Since 1959, the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Midlands have aimed to help youth reach their full potential as productive citizens. The organization encourages kids to graduate from high school and go on to live healthy lifestyles while maintaining an active involvement in their communities.

The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Midlands have experienced incredible growth and success over the past 58 years, collectively operating 46 clubs, eight summer camps and a teen center serving youth and families from Fairfield, Kershaw, Lexington, Newberry and Richland Counties.

Although the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Midlands have only been around for five decades, the Boys and Girls Movement itself began in 1860 during the Civil War. Believing that young boys who roamed the streets should have a positive alternative, three women organized the first club, which focused on capturing boys’ interests, improving their behavior and increasing their personal expectations and goals. The movement has since expanded to help both boys and girls meet their full potentials.

Today, there are club locations in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands as well as U.S. military bases around the world, serving over 4.5 million members.

The Boy & Girls Clubs of the Midlands run on the firm belief that every child deserves access to high quality, life-enhancing programs – and that every family should be able to afford this type of care. The Midlands clubs have over 4,000 weekly participants, and approximately 97 percent of those participants complete all of their daily homework. About 87 percent of participants who attend the club earn mostly A’s and B’s in school, and 98 percent of participants plan to go to college.

Boys and Girls Clubs are accessible to all who are interested, and offer several ways to participate, including before-and-after school care, vacation camps and community membership.

The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Midlands are able to help children find purpose thanks to generous donations from the community. Each donation helps provide scholarships to kids in at-risk circumstances. Aside from monetary donations, there are plenty of opportunities to donate your time to the organization. Volunteers are always welcome to assist with homework, deliver programs, or help out in other ways as necessary.

If you’d like to learn more about how you can support the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Midlands through donations or volunteer work, visit BEGREATAcademy.com. You can also call 803-231-3300 or email servicecenter@bgcmidland.org.