When David first started coming to the Club, he was struggling with his behavior. He had a hard time managing big emotions and impulses.
When you support the Club, you are helping kids like David with social-emotional learning and mindfulness.
“He has come a long way,” said Operations Director Mr. Wayne. “When he first started we had to call dad almost every day to come pick him up early. He is doing much better now.”
Because of the support you give him at the Club, David is learning coping skills and ways to stay calm!
“Mr. Wayne helps me,” David said.
Club staff have also witnessed David choosing to use the calming corner, a designated space set up in the Club with comfy furniture where youth can take a quiet moment to themselves.
“It’s all about the kids,” his father Edward said. Growing up, Edward at times was surrounded by risky behaviors and the temptation to go down the wrong path.
In 2006, Edward moved back home to New Orleans just a week before Katrina hit. He was displaced by the storm and ended up re-settling in Frederick where he had a brother stationed at Fort Detrick.
As a result of the many challenges he has overcome, Edward believes strongly in the importance of community and the safe environment that places like Boys & Girls Clubs provide to young people.
When it came to raising his son David, Edward knew the Boys & Girls Club would be a good place for him to be.
You Are Giving Kids New Experiences They Might Not Get Otherwise! Thank YOU!
“The Club teaches him motivation and patience. He has made friends and he is learning how to be around other kids,” Edward said. “He is getting new experiences– yesterday they went to the aquarium for Spring Break.”
Edward sees David having access to opportunities that he himself never had as a young person, and he is grateful. Because of you, kids get to be kids when they come to Boys & Girls Clubs.
Boys & Girls Clubs also provide a safe environment where young people can make friends and be themselves surrounded by positive, caring adults.
When asked what his favorite thing about the Club is, David simply said “my friends.”
Club staff noticed Edward biking to pick David up from the Club each day and so when they needed a new bike, the Club was able to provide one thanks to generous donations from our community partners!
Edward has seen this growth and development in his son, as well. “Thank you for all that you all do,” he said.
“I am trying to teach David to fight through adversity,” Edward shared. He also believes in the importance of having other adult role models in David’s life.
“I’ve always had good people around me that were helping me too,” he adds. “At his school, Spring Ridge Elementary, Ms. Shaw has been with us since the beginning. She does so much with David, they take care of the school garden together! They grow cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelons…And each day David gets to pick one of his classmates to come outside and help them with the garden.”
You Are Supporting Programs that Spark Our Kids’ Passion for Potential Career Opportunities in STEM!
David is also learning and making friends at the Club in hands-on programs like our weekly STEM Mentoring program.
STEM Mentoring consists of fun, interactive activities and group projects to engage mentees and mentors in a variety of STEM topics.
Our Youth Development Professionals serve as the mentors, participating in conversation-based group mentoring experiences based in science, technology, engineering, and math for at-risk youth.
Six adult mentors are meeting weekly with these 24 youth, so the small group mentoring takes place at a 1:4 ratio.
Through this program, you are helping spark and nurture our kids’ passion for STEM subjects and potential career opportunities in STEM. Thank you!
With your donations, we are working to keep the Club affordable and ensure that membership dues are never a barrier to participation. Some families, like Edward and David’s, are receiving full scholarship to cover the dues. This is only possible because of generous community members like YOU!
Every gift– no matter how big or small—makes an impact, and we thank you for believing that ALL youth deserve equal opportunities, no matter where they come from.
Click here to donate now and support families like David’s.