Our Approach is Simple Really....  

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Gaston works to help youth of all backgrounds develop the qualities needed to become responsible citizens and leaders.  Our Clubs serve residents of Gaston County between ages 6 and 18.  Our mission is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. We provide the best care for the youth of Gaston County by helping the latchkey child become more successful and goal-oriented. Our outcomes are to improve academic performance, decrease drop-out rates, lower the number of juvenile crime, prevent teen pregnancy and to inspire our Club members to be leaders of the future.  Overall, 69% of our members come from single-parent/grandparent households and 99% receive free or reduced lunch at school.  We provide programming for ten Title 1 elementary schools and five Title 1 middle schools, in addition to two other elementary schools and three other high schools.  Poor test scores, suspensions and acts of violence are all direct reflections of poor attendance, behavior problems, socioeconomically depressed areas, poverty, parental unemployment and single family homes.  The youth living and attending our Clubs are at an unfortunate disadvantage because of their surroundings.