Boys and Girls Club Week

Key West Mayor Craig Cates proclaimed April 9th through the 13th as National Boys and Girls Club Week, honoring the importance of this organization to our local families and tomorrow’s leaders.

“Many young people need professional youth services to help them cope with a wide range of social and financial hardships,” read the proclamation, and “the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Keys area provide services to more than 450 young people annually and are at the forefront of efforts in substance abuse, mentoring, academic tutoring, arts and crafts, computer skills, life skills, recreation programs, cultural enrichment and community service, and literacy programs.”

The national organization has some 2,000 clubs, serving more than 3 million children.

Dan Dombrowski, executive director of the program, noted that the local clubs were in dire straits following Hurricane Irma. He thanked the generosity of the community and of the national organization for vital funding that helped keep the program alive. The clubhouse in Big Pine Key was destroyed by the hurricane and the program is operating out of a local church. The kids presented the mayor and commissioners with lobster floats painted with the club logo in honor of the support that has kept the organization afloat after the storm.

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