Boys & Girls Clubs, now more than ever before

By: KEITH PADGETT - commentary | Thursday, January 17, 2008 7:54 PM PST ∞

Boys & Girls Clubs of America celebrated its 100th anniversary last year and the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito began serving youth in 1966. The Boys & Girls Clubs is an American institution that is just as relevant today, maybe more, as it was 100 years ago.

Today's youth have many more opportunities and challenges than I did growing up in Lemon Grove in the 1950s and 1960s. Boys & Girls Clubs enhance today's opportunities and help mitigate the challenges of children in our community.

Every school I attended had extensive physical education, music, arts and organized sports programs included in the curriculum. From elementary through high school, children were educated during the regular school day on these topics and had numerous opportunities to pursue their interests in any or all of these programs provided by the school after regular hours.

Today most school districts, due to budget cuts, have significantly cut back on these types of classes. Bands and team sports at middle schools are virtually nonexistent.

For these reasons alone, communities need Boys & Girls Clubs more than ever. The Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito provides extensive education, music and athletic programs for children from Carlsbad to La Jolla.

Children of all ages participate in our Performing Arts Department's four jazz bands, four concert bands, seven rock bands, theater and dance. More than 100 children take private instrument lessons.

Our Big Eight Middle School competitive athletic league offers 13 sports to boys and girls. More than 2,000 children participate. Almost 500 boys and girls from Earl Warren Middle School have physical education classes in our gym at the Barbara Harper Branch in Solana Beach.

More than 1,500 children have learned how to swim in the last decade at our Doug and Marianne Pardee Aquatics Center. The center serves 600 people per day and offers competitive programs including a swim team, adult workouts and water polo. Other programs include aqua aerobics, swim lessons, lap swim and recreational swim.

Our Coast Volleyball Club program is one of the finest girls' volleyball club programs and facilities in California. Players and families are able to meet their needs at all levels of the game, from recreational to elite, with solid college preparation insights and strategic tournament participation.

Every one of our locations has state-of-the-art computer labs and promotes education, good citizenship and character development.

This year we will launch our Center for a Healthy Lifestyle located at our Solana Beach branch. The center will incorporate physical fitness and healthy diet into a curriculum for children and adults, thereby helping to mitigate the epidemic of childhood obesity that has swept across America.

Yes, now more than ever San Diego and America needs the Boys & Girls Clubs.

Keith Padgett is CEO of the San Dieguito Boys & Girls Clubs.

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