 I love my job and knowing that we´re making a difference in our members’ lives. I truly believe that the Boys & Girls Club has a great impact on our community and its children. We´re helping to shape their future and that´s awesome! ... Read More
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HistoryIn 1984, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve, then known as the Boys & Girls Clubs of Summit County opened its doors and heart to children in the Akron area. The first Club, the Eller Club, was founded as one of three selected urban sites participating in a national demonstration project designed by Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Department of Housing and Urban Development to test the feasibility of bringing Boys & Girls Club services to disadvantaged, low income inner-city housing areas. The project was launched in response to a significant increase in criminal and violent activities in a socially, economically, and geographically isolated population of children. While the Eller Club is, to our knowledge, the last of the original three sites still in operation, the project was deemed successful, and there are currently over 400 Clubs in housing projects across the country. According to Boys & Girls Clubs of America, "Low-income backgrounds, crime, single-parent households and a lack of positive recreational opportunities combine to make Clubs a welcome - and effective - presence in public housing." In 2005, the Boys & Girls Clubs Summit County began managing and later merged with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Portage County, changing the organization´s name to Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve. Unfortunately, the Ravenna Club was not able to be sustained and was closed in March of 2009. The Club partnered with Community Action Council of Portage County to ensure former Club members had access to after school programming.
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