Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties

08/04/2025

Summer of Impact at the Club 😎.

Our Club members spent the summer having fun while learning and developing tools for the future 🧰. From fun reading activities to sidewalk chalk masterpieces, yoga sessions to water safety, even becoming leaders to creating exciting STEM projects, our member enjoyed every moment. Exploring new goals, celebrating academic wins, and dreaming big, this is what summer fun looks like at the Club ⭐️.

This summer at Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties, our members did it all 💙.

08/01/2025

Our teens took on Chicago & left their mark! 🌟

At this year’s National Keystone Conference, teens showed up not just as participants, but as leaders, creators, and behind-the-scenes trailblazers.

We’re proud to share that our Roy McBean and Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Clubs were honored with the National Keystone Award for Academic Success. A true testament to the dedication and drive of our youth. 💙

Alvin H. was selected to serve on the Steering Committee, helping plan and lead the event from start to finish. He even hosted his own session in front of thousands of members!

Joshua L. was invited to join the Production Crew, gaining hands-on experience in stage management and the technical side of event planning.

“It felt more like fun than work. I learned so much about the processes and purpose of every piece of technology backstage. I know I will use what I learned here in the future,” says Joshua.

From leadership to lights, our teens showed up, stepped up, and shined bright.

Connect. Create. Captivate. Consider it done! 💥

07/29/2025

Summer fun looks like this: swimming, smiling, and building confidence in the water! ☀️🤿

With the support of Every Child A Swimmer, our Club members are diving into a safe, splash-filled summer. 💙

07/28/2025

This community is full of incredible partners committed to ensuring our youth have everything they need to reach their full potential. Thank you all for being

07/21/2025

Thank you, Children First, Inc., for empowering teens like Ella. Because of partners like you, our youth are better positioned to develop into the leaders our community can depend on. Go, Ella! ,

We are proud to celebrate one of our agency's STAR board students, Ella, who was recently recognized in the Herald Tribune as one of Sarasota County’s top graduates! 🎉

Ella comes to Children First through the STAR (Students Taking Active Roles) Leadership Training Program at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties. This leadership development curriculum helps high school students understand civic engagement, explore the roles and responsibilities of active citizenship, and connect with local leadership opportunities.

Through this experience, Ella has gained the tools to use her voice for positive change and to contribute her talents to the greater good of strengthening the children and families we serve.

In addition to volunteering on our board of directors, Ella also serves in volunteer leadership roles for other area nonprofits. She has received awards as a member of her high school’s Speech and Debate Team and is a dedicated scholar of the sciences. Her passion for biology inspired her work with the school’s environmental club and summers spent volunteering at a local marine biology research center.

Ella’s recognition is a testament to her drive, compassion, and unwavering commitment to excellence. Congratulations, Ella! Your Children First family is proud to be part of your journey! 💙

07/08/2025

We’re thrilled to announce our 2025 Leadership Breakfast honorees! 🎉

Join us on Friday, September 5, 2025 as we celebrate Dr. Larry R. Thompson, President of Ringling College of Art and Design, and Heather Kasten, President/CEO of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, for their commitment to youth empowerment and leadership in our community. 💙

🌟 Presented by IPG
📍 Proceeds benefit our award-winning Teen Programs.

🔗 Learn more or get involved: bgcsdc.org/events

07/03/2025

Hi, I’m Jack. I’m a 15-year-old that’s proud to serve as a Board Member of Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties. I earned this role through our nationally recognized STAR Leadership Training program, which taught me about leadership, advocacy and the power of speaking up.

Today, I’m speaking up for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, the federal funding that helps with academics, STEM, and mentoring, and makes meals possible at Boys & Girls Clubs like mine.

If this support is cut, thousands of kids across Boys & Girls Clubs of America will lose opportunities that helped me grow into the leader I am today.

Strong communities start with strong kids. Help us keep building that strength:
✅ Call Congress to get after-school funding released
✅ Sign the action alert to protect funding
✅ Share this post
✅ Donate today

🔗Click here to read my full message and access the action links: https://bgcsdc.org/general/club-kids-need-you-so-does-america.html

07/01/2025

The future of our nation depends on the opportunities we create for young people today.

Through the new "America Needs Club Kids" campaign, we're joining Boys & Girls Clubs of America to shine a light on the power and potential of today’s youth — and the vital role Clubs play in helping them thrive.

🔹 97% of Club teens expect to graduate high school
🔹 Club 12th graders are 2x as likely to understand the path to their career goals
🔹 For every $1 invested in Clubs, communities see an average return of $10.32

This is more than a mission. It’s a movement. Join us in investing in the next generation of leaders, changemakers and innovators. Learn more: bgcsdc.org

06/25/2025

This BGC Week, we’re celebrating Club teens who are stepping boldly into their futures - one job shadow, internship and certification at a time.

Over the past year, our Teen Programs have transformed what workforce readiness looks like. From earning ServSafe certifications in our Culinary Arts kitchen to completing micro-internships with local partners and businesses across industries, our teens are gaining real-world experience that sets them apart.

👩‍🍳👨‍💼 20+ micro-internships
🔍 45+ job shadows
💼 Year-round skill-building & leadership opportunities

Our goal? To ensure every teen leaves the Club with a plan, and the tools, to succeed after high school. Together, we’re building a generation that’s not just ready for the future but Fit For It. 💙

06/23/2025

💙 At Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties, we believe being starts with strong minds and healthy habits.

Through innovative programs, we’re helping youth build emotional resilience, social skills, and lifelong wellness. 🌱🧠💪

Our Director of Behavioral Health Services Danae Koeper, MSW, LCSW, recently sat down with Sarasota Scene Magazine to discuss our commitment to providing accessible, stigma-free mental health resources and professionals inside all six of our Clubs.

📖 Read the piece at https://scenesarasota.com/magazine/education-matters-empowering-youth-boys-girls-clubs-of-sarasota-and-desoto-counties-launches-behavioral-health-program/

Let’s open the door to Healthy Living—together.

By Hunter Hageman | March 2025 In a groundbreaking effort to enhance mental wellness among youth, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties (BGCSDC) have implemented a Behavioral Health Program designed to provide critical mental health support to youth aged 6 to 18. This initiative not...

06/23/2025

🚪 Happy National Boys & Girls Club Week! 💙

All week long, we’re Opening the Blue Door to celebrate the life-changing impact of Boys & Girls Clubs and the young people at the heart of it all.

This year’s theme, Fit for the Future, is all about preparing the next generation for success—physically, emotionally, and professionally. 💪🧠💼

Follow along as we spotlight youth stories, highlight daily themes, and share ways you can get involved. Now more than ever, Club kids need you.

06/20/2025

🎉 Congratulations to Newtown Connection on 5 incredible years of impact! ⚾

We’re proud to celebrate this milestone with this outstanding group and we're especially grateful for the meaningful work we’ve accomplished together for the youth of Newtown.

Newtown Connection's commitment to equity, mentorship, and opportunity through the game of baseball has opened doors for so many young people, and we're honored to support that mission alongside them. Together, we've created safe spaces where kids can grow, lead, and thrive — both on and off the field.

Thank you, , for your dedication, vision, and partnership. Here's to many more years of empowering our next generation. 💙

Most know Sarasota native Ian Desmond as a former MLB player who was a two-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger. But he won just as many awards for his philanthropy as he did for his play.