An Ongoing Mission

At the Boys & Girls Club of Gatesville, we serve with one purpose: to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

A Continuing Need

Today’s youth are growing up in a world much different from that of previous generations. The structure and patterns of family life in America have undergone dramatic changes. Families have become increasingly mobile and often function without assistance from extended family members. The divorce rate remains very high. More children are born to and raised in single-parent households. Childhood obesity is at an all-time high across the country. Many young people are confronted with dangerous influences, like drug use, gangs, and violence in their schools and neighborhoods.

Young people need to be surrounded by people who love, care for, appreciate and accept them. This support can come from family members or from other adults, such as Club staff, neighbors or teachers. Children need to have a place where they are physically and emotionally safe; a place with structure and clear limits.

Keeping Our Promise
For the past 8 years, Boys & Girls Club of Gatesville has provided positive programs and activities for youth in the community, helping them become productive, self-sufficient individuals. As Boys & Girls Clubs across the country begin a second century of service, the Boys & Girls Club of Gatesville is dedicated to keeping the promise to provide a safe, positive place for young people and to have a significant impact on their lives.

Childhood is guided by excitement and eagerness to learn. Most of us reflect upon our youth with dear memories of an adult who helped guide us to become the person we are today. Mentors have the ability to share and mold a young person into who they will be tomorrow.

All young people have the potential to succeed; however, not all young people get the support and mentorship they need to thrive. Club alumni say that without intervention by caring adult mentors, they often would have made choices that could undermine their futures. For some 4.8 million youth across the country, staff members, junior staff members, and volunteers at Boys & Girls Clubs are the mentors that make a difference; and often that change and save young lives today.

Of special significance are the opinions of Boys & Girls Clubs alumni. An independent survey of Club alumni, conducted by Harris Interactive, revealed that BGC alumni firmly believe that Club membership had both an immediate and long-lasting impact on their lives.

• 62 percent of alumni said they became more committed to their education.
• 90 percent agreed that the Club was one of the best things available in their communities.
• 84 percent said that participating in the Club had a favorable impact on their families.

Making an Impact
We need the financial support of caring people like you to help us reach children who need us most. Your investment gives the Boys & Girls Club the chance to develop a generation of young Americans who are productive and caring citizens. They will become our community, national and world leaders, exhibiting strong character and integrity to build a better life for themselves, better communities for their fellow citizens and a stronger America.

You can make an impact in the life of a child by providing him or her with a safe, secure and stimulating environment through the Boys & Girls Club of Gatesville. Be the one!

Providing Opportunity
Boys & Girls Club of Gatesville believes every child has the capacity to succeed and achieve greatness. Our aspirations reflect this belief by providing an environment where members can achieve:

a positive self identity: being connected to the Club provides a feeling of safety allowing Club members the freedom to develop their self confidence. Youth are happy and have a strong belief in their self worth, their ability to achieve and a sense of hope about their future. They are adept at setting goals and making decisions to achieve.

a healthy lifestyle: regular fitness activities and positive healthy behaviors are an everyday part of Club life. Giving youth the tools and knowledge to make good choices about their health and personal safety allows them to engage in positive, risk-free behavior and live healthy lives.

a strong character: ethical behavior is a Club expectation. By offering programs that instill social awareness and encourage volunteerism, youth develop a moral compass enabling them to have positive interactions with others. This includes exhibiting citizenship, honesty, integrity, caring, justice and fairness.

educational success: belief in the importance of education and the value of learning are critical to educational success. Club staff assist members to develop good habits (i.e. study skills, regular attendance, daily preparation). Proficiency in basic educational disciplines and the capacity to utilize technology give youth the motivation to pursue further educational and/or career opportunities.

social competency: positive interaction with Club staff and peers is a key factor. Cultivating supportive relationships along with the appreciation of cultural diversity help Club members develop positive relationships with family, friends and coworkers.