Mathews-Dickey Boys & Girls Club

YOUTH ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS

THE SPORTS AND RECREATION ROSTER FEATURES BASEBALL, BASKETBALL, BULLDOG FOOTBALL, CHEERLEADING, EARN & LEARN, GOLF, SOFTBALL, SOCCER, SWIMMING AND TENNIS. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO CREATE A CONNECT ON THE NEEDS OF EDUCATION THROUGH GUIDING TEENS TO CAREER READINESS GOALS, AND PREVENT THE HIGH RATE OF TEEN-ON-TEEN VIOLENCE, JUVENILE CRIME AND HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS. WE TEACH YOUTH THE BASIC FUNDAMENTALS OF SPORTS TECHNIQUES AND COMPETITION TO KEEP THEM OFF THE STREETS AND REDUCE IDLE TIME AMONG AN AT-RISK POPULATION. A TOTAL OF 737 DIRECT-SERVICE YOUTH AND 27,218 IN-DIRECT WERE SERVED IN 2020.

CULTURAL ARTS & HEALTH - THE CULTURAL ARTS & HEALTH PROGRAM OFFERS YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES TO TAKE PART IN AFTER SCHOOL, CULINARY ARTS AND NUTRITION, DANCE AND MUSIC ACTIVITIES. AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES INCLUDE AEROBICS, COOKING, DANCE, DRAMA, DRUM LINE, POM PONS, MODELING AND MORE. THIS PROGRAM ADDRESSES THE HIGH RATES OF NEGATIVE SOCIAL BEHAVIOR, TEEN PREGNANCY, PEER PRESSURE AND NEED FOR DEVELOPMENT OF POSITIVE CULTURAL ACTIVITIES. IT ALSO PROVIDES HEALTH EDUCATION FOR YOUTH. DUE TO COVID-19, THE ORGANIZATION DECIDED TO SERVE MEALS ON WHEELS AND PERFORM PICKUP SERVICES, HELPING FAMILIES TO PERSEVERE THROUGH HUNGER AND STAY HEALTHY. OVER 5,000 MEALS WERE SERVED. A TOTAL OF 53 DIRECT-SERVICE YOUTH AND 5,210 IN-DIRECT YOUTH WERE SERVED IN 2020.

MERGER OF THE ORGANIZATION WITH ANOTHER AREA NOT-FOR-PROFIT ENTITY, HERBERT HOOVER BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF ST. LOUIS, WHICH PLANS TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SIMILAR PROGRAMS TO THE CHILDREN MATHEWS-DICKEY BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB CURRENTLY SERVES.

THE EDUCATION ENRICHMENT PROGRAM IS A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY ENCOURAGING YOUTH TO STAY IN SCHOOL, GO TO COLLEGE AND GAIN PRODUCTIVE EMPLOYMENT BY CHANGING CHILDREN'S PERCEPTION OF EDUCATION TO EXCITING, MEANINGFUL AND NECESSARY TO BECOME THEIR BEST. THE CLUB OFFERS CORE PROGRAMMING FOCUSED ON TECHNOLOGY, SCIENCE, AND MATH. NORMALLY THE YOUTH LEARN ABOUT CHARACTER BUILDING THROUGH YOUTH AMBASSADORS, THE SKY IS THE LIMIT, MALENESS TO MANHOOD AND ULEAD PROGRAMMING, BUT THIS YEAR DUE TO COVID-19 WE DID NOT OFFER THESE PROGRAMS. A TOTAL OF 35 DIRECT-SERVICE YOUTH AND 0 IN-DIRECT YOUTH WERE SERVED IN 2020.

SEE SCHEDULE OTHE SUMMER DAY CAMP PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECREATION, EDUCATION, CULTURAL AWARENESS, EDUCATION IN SCIENCE, MATH AND NUTRITION, ENTERTAINMENT AND JOB SKILLS FOR YOUTH THROUGHOUT THE ST. LOUIS METROPOLITAN AREA. THE CAMP PROVIDES A SAFE HAVEN FOR YOUTH AND KEEPS THEM FROM PARTICIPATING IN UNHEALTHY BEHAVIOR, WHILE THEIR PARENTS WORK DURING THE DAY. THE CAMP ALSO SUPPLIES THE YOUTH WITH TWO NUTRITIONAL MEALS, A COLD BREAKFAST IN THE MORNING AND A HOT LUNCH IN THE AFTERNOON, ALLOWING THEM TO RECEIVE AS MUCH FOOD AS THEY WANT. THE PROGRAM EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF INTERACTING WITH OTHERS THROUGH SOCIAL INVOLVEMENT, FIELD TRIPS AND VISITING MENTORS, ENCOURAGING SELF-RESPECT AND RESPONSIBILITY TO AVOID DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR. THIS YEAR DUE TO COVID - 19 THE NUMBER OF YOUTH WERE MINIMIZED, ALLOWING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE YOUTH SERVED. A TOTAL OF 68 DIRECT-SERVICE YOUTH WERE SERVED IN 2020.