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Boys and Girls Club of Carbondale Honored For Increasing Attendance

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The Boys and Girls Club of Carbondale has been recognized for its sharp increase in daily attendance.

At the Boys and Girls Club of America Midwest Leadership Conference, the Carbondale chapter received the Gateway Impact Award for the highest growth in Average Daily Attendance of any club in the Midwest region.
Carbondale executive director Randy Osborn says his club now serves 235 kids per day, up from 107 last year.
 
"What I feel it means for the community is that there are a lot more kids that have a safe place to go after school. They have academics. They have healthy living. They have character and leadership programs that are being delivered every day. The more kids we can reach, the more impact we're going to have."
 
Club operations director Tina Carpenter says they are seeing a more diverse group of kids as well. She says every child has a story and they're working hard to meet everyone's individual needs.

"For example, establishing this semester, our counselor in residence program by using Masters of Social Work interns to help meet some of the needs of the kids that have more social, emotional needs that a counselor can provide them."

Unit director Sabrina Steels says the club also works on unique educational programs with the kids.

"So, right now we're focusing on the election. So, if they're talking about the election at school, they're talking about here as well. But, they're also getting to do hands on things. We never do worksheets, or anything like that, everything's hands on. In a couple of weeks we're letting the kids "register" to vote, so they can do their own election here at the club."

Six-year-old K.J. Ford, Jr. is a club member. He says the club allows him to meet up with friends and just have a good time.

"My favorite sport is basketball. I like to play it a lot. Sometimes, I like to hula hoop, but I don't hula hoop that much."

The Carbondale club also started operating after school programs last year at Carbondale Middle School, Lewis Elementary School and Rebound Alternative High School, along with its main site, which dramatically increased its teen membership.
 

 

As a news producer and news anchor on All Things Considered, Brad provides the listeners with a recap of the day's top local and state news as well as breaking news at any given time. Contact WSIU Radio at 618-453-6101 or email wsiunews@wsiu.org
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