On Dec. 1, the Boys & Girls Club of Cairo/Grady County will open its doors for the first time to provide life-changing programs and activities that will positively impact the lives of youth in the Cairo/Grady County community officials announced. An anticipated 300 youth between the ages of 6-14 will be served during the after school and summer programs at the Club within the first year of operations. Approximately 90 youth will be served on a daily basis. The Boys & Girls Club facility will be located at Holder Park, 101 6th Ave. SW, Cairo.

An official ceremony installing the newly elected board of directors was held Oct. 6 at the new facility.

“Thanks to wonderful partnership with the city of Cairo, the Holder Park Teen Center has graciously donated this wonderful facility to house our new Boys & Girls Club. This is truly a historical moment and opportunity for our youth throughout the Cairo/Grady County community. We are so fortunate to have key people in our community that are passionate about our youth and willing step up to help make a difference. This program will make life changing patterns and opportunities not for just the children, but for our community, “ said Nola Daughtry, Cairo unit board president.

The Boys & Girls Club of Cairo/Grady County is a unit of the Marguerite Neel Williams Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Georgia, Inc. which was formerly the Marguerite Neel Williams Boys & Girls Clubs of Thomas County Inc.

“We are fortunate to be able to team with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Georgia Inc.” said Daughtry.

“This is an exciting time for the Cairo/Grady community as well as the Boys & Girls Club movement,” said Lee Wagner, executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Georgia.”

The Boys & Girls Club of Cairo/Grady County's executive board has been meeting and working toward this moment since February 2009. Currently the Board of Directors has 18 members and is campaigning toward meeting their goal of raising a minimum of $300,000 for the next two years.

The Executive Board members are Nola Daughtry, President, Charles Renaud, 1st Vice President, Teresa Gee Harris, 2nd Vice President, Matthew McCaskill, Treasurer, Gina Miller, Secretary, Chris Addleton, Al Ball, Shelia Cain, Claire Chason, Ernest Cloud, Lafaye Miles Copeland, Linda Gwaltney, Mabel Kral, Dr. Ansu Mason, Audrey Magee, Mike Mobley, LaDon Toole and Richard VanLandingham.

“The cost of incarcerating a juvenile is approximate $75,000 a year. If we could keep two children from being incarcerated, it could pay for one year of our operating budget for the Boys & Girls Club. Think about how many children's lives we can change and tax dollars we will save,” said Daughtry.

In keeping with the mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the mission for the Boys & Girls Club of Cairo/Grady County will be the source of our motivation which is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. The facility will offer club members a safe place to learn and grow, ongoing relationships with caring adult professionals, life-enhancing programs, character development experiences as well as hope and opportunity. The Boys & Girls Club is a youth development organization dedicated to promoting the health, social, education, vocational and character development of boys and girls. The club aims to help young people improve their lives by building self-esteem and developing values and skills during critical periods of growth.

For many children, the hours immediately following the school day and all day during the summer months are their most dangerous because it's the time when kids are most likely to commit or become the victims of crime. It is also during these hours that kids are most likely to begin experimenting with drug and alcohol use as well as sexual activity. Many other children will simply waste countless hours on television, video games and other forms of inactivity.

Locally, the Cairo/Grady County community has its share of youth related issues and challenges that negatively impact the lives of our youth and their families as well as the community as a whole. Existing issues include teen pregnancies, high school drop-out rate and juvenile crimes.

Local Boys & Girls Clubs have been very instrumental in positively impacting juvenile crime rates and it's expected that the Cairo/Grady County Unit will experience the same level of success officials said.

For information, call Matt McCaskill, treasurer, at 229-377-8094.