Press Room
May 12, 2009 | Tallahassee Democrat
Let's Move Mountains for Kids
Tallahassee Democrat
MY VIEW
If you think now is a tough time to be in business, try being a kid. Our children today are caught in a perfect storm of inopportunity. Schools are slashing programs and services, while the community organizations that have traditionally picked up the slack are beset with the same economic challenges that have brought whole industries to the brink of collapse.
It's never easy being a nonprofit. These days, it's downright daunting, especially for those community organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Big Bend that are dedicated to the protection and development of our children.
When a local youth agency struggles, there are no severance packages. No bonuses. No bailouts. Just scores of children with one less safe haven to turn to during nonschool hours.
We cannot let this happen. We cannot let children slide so far down our list of societal priorities. For what good is a growing, stimulated economy if it leaves millions of children behind?
During tough times like these, many of us become so preoccupied with our own burdens that, instead of taking action, we become paralyzed with fear and despair, and fail to make any meaningful progress toward a brighter future.
But failure is not an option. Not here. Not in this community. Not with our kids.
Like many of you, our organization is struggling. To be quite honest, we need to move mountains to ensure that thousands of kids continue to receive quality after-school and summer programs in the future. That aside, we have no doubt that with just a little help from each of you, our children will survive this storm.
Do you know that if every Leon County resident over the age of 18 donated just $5 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Big Bend, it would add up to more than $1 million — enough to sustain this invaluable youth-serving organization for years to come? According to independent studies, $1 million invested in after-school programs such as the Boys & Girls Clubs returns millions more in taxpayer savings associated with reduced high-school dropouts, juvenile delinquency and government-provided health care.
In fact, 90 percent of Boys & Girls Club members graduate high school, compared with just 60 percent of their nonmember peers. How's that for a positive statistic in a world of negative numbers?
If we really care about our kids, we must take action, collectively and individually, to ensure they have the best chance to succeed in the face of so many obstacles.
That's why I am inviting you to join us as we embark on our 2009 annual campaign to raise money to provide hope for a bright future for more than 7,000 Big Bend kids. Just visit www.SupportOurClubs.org, where you can create your own fundraising page or simply give what you can.
Every dollar donated makes a difference to thousands of at-risk children and teens.
Let's face it. Most of us are far more fortunate than we realize. If we put our personal hardships aside for just a moment, the possibilities are endless. Together, we are powerful beyond measure. Together we can move mountains.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Samuel M. "Buddy" Streit is president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Big Bend, www.ThePositivePlaceForKids.org.