On August 21st, the doors of Boys and Girls Club in East Milton will officially close for the last time, according to a press release from the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast. The reason for the closure stems from financial concerns.
The board of directors for the BGC of the Emerald Coast − which oversees nine clubs across Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties − made the decision “due to the lack of community support and funding streams,” the release said. The organization reportedly spent more than $100,000 in the past three years in order to supplement the Milton club’s large deficit.
The Milton club, which opened in August of 2012, currently serves nearly 60 youth a day with 80 members registered.
A statement from Todd Wilkinson, the Emerald Coast’s organization board chairman, said several factors went into the decision.
“The Board of Directors has worked diligently to ensure the stability and success of the Milton Club for the children and teens it serves. However, in this turbulent economy, falling revenues from all sectors – individuals, corporations, foundations and government entities have put us in a position where we are unable to raise the funds necessary to keep the Milton Club operating,” Wilkinson said in the release. “It was a difficult decision to make and the Board of Directors examined all possible options, but we were unable to come up with a viable solution. If these tough decisions were not made, every Club throughout the Emerald Coast could possibly be at risk.”
Santa Rosa County Commissioner Rob Williamson said he is “saddened” to hear the news of the closure.
“This is going to leave a vacuum in the community,” Williamson said. “The Boys and Girls Club was providing a critical need so that children don’t get left behind.”
Through his affiliation with Leadership Santa Rosa, Williamson witnessed how beneficial the local Boys and Girls program benefited youth with struggling grades. Having an afterschool program to help children with homework is beneficial to parents, he said.
“I can tell you as a parent of two young children, it is difficult to help your children with homework, get them ready for bed and prepare them for the next school day.” he said.
Williamson said most of the Santa Rosa County community never witnessed the benefits the Boys and Girls Club had to offer. He also said a lot of people worked hard in order to make the club possible.
Although disappointed with the club’s closure, Williamson hopes to see another after school program fill the void left by the Milton Boys and Girls Club, as does Kyle Holley, the director of development for the United Way of Santa Rosa County.
“This would keep children from getting in trouble,” Holley said. “These programs tend to help parents so they can keep working.”
The club was among many organizations to seek funding from the SRC United Way. Earlier this year, a United Way oversight committee—comprised of contributors and United Way staff—opted not to fund the Milton Boys and Girls Club. Former City of Milton Mayor Guy Thompson and current chief executive officer of the SRC United Way, believes the committee’s decision resulted in the club’s limited area impact within the county.
“One of the problems was that it was confined to a certain area,” Thompson said. “We have to look at other areas, like Midway, Navarre and other areas throughout the county.”
Club leaders and staff are working to assist Milton club parents in finding alternative after-school programs for next school year, club officials said.
The BGC of the Emerald Coast will issue refunds to all parents who have previously paid for summer enrollment and also waive all summer program fees for the first 50 current club members.
In the press release, Wilkinson express his gratitude towards the support of Milton residents.
“We have been privileged to be a part of the Milton Community and appreciate the support we have received and for the leaders who have worked on our behalf. Your efforts were not in vain and I know that we have made a difference in the lives of our children we have been so privileged to serve. It is our hope that those youth will go onto to make us proud.”
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Boys and Girls Club to close