … because we know the schools are ultimately focused on education, so this is our chance to be in support of that with adding programs that assist the overall child,” Miller said.
The final of the four main priorities is one that is perhaps most important to a young person’s future, focusing on job readiness and entering the workforce.
“We know a lot of our teenagers could go home and get a quick job somewhere, but we really want to set a foundation for them,” Miller said. “So, we’re doing mock interviews and showing them how to dress for success. We’re doing career launch classes where we have speakers who come in from different careers to motivate them and give them a vision for the future.”
One program in the Hilton Head Island club is their Financial Literacy program, made possible by a single generous donor. Giving kids crucial financial guidance on things like investing and opening a savings account, this program is a huge part of a particular career focus at our local club.
“We’ve been doing career readiness at many of our sites and most of those students have had the opportunity to have their first job at Boys and Girls Club this past summer as junior staffers,” Miller said.
These junior staffers aren’t just getting their first taste of a career, they’re passing on what they have learned as mentors to kids just getting started at Boys & Girls Club.
“Some of these kids actually grew up in this club from kindergarten. And now they’re teenagers, helping to mentor and take care of the younger kids. They do a great job, and they’re role models too,” said Rob Shipman, unit director of the Hilton Head Island club. “Our young kids love them, and it’s so rewarding to see them grow up and say, ‘I want to work here when I get older,’ and continue to evolve.”
Shipman is new to the Hilton Head Island club, but not new to Boys & Girls Club. He’s been with the organization for the past eight years, and to him, seeing kids take the reins of self-development is one of the most important parts of the job.
“I want this thing to be kid-led. When I say that, I mean that when people come into this building, I want them to see that it’s not my building, and it’s not the staff’s building, but this is truly the kids’ place,” he said. “I want them to feel safe, know they can be themselves, and learn how to lead.”
This past year, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry served more than 1,400 youth at 11 Clubs throughout Beaufort, Jasper, Colleton, and Hampton counties. This year, they’re hoping to serve even more. And that’s where the public comes in.
“We thrive on having volunteers. People have amazing ideas, and we love it as long as it falls into our four priority outcomes,” Miller said. “And of course, every gift expands the mentoring, the meals, and these programs for our young people. So financial support is always appreciated.”
To donate your time or give a gift to help support Lowcountry kids, visit bgclowcountry.org.