Building lifelong skills after school: A spotlight on Boys & Girls Club of the Suncoast
Building lifelong skills after school: A spotlight on Boys & Girls Club of the Suncoast
Ready for School program supports kids after the dismissal bell with Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast.
When a child comes to a Boys & Girls Club of the Suncoast, they arrive to a safe place after school where their lifelong success is the priority, and where meeting their basic needs is understood as fundamental to their trajectory.
“The Boys & Girls Clubs’ mission is the entire child, from their safety, their academic success, their mental health, their character, their leadership skills,” said Nicole Burroughs, a vice president in the firm’s Compliance division who serves as a member of the club’s board of directors and chair of its Safety Committee. “Each child’s needs are unique, and this is where Boys & Girls Clubs plays such an important role. Maybe it’s a hot meal and extra help with their homework, or access to musical instruments and art equipment to fan their creative passions. Boys & Girls Clubs provides opportunities and resources to have each child become a productive, caring and responsible individual.”
Making a meaningful difference outside the classroom
Raymond James supports Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast as part of our Ready for School program, a philanthropic initiative designed to support children inside the classroom, outside the classroom and beyond the classroom.
Through our partnership, the firm is supporting the organization’s educational programming, including its extensive literacy program supported by certified teachers at each of the club’s locations.
Through our partnership, we aim to achieve:
- 75% of club members increasing or maintaining their reading grade level
- 85% of club members missing no more than 10% of school days
- 100% graduating on time from high school
Lifesaving work
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast, which merged with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay in 2024, supports children and young adults in Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties in Florida. Known for its afterschool programming, the organization takes a broad approach to child and community development. In 2023, the club provided more than 170,000 hours of programming – including nearly 67,000 hours through educational programs – and served more than 750,000 meals. Club participants experience improved graduation rates and academic scores, and fewer run-ins with law enforcement, compared to peers.
And notably, Freddy Williams, the president of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast, is a former club member.
“I tell people we’re a solutions company,” said Cassie Kackley, the organization’s chief development officer. “If you have a child who said they’re hungry, we give them food. If they are struggling with math, we tutor them in math. We do that on a grand scale for thousands of kids, so you can imagine the number of programs we have in place.”
While known for its afterschool programming, the club empowers its staff to solve problems related to nutrition, clothing, transportation, hygiene, furniture and bedding, along with other issues. For families, the organization can provide subsidized daycare services, enabling parents to work and helping to extend its mission of stability into members’ homes.
“It’s lifesaving work,” Kackley said. “It’s work that’s ensuring kids have access to the resources needed to better their and their families’ lives.”
Learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast at bgcsun.org.
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast is one of 11 Ready for School organizations making a difference in the lives of students across Tampa Bay. Learn more at raymondjames.com/ready-for-school.
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