Boys & Girls Clubs of America Campaign for America’s Kids on National Day of Advocacy

Club leaders meet with members of Congress to champion needs of our nation’s youth

WASHINGTON, March 20, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) convened top executives from hundreds of Boys & Girls Clubs during National Day of Advocacy this week in Washington D.C. to engage members of Congress around the critical needs of kids in America. Leaders from Clubs, along with BGCA’s president and CEO Jim Clark and former BGCA Board Chairman Ron Gidwitz met with top officials, serving as a voice for the millions of kids who attend a Club around the country and on BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide.

This collective effort empowered Club executives and Board members to build awareness and garner support for programs that enable young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

“As a voice for the 4 million kids we serve, and the more than 11 million youth with no place to go after school, we have a responsibility to advocate for the needs of our youth,” said Jim Clark, president and CEO of BGCA. “We’re grateful to all Club executives that met with their Congressional representatives to rally for policies and programs that will redefine the opportunity equation for kids who need us most, by increasing access to safe, supervised, productive out-of-school time programs for all school-age children in America.”

Club executives and Board members from around the country discussed with members of Congress issues that impact the communities, kids and families they serve. Key topics included 21^st Century Community Learning Centers, afterschool and summer meal and snack programs, Youth Mentoring and outreach to military kids and families. To learn more about these issues visit President Jim Clark’s blog.

: BGCA President Jim Clark on the Hill for National Day of Advocacy.

: Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta’s President & CEO Missy Dugan discusses the needs of our nation’s youth with a Congressional staffer on National Day of Advocacy

: BGCA Logo

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (GreatFutures.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 4,100 Clubs serve nearly 4 million young people annually through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun, friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Priority programs emphasize academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 57 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at http://www.bgca.org/facebook and http://bgca.org/twitter.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150320/183501

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150320/183500

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130710/MM44829-b

SOURCE Boys & Girls Clubs of America