OXNARD — The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme (BGCOP) on Dec. 7 released the findings of its recent internal audit revealing the number of youth served by the organization increased 13 percent to 10,400 children annually from its previous figure of 9,200, last verified three years ago. Factor in BGCOP’s strategic partnership programs with the Ventura County Probation Agency and the Juvenile Justice Facility, and the number of youth served is closer to 12,000, Club officials stated.
“There is a rising number of youth and teens in our community who struggle to succeed and overcome obstacles at many stages throughout their young lives,” said BGCOP CEO Erin Antrim. “Here through community support, we invest in all children, and especially local disadvantaged youth, ages 6-18,” she said. “The Club provides quality high-return programs and services that not only improve the lives long-term for these youth and their families, but also substantially boosts the quality of life in our local communities and employment pool for our workforce as a whole.”
In a four-year independent economic impact study conducted by the Damooei Global Research firm entitled “The Boys and Girls Clubs in Ventura County: Serving the Economic Interests of the Region While Providing a Positive Place for Kids” (2014), findings show that the total economic impact of services provided to the Club members, their parents, and the community is tremendous. For example, every dollar invested in the Boys and Girls Clubs (seven in Ventura County), yields a positive economic impact of $15.45 in the region due to increased projected lifetime earnings (from higher graduation rates) and decreased risky behaviors (i.e., juvenile arrests, teen pregnancies, or substance use).
Club members are more likely to graduate high school and thus improve their lifetime earnings, and are less likely to engage in risky behaviors as compared to their peers who do not attend the Clubs. Surveys show that 88 percent of Club members have a strong school attendance record, almost 80 percent improved their school performance and almost 90 percent experienced increased confidence as a result of engaging in Club activities.
“With the help of our corporate and individual donors, grants and strategic community partnerships, BGCOP continues to close the opportunity gap with programs like our no-cost STEM education,” Antrim added. “Our programs are helping more than 10,400 underserved young people develop the educational and social emotional skills needed to lead successful lives and strengthen our local communities.”
For more than 60 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme (BGCOP) has provided a safe haven after school and during school breaks to underserved youth, ages 6-18 years, and provides quality programs and services across 18 locations, including homework assistance, leadership development, health and nutrition, arts, music, sports, technology, camps and several initiatives focused on empowering girls.
Established in 1954, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) youth service organization. Its mission is “to inspire and enable all youth, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential, as productive, responsible and caring citizens.” Services are provided to 10,400 youth and teens in three freestanding clubhouses in Oxnard and Port Hueneme, 12 public school program sites, one satellite site in Nyeland Acres, one site at a Squires Public Housing, and the first Boys & Girls Club in a juvenile hall in the state of California. There are five core areas under which programming and special initiatives are delivered: career & education, character & leadership, health & life skills, the arts, and sports, fitness and recreation. For more information or to schedule a tour, visit www.BGCOP.org