Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio likely to close Cleveland or Lorain County locations

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio (BGCNEO) are likely to close locations due to funding loss.

In late May, the Clubs announced they were losing $3 million in federal funding — $2.5 million from Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) funds, and $500,000 from federal pass-through funds through local schools. The organization launched the Save Our Clubs campaign, but CEO Allen Smith told The Land the funding gap has not been completely closed.

“We’ve been encouraged by the response to the Save Our Clubs campaign. Individuals and companies throughout Northeast Ohio have stepped up to help. Unfortunately, we have not yet received enough new funding to fully close the $3 million funding gap. With the new school year approaching, we will have to close some Clubs but have not yet determined which ones. Right now, the Clubs most in peril are in Cleveland and Lorain County,” Smith said in an emailed statement.

Advertisement

In May, a BGCNEO spokesperson told The Land there were 14 Clubs operating in Cleveland, with 2,100 members. A list of the organization’s Cuyahoga County-based Clubs can be found here.

Smith said BGCNEO is still open to partnering with organizations that could host a site.

“We remain open to partnering with organizations that have the space and financial resources to host a Boys & Girls Club,” Smith said.

History and what could be lost

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.

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.

To learn more about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio, click here. To learn more about the Save Our Clubs campaign, click here.