West Palm Beach Clubs
Florence De George Boys & Girls Club: 4105 Pinewood Avenue, West Palm Beach (561) 881-9565
Marjorie S. Fisher Boys & Girls Club: 905 Drexel, West Palm Beach (561) 683-3392
Florence De George Boys & Girls Club
Club Location: 4105 Pinewood Avenue, West Palm Beach
Club Director: Gary McKinon
Program Coordinator: Ardis Jackson
Phone: (561) 881-9565
History:
In 1998, the Northwood Community in partnership with the City of West Palm Beach, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County and the Housing Partnership, broke ground on an unprecedented 34,000 square foot state-of-the-art, multiple-use campus in West Palm Beach’s historic Northwood neighborhood. In 1999, the Boys & Girls Clubs received a generous gift from local philanthropists, Lawrence and Florence De George, resulting in the naming of the Club in honor of Florence De George. In 2008, the Club received the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s highest honor for overall program excellence. Today, the Club is the jewel in the crown of West Palm Beach’s revitalization of the Northwood community, and a true asset to area children.
Current Facilities:
- 34,000 square feet
- The Mary Alice Fortin Center for Learning
- The Quantum Foundation Center for Preventive services
- The Alexander Donner Creative Arts Stage
- Kitchen/snack bar, arts & crafts center, game room, teen louge, gymnasium, library and outdoor play areas.
Hours of Operation:
The Club is open 5 days a week from 2:00 – 8:00 p.m. throughout the school year and on Saturday from 10:00 am to 2:00 p.m. During the summer, spring and winter breaks, and teacher planning days, the Club is open from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Programming:
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County works to help youth of all backgrounds develop the qualities needed to become responsible citizens and leaders. The Club offers daily access to a broad range of programs in six core areas: character and leadership development; education and career development; health and life skills; the arts; sports, fitness and recreation; and technology.
-
Tutoring with certified teachers - Daily homework help
- Smart Moves prevention curriculum
- Arts & crafts
- Singing classes
- Cooking classes
- Speaker series
- Field Trips
- Basketball
- Daily inside and outside recreation
- Computer education
- Summer Camp
- Spring/Winter break camps
- Prevention programs
- Leadership Programs
2011-2012 Membership Profile:
- 58.3% are boys and 41.7% are girls
- 93.5% are African American, 1.1% are Hispanic, .5% are Native American and .2% are Asian and 4.7% are Caucasian
- 70.5% live in single parent or non-traditionat households
- 65.9% live with household incomes of less than $29,999
Fees:
- $30 annual membership fee for school year
- Affordable fees for extended programs (summer/spring/winter)
- Nominal fees for transportation
- Scholarships available
Club Wish List:
-
Performance stage - 30 passenger bus
- New room divider
- Bleachers
- Sound system
- Recording equipment
- Table games
- Stand –up video games
- Art tables
- Computers
- Mirrors and ballet poles for dance room
- Stage curtain
- Projector equipment
Family Programming
Through a new Family Liaison Initiative, the Clubs offer monthly educational and family fun nights for all parents and guardians of the youth it serves.
One parent recently wrote the following about the program:
" It means a lot that parents take time out of our busy and often challenging lives to help give back to the Club. The Parent Committee creates a sense of community and is a good example to our children that if we work together we can support each other to make the Club a better place."
Marjorie S. Fisher Boys & Girls Club
Club Location: 905 Drexel, West Palm Beach
Club Director: Steve Cornette
Program Coordinator: Ashley Lyon
Phone: (561) 683-3392
History
The Marjorie S. Fisher Boys & Girls Club officially opened its doors on November 5, 2011 and replaced the first clubhouse ever opened in Palm Beach County. The first Club was housed in what was originally a World War II Officers Club, pool and bathhouse. The facility was later purchased by the Knights of Columbus until 1969, when a group of civic and community leaders headed by then Palm Beach County Sheriff William Heightman approached the organization about selling it for a Boys Club. After a fundraising effort the facility was purchased for $40,000 and opened in September, 1971 as the Boys Club of the Palm Beaches. Over the years, a number of additions were added including the August H. Oenbrink Memorial Gymnasium and the Charles A. Weber Teen Lounge. While girls were often welcome visitors, it was not until 1989 that the Club officially admitted girls as full members and changed its name to the Boys & Girls Club of West Palm Beach. Through the years the neighborhood also saw a transformation as less children populated the area and more commercial activities surrounded the Clubhouse. In 2008, Mrs. Marjorie S. Fisher, who had heard the Club was in need of an expansion and renovation, visited the Club and decided that not only was a renovation in order, but a new state-of-the-art facility. Thanks to a generous $2 million donation from Marjorie S, Fisher and the support of other generous donors such as Lesly S. Smith, the former Mayor of Palm Beach, and her daughter Danielle Hickox Moore, the dream of a new Club took shape. With little outdoor space, the existing location could not accommodate the plans for the new 22,000 square foot facility. Working with the Palm Beach County Commission, 11 acres of county land in a densely populated residential area with numerous schools in the immediate area was acquired. The new facility boasts a number of amenities such as a dance studio, music room, science lab, full gymnasium, teen, junior, and cadet games rooms, cafeteria, computer lab, arts & crafts center and learning center.
Hours of Operation
The Club will be open Monday through Friday from 2:00 and 8:00 p.m., throughout the school year. Teen programming is offered until 9:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until midnight on Fridays. During the summer, spring and winter breaks, and teacher planning days, the Club will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Programming:
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County works to help youth of all backgrounds develop the qualities needed to become responsible citizens and leaders. The Club offers daily access to a broad range of programs in six core areas: character and leadership development; education and career development; health and life skills; the arts; sports, fitness and recreation; and technology.
-
Tutoring with certified teachers - Daily homework help
- Smart Moves prevention curriculum
- Arts & crafts
- Singing classes
- Cooking classes
- Speaker series
- FACES: A celebration of cultures
- Basketball
- Daily inside and outside recreation
- Computer education
- Summer Camp
- Spring/Winter break camps
- Prevention programs
- Leadership Programs
2011-2012 Membership Profile
- Total membership—593
- 50.1 % are boys and 49.9% are girls
- 77.2% are African Americans, 11.8% are Caucasian, 9.3% are Hispanic, and 2% are other
- 73.7% live in single parent or non-traditional households
- 60.3% live with household incomes of less than $29,999
Fees
- $30 annual membership fee for school year
- Affordable fees for extended programs (summer/spring/winter)
- Nominal fees for transportation
- Scholarships available
- No child is ever turned away due to an inability to pay a fee.
Club Wish List:
- Portable stage
- 30 passenger bus
- New room divider
- Bleachers
- Sound system
- Recording equipment
- Table games
- Stand–up video games
- Art tables
- Youth tables and chairs for 5 & 6 year old members
- Computers
- Mirrors and ballet poles for dance room
- Projector equipment
Major and Named Donors
- Lesly S. Smith Gymnasium
- Danielle Hickox Moore Center for the Arts
- PNC Computer Lab
- William H. Pitt Art Room
- Fortin Foundation of Florida Science Lab
- William & Jacqueline Demarais Music Room
Naming Opportunities
Through our Capital and Endowment Campaign, a commemorative gift is permanent and highly visible and a tribute to the donor’s commitment to children. As we continue to seek contributions to build our new facility, commemorative opportunities are available as follows:
- Welcome Center (Name Dedication) - $250,000 Welcome Center (Furnishings) - $35,000
- Reception Area (Name Dedication)- $50,000 Reception Area (Furnishings)- $15,000
- Recreation Wing (Name Dedication) - $200,000
- Cadet Game Room (Name Dedication) - $50,000 Cadet Game Room ( Furnishings) $25,000
- Learning Center (Name Dedication) - $50,000 Learning Center (Furnishings) -$25,000
- Multi Purpose Room (Name Dedication) - $75,000 Multi Purpose Room ( Furnishings) -$35,000
- Teen Lounge (Name Dedication) - $50,000 Teen Lounge ( Furnishings) - $25,000
- Teen Game Room (Name Dedication) - $75,000 Teen Game Room (Furnishings) - $35,000
- Junior Game Room (Name Dedication) - $50,000 Junior Game Room (Furnishings) - $25,000
- Patio Area - $50,000
- Patio Furnishings - $25,000
- Dance Studio (Name Dedication) - $50,000
- Canteen (Name Dedication) - $25,000
Additional rooms and furnishings are also needed. Contact the Development office at (561) 683-3287 for a complete list.
Family Programming
Through a new Family Liaison Initiative, the Clubs offer monthly educational and family fun nights for all parents and guardians of the youth it serves. Among the programs offered are Family Game Nights, Family Movie Nights, Parenting Seminars, Programs on Bullying, and Financial Literacy.
