During last week’s Henderson City Council meeting, the Rev. Todd Hester of Cotton Memorial Presbyterian Church asked the council for an endorsement of efforts to create a Boys & Girls Club in Henderson.
Hester began his presentation by giving the council a brief history of the organization. Boys & Girls Clubs of America received its charter in 1906 and has more than 3,400 active chapters serving 4.4 million children. Former members include such notables as Brad Pitt, Denzel Washington, Derek Jeter, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Wesley Clark and Bill Clinton. The clubs target marginalized and underprivileged children and help them to become productive, responsible citizens.
The organization, Hester said, is more than an after-school program. It addresses the needs of children in five areas: career and education; the arts; recreation, fitness and sports; character and leadership; and health and life skills.
Hester explained that the national office carefully monitors and supports local chapters and that each chapter must maintain high standards to retain its charter. The standards that must be maintained include having a board of directors of responsible citizens, a qualified executive director to manage a paid and volunteer staff of full- and part-time workers, an annual budget report, a minimum of 100 club members from ages 6 to 16, availability and accessibility to all children, and a facility that meets the needs of the club and is open to all members during stated hours.
The minister indicated that the organization is a proven delinquency prevention program. While it costs $50,000 to $75,000 per year to house a prisoner, the cost per child in the club averages $200 per year.
The presentation ended with Hester telling the council: “The main reason we are here is to ask for your support and your blessing.”
As he closed his presentation, he also said, “We’re not saying that we’re targeting the library, but as of right now that seems to be a very good property for us.”
He asked the City Council to consider the Boys & Girls Club when deciding with the county what to do with the current H. Leslie Perry Memorial Library structure.
Although council members Mary Emma Evans and Elissa Yount commented favorably on the creation of a Boys & Girls Club in Henderson, the council did not consider a resolution to endorse the club.
During a report on the intergovernmental meeting that took place between county commissioners and City Council members at Silo Restaurant on Sept. 28, Mayor Clem Seifert said about the library building: “The expectation of a gift is a little too much.”
Council member Bernard Alston replied: “My impression is that they would be looking to purchase.”