Boys & Girls Clubs to expand into west Modesto

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Stanislaus County is expanding off campus. The organization, which serves about 300 children in after-school programs and has a wait list twice that long, hopes to offer its program at the King-Kennedy Memorial Center starting in early June.

It currently serves students in after-school programs at Sylvan and Coleman F. Brown elementary schools and Somerset Middle School, all in the Sylvan Union School District.

“This will be our first operation that allows us to serve kids between age 6 and 18,” said Lincoln Ellis, president and chief professional officer of the Stanislaus club. “The others are focused on the populations on those campuses.”

The City Council approved a use agreement last week between the city and the club for use of the King-Kennedy center. Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhoods staff said the use should be of no significant expense to the city.

Ellis said the expansion came about because the West Modesto King-Kennedy Collaborative, which runs the day-to-day operations at the center on North Martin Luther King Drive, “asked us to come into the area, and they are working to help get some dollars to offset costs.”

The bulk of the funding came from a three-year Justice Assistance Grant won through a countywide partnership headed up by the Sheriff’s Department, Ellis said. The grant is nearly $800,000 a year, he said.

“This will allow us to provide programming in west Modesto and some other areas. We’re looking at both the airport and Prescott areas in the fall,” Ellis said.

At the King-Kennedy center, the Boys & Girls Clubs expect to serve about 200 youths annually, with a daily attendance of between 80 and 120. The goal is to start with a summer program June 8 that will run Mondays through Fridays, 1 to 6 p.m. When the next school year starts, an after-school program at the center likely will be offered at least three days a week initially, eventually expanding to all weekdays, Ellis said.

“We’ll really be emphasizing our mentoring programs,” he said. “We have Passport to Manhood for boys, and SMART Girls. We also plan on working to put in a technology training and education center.”

As it does at its existing sites, the club will offer programs in five core areas: character and leadership development; sports, fitness and recreation; education and career development; the arts; and health and life skills.

The JAG director to oversee the west Modesto site has been hired, Ellis said, and the organization is interviewing for three other staff positions. It’s also “formulating a parent group,” he said, because families that have children in Boys & Girls Clubs are expected to have “from each household, a responsible adult to contribute a minimum of one hour a week” of volunteer time. But if a hardship prevents a family from offering help, “our philosophy is no child is denied,” Ellis said.

The organization also needs volunteer mentors and coaches, he said. Anyone who can help is asked to call Carrie Bleau, volunteer coordinator, at (209) 222-5826.

Participation in Boys & Girls Clubs requires a $10 annual membership fee, Ellis said.

Membership at the King-Kennedy center will be open not just to neighborhood kids but to “anyone who can make their way there,” he said. “I believe we’ll be running a summer program also at Somerset, but that’s only for Sylvan district students.”

Boys & Girls Clubs of Stanislaus County began operating in August 2013. Its administrative office is at 422 McHenry Ave. For more information, call (209) 222-5826 or go to bgcstanislaus.org.

This story was originally published May 11, 2015 at 1:02 PM with the headline "Boys & Girls Clubs to expand into west Modesto."