The Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio (BGCNEO) could shutter locations in Cuyahoga County as the organization grapples with funding loss from the federal government.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio CEO Allen Smith said the nonprofit stands to lose $3 million in federal funding, potentially leading to a rollback of services in Lorain and Cuyahoga counties. The organization lost $2.5 million in federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) funds. The remaining $500,000 was lost from federal pass-through funds through local school systems.
There are currently 9,800 members of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio. They visit one of 49 Clubs in the region. Smith said Clubs in Lorain and Cuyahoga counties are most likely to be impacted by the loss of funding. During this past school year, there were 14 Clubs operating in Cleveland, with 2,100 members, according to a BGCNEO spokesperson.
“We are facing a difficult challenge, one that could have life-altering consequences for some of our most vulnerable children,” Smith said in a statement. “Families across Northeast Ohio count on us to provide a safe place for their children at no cost. The prospect of having to close even one club, let alone several, is disconcerting. We continue to hope the community will rally behind our kids.”
To try and head off the cuts, the organization is launching a corporate campaign to raise funds to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio and replacing the cut funds.
What could be lost
Members at Boys & Girls Clubs are between the ages of 6 and 18. They get a safe place to go in the summer and a free daily meal, the organization said. Adult mentors help attendees learn about sports, the arts and career readiness. A survey conducted by the organization showed that members have higher graduation rates, academic scores, and are more likely to participate in community service than peers.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio also have Clubs in 38 schools in Lorain and Cuyahoga counties. With both Lorain City Schools and Cleveland Metropolitan School District reducing their budget for afterschool programs, the financial crunch for both the Clubs and the schools is leading to difficult decisions.
During the summer, BGCNEO will sometimes consolidate nearby locations. This year, Clubs that close for the summer may not reopen.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio are still trying “to serve as many kids in as many places as possible,” Smith said.
Corporate campaigns and fundraising
To try and replace the lost federal funding, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio is launching a Save Our Clubs campaign – encouraging both corporations and individuals to donate.
The corporate campaign will be led by Mark Bachmann, partner at March Thomas LLC, and Alex King, executive vice president, marketing and brand strategy, for the Cleveland Guardians.
“The stakes here are high, and we are calling on the corporate community to join us in making sure this life-changing organization can serve as many children as possible,” King said in a press release. “The response we are getting from corporate leaders has been positive – they see the need and they see that Clubs work. Time is short, and we need more companies to get involved.”
BGCNEO was formed in 2019 when the Clubs in Cleveland, Lorain County, Akron, and Sandusky merged together. There are now approximately 350 employees working for the organization. It is one of the largest Boys & Girls Clubs in the Midwest.
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