—--Tanya Benosky, Executive Director, The Boys & Girls Club of Burlington
What does it mean to build a strong community? The H-Team knows it starts with healthy opportunities for kids. That’s why we are so proud to partner with The Boys and Girls Club of Burlington. Since 2008, we’ve supported the club and its educational initiatives for the kids at the Boys and Girls Club. Knowing that providing paths to education is the single best way to break cycles of poverty, The Boys and Girls Club works every day to provide support for kids to pursue education after high school.
In addition to supporting kids to pursue college, The Club provides a safe space for its members, provides snacks and homework help, positive social time, recreation, as well as a hot meal every night. Dedicated to their members and helping them make the best choices about how to interact with others, as well as avoid drugs and alcohol, the staff members at the Boys and Girls Club work six days a week to provide guidance wherever it’s needed. Great Futures start with strong communities.
Eight years ago, we proudly partnered with Burlington Boys and Girls Club. When they approached us with the idea of their Early Promise Program, we knew we had to get involved. At the start of the program, Burlington Boys and Girls Club had no children who pursued education after high school.
By instituting the Early Promise Program, not only did Boys and Girls Club manage to send club kids to college, they now have supported 3 college students through to graduation. They also have built and expanded the successful program to include 15 other children currently enrolled in higher education-- kids, whom perhaps would have had no other way to begin a college career. What does graduating from college mean to someone who is the first in their family to go to college? Watch the video above to hear how being the first in their family has affected Earl, Raven and Tanasia.