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2007 National Harris Survey of
Boys & Girls Club Alumni:
Facts At A Glance
Boys & Girls Clubs
have an immediate and long-lasting impact on their alumni:
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57% of alumni said the Club saved their life. (Up 5% from 1999 survey).
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91% of alumni are satisfied with their adult life.
Areas of Concern
Four areas of concern from the survey have a major impact on America's youth:
Crime & Substance Abuse:
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67% of Club alumni attribute their ability to avoid difficulty with the law to the influence of Club staff.
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Another 67% say the Club is where they learned how to “say no” to drugs and alcohol.
Dropout Rates:
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28% of alumni report they would have dropped out of high school if not for the Club.
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51% achieved a higher level of education than they thought possible because of attending the Club.
Childhood Obesity
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80% of alumni said the Club had a positive impact on their attitude toward fitness and health.
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74% of Club alumni report participating in organized sports.
African-American Males
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73% of African-American male alumni said the “Club saved my life.”
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34% of African-American male alumni earned a four-year college degree, compared to the national rate of 16%.
Testimonials
“I was 10-12 years old when I first visited the Greenfield Boys’ Club on South Pennsylvania. That would have been 1942-1943. I was a skinny little kid who liked school and made good grades. This made me popular with my parents and the teachers, but did little to enhance my image with my peers at that time. We lived on the south side of Greenfield and I began going to the Boys’ Club. I became friends with boys I met there and many are still my friends. We played baseball, softball, basketball, shot pool, tried to box a little, and generally were introduced to sports and competitive competition. Our director made sure we practiced good sportsmanship in these and other events. These events taught me how to love sports and competition where I played basketball, baseball, track, and Captain of the football team in high school. A number of us on the basketball team received scholarships and attended Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee. I was cut from the college basketball team my sophomore year when the coach decided he had found better players than me. I left college, played some football and basketball on local independent teams and then, as we were in the middle of the Korean War, joined the U.S. Marine Corps. I was an Airborne Navigator in the 1st Marine Air Wing. Upon returning from the military, I lived in the Hancock County jail with my father, Sheriff Armin (Red) Kleiman, and my two younger brothers, Richard and John. I joined the Indiana State Police in 1955 as a Trooper at the Connersville District. I met and married my wife, Marilyn Starr, a school teacher from Centerville and we have two children, Dave and Jan. Throughout my career with the ISP, I served in a number of capacities and retired as the Commander of the ISP Intelligence and Organized Crime Investigators. We have had a lot of experiences in our jobs, some good, some not so much fun, but in all a great life and we often think of our experiences in Greenfield and our friends in school and the Boys’ Club.”
Jim Kleiman, BGCHC Alumnus
“I participated in the Boys’ Club boxing program under coach Lewis Palmer in the late 40s along with Hubert Miller, Wayne Brooks and Dick Ogle. I consider this as one of the most positive formative experiences of my youth!”
Robert Haydock, BGCHC Alumnus
“It was home away from home! Great friendships, great times, great memories!”
Dave Willard, BGCHC Alumnus/G-CHS Teacher
“Jim Andrews, Ron Horning and Robin Freeman are the reason I have a career in Boys and Girls Clubs. I began at age 5 by following my brother around. He was a Club leader in his teen years. My parents were real involved as well. Too many memories to discuss, but the best memories are: basketball, baseball, fun, and friends. I was given many opportunities to shine at the Club and took advantage of all the activities that I could. Going to meetings with Jim and then Ron. Going to Leadership Camps with Jim in Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. Beginning the Keystone Club with Ron. Keystoning was my “love” of the Club. It gave me opportunities and experiences that I would have never received if not for the Club. Ron and I traveled to Atlanta, Chicago, San Francisco twice and Fort Worth twice. The latter two we served on the National Steering Committee. Working part-time officiating basketball for a dollar a game, over 100 games each year of high school. When I was a freshman in high school, I told Jim, Ron, Robin and my family that I would be the Director of the Boys and Girls Club someday --- a dream come true!” I only hope I have and continue to give our youth the opportunities and experiences that I was given through my 13 years as a member of this Boys and Girls Club.”
Darren Turner, BGCHC Alumnus/Current Executive Director
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