The Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson (BGCT) is proud to announce a new partnership with the club in Gila Valley, serving youth in the community with after-school & summer camp programming. These programs empower mental health and help develop a wide variety of skills including science, painting, arts, robotics, computer science, academic success, healthy lifestyles and more.
Boys & Girls Clubs provide a safe, healthy, and educational environment for all our youth as a priority in both communities.
In conjunction with the management team from Gila Valley, BGCT will evaluate the current programs being offered and align them to Boys and Girls Clubs nationally recognized programs.
“Boys & Girls Club of the Gila Valley serves over 200 youth in its community. We recognize their impact as being important and relevant and we want to be sure they have all the tools they need for success,” said Denise Watters, CEO.
About Boys & Girls Club of Gila Valley
Since its opening in 1999, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Gila Valley have strived to contribute to youth development in the Graham County area. The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Gila Valley currently serves more than 200 youths at its clubhouse located at 805 S. Seventh Ave. in Safford. Our programs are offered year-round and are safe, fun and affordable for all youth.
Boys & Girls Club of The Gila Valley provides a safe location where children and young adults can grow, learn and achieve a sense of compassion. We are involved in our community and support the functions of the various cities that we serve. Community Service is embraced and encouraged, with our members averaging over 200 hours in one year. We provide our staff with the opportunity to grow professionally and personally, while allowing them to learn skills that will be used in their own futures. We strive to stop the use of drugs in our community before they start, through education, and by providing positive examples. We do our very best to make our location a place of fun for the children of the Gila Valley.
“The merger with Tucson is an exciting time in so many ways. The most tangible result is the ability to serve the children (especially those that need us the most) of the Gila Valley. The increased resources and access to quality professionals will help to safeguard the future of our club. The truly heartwarming side of the merger is how mission driven the BGCA community is. Through the entire process we never lost focus on youth and why we needed to come together for our future generations. We proved that the children we serve are worth all the time and effort in the world”. James Bryce mentioned – Board Chair Boys & Girls Club of Gila Valley.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson & Gila Valley
For over 65 years the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson has helped keep thousands of local children involved in after school and summer programming. The seven Clubhouses locations across the city of Tucson & Safford will offer daily access to a broad range of programs in five core areas: Character and Leadership Development; Education and Career Development; Health & Life Skills; The Arts; and Sports, Fitness, and Recreation. From BGCT 2023 data, over 90% of the organization’s 5,000 youth members served come from low-income households, 85% belong to traditionally underserved minority ethnicities/races, 72% qualify for free/reduced school lunches, and 45% live in single-parent homes.
