Event Update
The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holland is delighted to announce a twist to the 12th annual Corks & Forks event. As we honor the rich history of this beloved occasion, we celebrate the amazing growth of the Club throughout the Saugatuck/Douglas area. In response to this expansion, consideration of our generous donors’ time, and the desire to cultivate new relationships where we serve, we are excited to host Corks & Forks at Ivy House in Saugatuck. We are thrilled about this change and welcome our return to the historic Green Barn! Please join us in your “barn attire” as we reimagine a Club tradition and celebrate the evening in an “Out West Winter Wonderland”.
Please join us on December 5th!
About Us
The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Holland is a youth development organization whose mission is to inspire & empower all youth, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens.
We offer after school, and summertime programing based on the pillars of academic success, healthy lifestyles, and good character & citizenship. This looks like opening our doors to over 400 youth daily to provide structured and unstructured time in age-specific rooms, 1 on 1 homework help & tutoring, mental health support, leadership development programs, athletic programs & sport exposure, and much more. Sign your child up today to have them join in on the life-enriching fun!
Health & Wellbeing
Our on-site mental health professionals see over 100 members weekly.
Club kids are less likely than their peers to:
- Engage in drug & alcohol consumption.
- End up in a state or federal prison.
- Feel hopeless about their futures
Character & Leadership
70% of Club teen members
volunteer in their community
at least once per year, while
44% volunteer in their community
at least once per
month.
Academic Success
Among our teen-aged Club
members, 98% expect to
graduate from high school,
and 82% expect to complete
some kind of post-secondary
education.
Life & Workforce Readiness
Through our capstone program, EPIC, our teens have opportunities to visit over 15 different colleges and trade schools, varrious business, and more, ensuring that each member has a plan and path they feel confident in as they leave high school.
Club Impact
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98% of our seniors are on track to graduate high school.
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Our teens were awarded $3,554,616 in scholarships in 2023.
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In a NYOY interactive survey, 54% of our alumni say the Club “saved my life.”
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Over 45,000 warm meals are served each year.
Member Testimonial
“With the stress of my responsibilities at home, my Club became a safe place where I could be a kid again. I made new friends while playing basketball in the gym and exploring artistic expression in the art room. I felt a sense of belonging. I felt included and protected in a judgment-free environment. I had mentors who pushed me to become the best version of myself and staff in whom I could confide.” ~ Isabel Shepard, 2023 National Youth of the Year Finalist
Key Programs
Power Hour
Our afterschool homework program that all members participate in that leads to higher reading levels and graduation rates.
Youth of the Year
The Youth of the Year Award is Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holland’s highest local honor, rewarding leadership, service, and academic standing. Each year, Clubs recognize teen members ages 14-18, nominating members to compete for BGCGH’s Youth of the Year.
Torch Club
Torch Club is a powerful vehicle through which 11-13 year olds develop and strengthen their leadership skills. Torch Club members elect officers and work together to implement projects in the four focus areas: service to Club and community; education; health and fitness; and social recreation.
SMART Girls
SMART Girls is a small-group health, fitness, prevention/education and self-esteem enhancement program for elementary girls in which they explore their values as they build skills for eating right, staying physically fit, getting good health care and developing positive relationships with peers and adults.