The Boys & Girls Club Mission Statement:

To inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens and leaders.

The Boys & Girls Club CODE:

I believe in God and the right to worship according to my own faith and religion.
I believe in America and the American way of life... in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
I believe in fair play, honesty and sportsmanship.
I believe in my Boys & Girls Club, which stands for these things

Boys & Girls Clubs of America believes that character developement, the basic building block in personal developement, should be an integral aspect of every Club program and activity. In Support of this conviction, Aaron Fahringer, a regional director for the west coast in the 1950s, scripted the Boys & Girls Club Code as part of the celebration of the golden anniversary of the movement. The Code was adopted as official by the National Council in 1955 and was used extensively in the 50s and 60s. The Code is still displayed in many Clubs today.

Our Local Focus: A Place To Become.....

The Boys & Girls Club of Highlands County strongly believes in the idea that Boys & Girls Clubs are a safe-haven for children, where they
are able to “become” and positively evolve into who they are meant to be. The Boys & Girls Club of Highlands County allows area youth to
interact and come together under the common goal of following their dreams and be the best they can be.

Someone Who Cares:

Without a positive influence in their lives, kids can turn to negative influences and get on the wrong path. Mentors help prevent early drug use, encourage teens to pursue higher education, and promote positive mental health outcomes. Kids with positive mentors are more than 50% less likely to skip school. With more than 400,000 trained staff and volunteers, we strive to provide caring guidance and support to millions of kids across America in order to help them grow into confident, capable adults.

Someone to look up to. Someone to emulate. Someone to run to with victories big and small. For kids who lack a positive role model, we fill a gaping need. They need a word of encouragement, and, sometimes, the support to keep them from choosing the wrong path. Our staff is here to listen, to advise, to care. As they do those things, they shine a light on a new path, a brighter future for the kids that need them most.

Safety Is Our Number One Priority:

At Boys & Girls Clubs of America, there is nothing more important than the safety of our youth members. We work every day to create a safe, fun environment, so kids can have every opportunity to be successful in life.

We do not tolerate inappropriate behavior of any kind, including child sexual abuse, or misconduct. From strict adherence to policies and guidelines within Club facilities and staffing structure, to equipping young people with the critical thinking and social emotional skills to make healthy, safe choices, ensuring Club members are safe is the first step to their success.

For the nearly half a million young people who enter the doors of a Boys & Girls Club each day, Clubs offer safe, inclusive spaces and experiences that empower members’ learning and growth. Our data shows our approach works.