Children dancing at one of the clubs

Boys & Girls Clubs:
Impacting Children for Generations

by Joe Giblin

The word “broken” does not do justice to describe the home Thomas Williams grew up in. With two brothers in jail and his father dead, all he had was his mother who worked over 13 hours each day.

Thomas spent little time in school, and his head began to go elsewhere. He started socializing with the older boys that were always hanging out in his neighborhood, because he felt they accepted him.

By 12 he was already involved in a gang, and his life looked to be heading the same way as his brothers, who were serving time for gang related crimes.

Thankfully, someone reached out to him.

An older man who had been his neighbor for many years in the Ida B. Wells projects in Chicago invited him to come play basketball at a gym for a few hours. It was raining that day so he decided to go. Over the next few months he started to play basketball with this man more often.

The man, Gary Lite, was a Boys and Girls Club mentor, and would become a friend for life. He took Williams under his wing and probably saved his life.

Williams started going back to school, and caught up with help from tutors at the Club. He went on to graduate from Roosevelt University, and volunteers his time weekly at a Boys and Girls Club.

The Boys and Girls Clubs have served Chicago for more than 100 years. Its mission is to, “inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.”

According to the club’s Web site, there are more than 28 clubs and 10 childcare centers across the Chicago area; overall these clubs serve more than 17,000 children each year. They provide a place for children to let out their creative energy as well as find positive influences in their lives.

“Their dedication to the youth of this city has been astounding and their commitment to raising wonderful young men and women has undoubtedly had an impact on Chicago itself,” Williams said. “They have been a very unique organization in their depth and reach.”

According to Worth Magazine, they have been ranked twice in the past four years as one of America’s top 100 charities.

“This organization is dependent upon volunteers and donations to run,” Williams said. “Even a few hours a week would mean an enormous amount.”

The Boys and Girls Club have a number of different available options; from coaching or refereeing sports, to mentoring a child one-on-one or tutoring a group of kids.

“I think one of the greatest parts about volunteering with the club is that you are able to use your own gifts and strengths in ways you choose with the kids, and the majority of the time they respond to that with overwhelming joy,” Williams said. “It is important to see that what we are trying to do is show these kids there is more to life than the poverty and negativity that they are surrounded by.”