East Los Angeles Boys and Girls Club

For 64 years, ELABGC has been at the forefront of youth development, working with young people from under-resourced economic, social and family circumstances. ELABGC has actively sought to enrich the lives of girls and boys who other youth-serving agencies have had difficulty reaching. Our club staff have created a culture of high expectations with education as the foundation and higher education the goal. Club youth are nurtured to become character-driven leaders equipped to overcome the obstacles and prepared for the opportunities. We believe this holistic approach of case management, through our initiative M.E.N.T.O.R. (Meeting Each Need To Optimize Results) directly reflects our graduation rate. Since 2005, club teens who attend the club regularly, have a 100% graduation rate in a community where only 34% of adults have a high school diploma. We are dedicated to ensuring that we meet the needs of our community's underserved young people through access to quality programs and services that will enhance their lives and shape their futures. Our club's annual membership is $10 a year. All levels of programming are included in this fee. Offering more than 50 programs in six core program tenets, and collaborating with more than 25 other CBOs, our club is a one-stop agency for under-resourced families. Our club's daily average attendance is high, over 300 a day, due to our extensive transportation program and satellite sites. Most of our parents work or have no transportation. They need a way for their child to arrive safely to a place where they will be cared for while they work. Our club vans pick up 100 to as many as 190 members at 28 to some times 35 school sites daily. Daily attendance has greatly enhanced the impact of our programs. ELABGC is a charter of Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA). Our club serves youth in the communities of: unincorporated East Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, City Terrace, Union Pacific, El Sereno, Monterey Park, Montebello, Commerce, parts of Pico Rivera and Alhambra. Our club's demographics are: 97% Latino; 1% African-American, .5% Asian-American, .5% Caucasian and 1% biracial. 90% of our youth qualify for the federally funded free/reduced lunch program. In a world that has never seemed more threatening and devoid of promise for a disproportionate number of America's children, ELABGC provides a tangible measure of hope. The Club offers young people what they need and want most: adults who respect and listen to them; a safe environment where they can have fun and be themselves; and interesting, constructive activities that channel youthful energy into challenging pursuits. All Boys & Girls Club programs incorporate the Youth Development Strategy, CLUB, an approach that fosters senses of competence, leadership, usefulness and belonging among young people. Our programs help young people EVOLVE by instilling a love of learning; ENDURE by teaching critical life and coping skills to overcome obstacles and EXCEL through engaged mentorship and life-enhancing resources that empower.