Boys & Girls Clubs receive $500,000 gift from former Senator Kohl to extend summer programming and keep kids safe

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee (BGCGM) announced on July 21, 2015, that it received a $500,000 gift from longtime BGCGM supporter and former Senator Herb Kohl to extend its summer service schedule. The official announcement of the gift and the summer extension was made by Vincent Lyles, President & CEO of BGCGM, together with community leaders Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn, and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett on Tuesday, July 21 at 10:30 a.m. at the Don & Sallie Davis Boys & Girls Club at 1975 S. 24th Street, Milwaukee.

This gift allows BGCGM to continue to provide a safe place for kids every day in August, the first time that BGCGM has been able to provide this for their families. Through the extended programming, BGCGM will continue to provide safe places and full-day activities for more than 5,000 kids aged five through eighteen who attend the Clubs each day. BGCGM gives its members access to caring adults and offers opportunities to participate in structured activities at a critical time during the summer when many kids may otherwise be unsupervised.

During the extra program weeks in August, the Clubs will serve more than 70,000 meals to its members. “I believe Boys & Girls Clubs are a valuable resource for our city, and I am happy to be able to contribute to the enrichment and safety of local youth for the entire summer,” said Senator Kohl. “We are thankful Senator Kohl chose to invest in our future generation of leaders,” said Vincent Lyles, president & CEO of BGCGM. BGCGM is working in partnership with Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) to offer the extended weeks of programing in August.

As a result, 22 BGCGM clubs will be extending their programming, bringing the total number of clubs open in August to 36. Of the 36 clubs, 30 locations will be open through Friday, August 14 and six locations will be extended through Friday, August 28. MPS will supply meals for club members at its school-based Club locations during the extended summer schedule. This announcement comes at a time when violence and homicide victims in Milwaukee, specifically involving youth, has far surpassed anything seen in recent years.