Boys & Girls Clubs Of Greater Houston
Our mission is to inspire and enable all youth, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens. Our vision is to put success within reach for our Club members and keep them on track to graduate high school. We help them realize a positive plan for the future that includes good character, citizenship, workforce readiness, and a healthy lifestyle. Each year, more than 53,000 youth ages 6 to 17 walk through our doors for our after-school and summer programs at 25 Clubs throughout 5 counties of Greater Houston. At our Clubs, youth are provided meals, strong role models, homework assistance, organized athletics, character development, and access to the arts. Membership costs just $10 per school year and $25 for the entire summer. We are a United Way-funded partner. For more information, visit our website at www.bgcgh.org. At Boys & Girls Clubs, we do whatever it takes to build great futures!
Brie, a 5th grader from the Richmond Boys & Girls Club, is a standout leader who has left a lasting impact on her Club and community.
Her active engagement in multiple programs at the Richmond Club showcases her leadership qualities. She's been a dedicated member of the drumline, demonstrating discipline, and commitment, and has also been actively involved in the Black History program, sharing culturally significant stories. Her participation in the SMART Girls program reflects her empathetic and nurturing nature, creating a supportive environment for her peers.
Brie's multifaceted involvement demonstrates exceptional leadership, making her a role model who inspires others to contribute meaningfully to the Club and community.
Financials
Programs
Academic Success
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston reinforces and enhances the skills and knowledge young people learn at school. We create opportunities for high-yield learning activities, which include leisure reading, writing, discussions with knowledgeable adults, homework help, tutoring, helping others, and games, like Scrabble, that help develop cognitive skills. BGCGH also has an intensive summer learning program that is helping to close the achievement gap for Houston-area youth.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston is proud to announce the creation of a space for teens, dedicated to encouraging youth to explore new levels of their creativity and help them boost their confidence through the use of technology.
As well as our commitment to closing the opportunity and learning gap by offering a variety of innovative STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and math) programs that foster a high-yield learning environment to enhance STEAM knowledge and increase interest in STEAM-related careers. With STEAM education, you can improve individual skills and knowledge.
Good Character & Citizenship
Club leadership programs assist youth in developing social-emotional skills and the 'soft skills' that make them more confident as they navigate adolescence, enter college, and seek employment. With adult guidance, BGCGH youth develop community service programs that provide opportunities for active learning, skill development, and personal reflection. Through BGCGH, youth become involved in improving their communities and Clubs. This type of service has been linked to improved academic outcomes, healthy life choices, and a better relationship with school and community.
BGCGH youth also show increased levels of school effort, academic confidence, integrity, and future connectedness. They are less likely to engage in risky behaviors such as aggression, teen pregnancy, carrying a weapon, and use of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs.
Workforce Readiness
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston reinforces and enhances the skills and knowledge young people learn at school through our workforce readiness programs. Our programs prepare members for post-secondary outcomes by helping them develop leadership skills, access post-secondary career readiness activities, and connect their passions with clear goals as they begin their journey toward great futures.
Family Engagement
Family engagement provides opportunities for parents to be the audience as well as the participant in terms of visiting with community partners that may be ab able to provide unique benefits to families. We use family engagement experiences to bridge the gap of services that are available within the community, which parents may not otherwise have access to.
Healthy Lifestyles
The Healthy Lifestyles Program addresses the distressing trends we see in children's health. We address the keys to a healthy body, mind, and soul through four proven programs:
Triple Play is based upon field-tested programming by Boys & Girls Clubs of America to improve the overall health of members ages 6-17. By increasing daily activity, teaching good nutrition, and helping them develop healthy relationships, this holistic program addresses the mind, body and soul of BGCGH members. The “Body” component promotes becoming more physically active through fun daily fitness routines. The “Mind” component is a curriculum that teaches young people about the benefits of developing healthy eating choices. The “Soul” component encompasses the social recreation activities that are critical to positive youth development – interpersonal skills, positive behavior and good character.
Smart Girls is a prevention/education and self-esteem enhancement program to meet the developmental needs of girls ages 8-12 and 13-17. Through dynamic sessions, activities, field trips and mentoring opportunities with adult women, girls explore their own and societal attitudes and values as they build lifelong skills. The program includes tools for eating right, staying physically fit, maintaining good healthcare and developing positive relationships with peers and adults.
Passport to Manhood promotes and teaches responsibility to boys, ages 11-14, focusing on specific aspects of manhood. Each participant receives his own “passport” to underscore the notion that he is on a personal journey of maturation and growth. Passport to Manhood represents a targeted effort to engage young boys in discussions and activities that reinforce positive behavior.
Smart Moves incorporates the latest information and approaches to the effective prevention of destructive behavior. Participants are exposed to various activities designed to hone their decision-making and critical-thinking skills, as well as learn how to avoid alcohol, tobacco, other drugs and premature sexual activity.
A portion of the funding of this program is provided by the City of Houston’s Housing and Community Development Grant.
Sports & Recreation
These Club programs help develop physical fitness, reduce stress, and promote positive use of leisure time, appreciation for the environment, and interpersonal skills. We are grateful to have amazing local sports team partners that provide young people with opportunities to be physically active: Houston Astros, Houston Dynamo Houston Rockets, and Houston Texans.