The best investment you'll make this year isn't in the markets—it's in Highlands County's children.

Invest In Kids

Twelve-year-old Michael rushes through our doors at 3:15 PM with his math test clutched in his hand. For the first time this year, there's a "B+" written across the top – a grade he worked for weeks to achieve with the help of our Academic Success program volunteers. This is what your investment in kids looks like: real results, real lives changed, real futures brightened. Michael’s success story is one of 175 unfolding daily at Boys & Girls Club of Highlands County. Each child represents a powerful opportunity for our community to invest in its own future by investing in kids. 

Boys & Girls Club of Highlands County is very grateful to have supporters like you, whose contributions of time and treasure make a positive impact on club kids and their families across Highlands County. We return to you this year to report that our supporters did indeed answer our call to the 2023 question, “If not me, then who?” with campaign contributions 63% above 2022, reaching 26% of our goal. When all our Club Friends, like you, pitch in, the Club Kids reap the benefits of afterschool time at their “Positive Place”. Will you pitch in, again, to Invest in KIDS?

Donate Today!

We're Facing A Critical Moment

With summer approaching – the highest-need time for working families in our community – we need your support to:

Prevent Summer Learning Loss

For 175+ children with our Summer Brain Gain Program

Provide Nutritious Meals

For kids who rely on school lunches during the academic year

Coordinate Field Trips

For our youth to explore the world outside of Highlands County.

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    • Will you make a spring investment in Highlands County's most valuable asset—our children?

    The Impact of Your Investment

    In asking you to invest in our Club, we are setting BHCHC’s sights on a strategy that will provide continuity and expansion of programs that add value to the lives of youth and build fiscal sustainability against the expected and unexpected challenges of nature and mankind. The return-on-investment to you will be young people who have their sights set on high school graduation and a path to college, military, or employment; they will be introduced to workforce skills to make them employable by local businesses; a heart for caring for others, and a sense of responsibility to make smart choices.

    Unfortunately, only 42% of our local kids reported being physically active 5 days per week, which we can only attribute to the hours they aren’t spending each week at our playgrounds and gym each afternoon in Sebring and Avon Park! The club facilities have the capacity to serve 350 youth, which is significantly more than the 175 who are currently registered. Recruitment across the county (and yes, that includes our vision for a Lake Placid site), with appealing programs, field trips, and service opportunities, can help the club build and serve more of the young people who need us most.

    The funds we raise help us fulfill our commitment to the three “Priority Outcomes” that the daily agenda at our clubs is designed around: Academic Success, Good Character & Citizenship, and Healthy Lifestyles. If numbers are an indicator, BGC-HC is on the right track.

    98%

    Of our youth had an expectation of completing high school

    85%

    Reported zero fighting in school.

    73%

    Engaged in building leadership skills.