Tampa Bay needs Club Kids; Club Kids need you

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In today’s world, the path to opportunity feels increasingly uncertain, for adults and especially for young people navigating school, society, and their future all at once.

Across the country, too many young people are falling behind or being left behind. Here in Tampa Bay, fewer than half of 8th graders in Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties are reading at grade level, reflecting persistent academic gaps. Regionally, about one in 10 young people aged 16 to 24 remain disconnected from both school and work, a figure that, while improving, still represents thousands of kids and teens at risk of falling through the cracks.

In addition, nearly half of all households in our region are classified as ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) or living in poverty, meaning too many kids are growing up without reliable access to enrichment, mentorship, or consistent guidance.

These aren’t just statistics. They represent the future of our workforce, our neighborhoods, and our civic leadership. That’s why the message behind Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s new campaign couldn’t be more timely or more true: America Needs Club Kids. Club Kids Need You.

At Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa Bay, we don’t just fill the hours after school. We help shape the future. Our Clubs are spaces where young people find encouragement, belonging, and the tools to grow into confident leaders. Our Leading Through Literacy initiative is helping 85% of participating Club members reach or exceed grade-level reading, using research-backed tools like Heggerty Phonemic Awareness and Lexia Learning, along with one-on-one mentoring that builds both skills and confidence.

Through our Future Leaders Workforce Readiness Program, we’re also helping teens aged 16 to 24 reconnect to school or work pathways by offering career planning, job-readiness training, and post-secondary support. In the past year alone, 370 teens have been granted paid internships across seven workforce development programs, giving them real-world experience and a meaningful jumpstart on their futures.

We bridge the gaps between school, home, and community with programs that equip kids to thrive academically, socially, and personally. We actively partner with schools and local law enforcement to serve communities in low-income Zip codes and reach families most in need.

We’re proud to be the birthplace of Florida’s very first Boys & Girls Club, founded in Tampa in 1926. As we look ahead to our 100th anniversary in 2026, we reflect not only on a century of impact but on the thousands of Club kids who have gone on to shape this community, and the thousands more who are just getting started.

Today, more than 3,000 youth walk through our Club doors each day to access lifechanging programs, while over 24,000 more are reached annually through targeted outreach. In addition, we support thousands more through middle school extension programs, school-based outreach, and community impact initiatives that extend our reach into neighborhoods, classrooms, and other trusted spaces where mentorship and enrichment are needed most.

Our Club kids aren’t just improving in school. They’re building the confidence and skills to shape their own futures. In Tampa Bay, 82% of our teens say they’re more motivated to succeed academically because of their Club experience, and 94% say they have a trusted adult at the Club they can turn to. That’s more than double the national average for schools.

With 65 active sites, including neighborhood Clubs, school-based programs, and targeted community initiatives, our impact is both deep and far-reaching. Yet thousands of young people in our region still don’t have a safe place to go after school and during the summer.

With nearly half of local households considered low-income or financially strained, the need for accessible, high-quality youth development programs has never been greater.

As we look toward our centennial, our mission remains clear: to nurture the leaders of tomorrow and close the opportunity gap for the kids and teens who need us most.

Tampa Bay needs Club kids. Tampa Bay Club kids need you.

Building a stronger future for our region starts with all of us. When we invest in our youth today, we empower the next generation to lead, innovate, and elevate Tampa Bay, and our nation, for years to come.

Freddy Williams is President & CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa Bay.

Originally Posted: July 1, 2025 | Freddy Williams