Keith Fletcher Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County, President & CEO In about 10 years’ time, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County (BGCMC) has exponentially enhanced the quality of our services, significantly expanded the number of children we serve, and consistently achieved improved outcomes for our members in academics, school attendance, overall behavior, graduation levels and workforce preparation. This is due overwhelmingly to the generosity of our community, the dedication of our staff and the skill of our grants team in attaining—and maintaining—applicable state and federal funding. One such funding source is 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC). Federally sourced and passed through the states, 21st CCLC funds are an excellent example of how to target grant assistance to those most in need, ensure local oversight and uphold accountability measures.  Administered with local oversight, 21st CCLC, broadly speaking: Empowers families to choose the afterschool program that’s right for their child, enabling BGCMC to provide nearly 700 children daily (and annually nearly 7,000 more through our outreach) with healthy meals and snacks, certified academic support, enrichment programs, field trips, workforce trainings and more—at no cost to the family. Improves learning by funding math, science and literacy teachings and academic enrichment opportunities—after school and over the summer— for students at lower-preforming Title 1 schools. Builds the future workforce through programs in conjunction with industry experts that prepare young people for in-demand professions such as HVAC, marine mechanics, drone piloting, construction, robotics, and computer coding—to name just a few. Locally, the numbers tell the story. Over 2023-2024, 21st CCLC helped BGCMC: Employ 43 certified teachers Provide 19,000 hours of instruction uniquely tailored to the students Serve 11 Martin County schools Teach more than 1,400 young people, of which 74 percent raised their attendance rates, 91 percent showed improvement in their grades, and 94 percent increased their English Language Arts scores on state assessments Support 135 positions More than 2,200 children all told benefit directly from the fund. Thank you for assisting us in delivering hope and help to our community’s most vulnerable children and families.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County introduced its 2025 Youth of the Year winner Mildred C. to the community during the June 17 meeting of the Board of County Commissioners. From left are Cole-Clark Club Post Secondary Manager Michael Bouzi, BGCMC Director of Marketing and External Affairs Meghan Shirey, Mildred and Commission Chairwoman Sarah Heard. By Donald Rodrigue For Hometown News STUART — The Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County introduced its 2025 Youth of the Year winner, Mildred C., to the community during the June 17 meeting of the Board of County Commissioners. BGCMC Director of Marketing and External Affairs Meghan Shirey began the presentation with a brief history of the organization’s Youth of the Year program, which is part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s annual competition. All county winners compete in regional and statewide events, and the Florida winner advances to the national competition. “The Youth of the Year event recognizes the incredible achievements of some of its most distinct and inspiring members,” she said. “Youth of the Year candidates are celebrated for their academic discipline, spirit of good citizenship and record of volunteerism; commitment to making healthy choices, avoiding vaping, drugs and other dangerous patterns; exhibiting leadership and support to their peers; and pursuing education, training and career paths to contribute to a better world.” Shirey noted that the BGCMC serves nearly 1,000 children daily across its five clubs in the county, and about 7,000 children annually through additional programs. “It should be noted that to earn even consideration for Youth of the Year, the candidates must make extraordinary efforts consistently, comprehensively and with an unquestionably clear commitment to excellence,” she explained. “Local winners advance to regional, state and national competitions, and I’m honored to say that our Youth of the Year placed in the top four in the entire state of Florida. So, it is my honor to introduce to you Mildred C.” Mildred, an incoming junior at South Fork High School this fall, began her speech by describing how a family tragedy led her from Palm Beach County to the Cole-Clark Club in Hobe Sound. “Throughout my time on this Earth, I’ve learned the further you travel down the road of life, the richer your journey becomes, with wisdom, strength and growth,” she said. “One of the biggest challenges I encountered was when my dad tragically passed away after getting deported. It was a very hard time for my family. My mom had to support my two brothers and me, playing both parental roles. Despite the hardships, she always stayed strong for us.” Mildred told the board how her mother’s decision to move the family nearly threw her for a loop. “When she made the decision to move from Jupiter to Hobe Sound, I was devastated,” she explained. “I felt we were finally figuring things out, and now we’re leaving our home. But this was where the Boys & Girls Club became my second home. I’ve been going to my club since fifth grade, and it changed me for the better. My club environment gives people a new beginning and a helping hand when needed.” Emphasizing that the staff at the Cole-Clark Club were “all so kind and people you can always go to,” Mildred described how she arrived an introvert but wasn’t permitted to remain that way. “Not long ago, I was a shy person. I’d never talk,” she said. “I’d just go to the club, sit on my phone, and that’s it. I was afraid of what people might think of me, so I found it easier to stay in my own bubble. However, the staff would motivate me to participate in fun, engaging activities to find myself and make new friends. Even though I didn’t make it easy for them, they never gave up on me.” This year’s Youth of the Year winner insists that Boys & Girls Clubs are much more than what some describe as an after-school babysitting service. “My club provides opportunities that go beyond a simple daycare,” she said. “For instance, my mom is a single mother raising three kids, so money was tight. I feared not going to college but didn’t want to put that burden on my mother. However, in sixth grade I earned my very first scholarship in my club, covering four years of college. This meant the world to me and my family. ‘Great futures start here’ is a phrase I’ve often heard throughout my club. I am living proof that the Boys & Girls Club wants to ensure that this happens.” At age 14, Mildred joined the club’s culinary team, which has enabled her to learn new skills while also earning a paycheck. Now, she can not only buy her own personal items but also help her mother financially. “There are so many different paths I could have taken — some maybe better than others, but some could have been a real catastrophe for me,” she concluded. “But the path that led me to the Boys & Girls Club has placed me down a brighter path toward my dreams and aspirations. I know if I ever get knocked down, I can count on my club to pick me right back up.” After the applause died down and Commission Chairwoman Sarah Heard posed for a photograph with Mildred, she offered a final comment. “Mildred will go far, won’t she?” Heard said to her colleagues on the dais. “Yes, she will,” Commissioner Stacey Hetherington responded. The Youth of the Year program was established by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America in 1947 to honor the achievements of outstanding young people and recognize their community service efforts, academic success and commitment to healthy lifestyles. Its goals are to promote character building and leadership qualities in youth. The competition culminates each year with the selection of the National Youth of the Year. Read the whole article, here.