Budget shortfalls force closure of two Fairbanks-area Boys and Girls Clubs
Published Thursday, October 8, 2009
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Stumble It!FAIRBANKS — Two Fairbanks-area Boys and Girls Clubs are closing because of severe budget shortfalls. They are among more than a dozen clubs around the state affected by the statewide organization’s loss of funding.
The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Tanana Valley’s after-school program at Two Rivers School ends today.
The North Pole program, involving 60 families, will close Friday, said Alana Humphrey, the Alaska organization’s chief operating officer.
Humphrey said the closings are temporary.
“We are working with (the city of) North Pole to find funding and with Two Rivers School to keep the kids after-school program open with another funding source,” Humphrey said.
To reinstate the programs for the next year, approximately $60,000 is needed to cover rent, utilities, supplies and equipment for the North Pole club on Park Way, Humphrey said.
An additional $27,000 is needed to underwrite personnel and reopen the Two Rivers after-school club program.
A combination of eight full- and part-time program employees are being laid off as a result of the closings.
The Fairbanks Boys and Girls Club, where Humphrey previously served as executive director, remains open at Old Main School, since it has several alternate sources of funding including the United Way and some state funding administered through the Fairbanks North Star Borough.
Throughout the Tanana Valley, the Boys and Girls Clubs serve approximately 800-850 children annually, Humphrey said.
“It’s a challenging time, but we are committed to replacing the fund that has been lost, and we will be back open as soon as we can be,” she said.
“We totally plan for these closings to be temporary. Our staff and the national staff is working hard to fill this gap.”
There are 45 Boys and Girls Clubs around the state, many of which opened during the past decade following an influx of federal money earmarked to spread the clubs into the Bush.
Those in the Bush, however, are the most at risk of closing after it was learned that federal Department of Justice grants won’t be provided this year.
The clubhouses already closed are in Juneau, Tyonek, Copper Center, Galena, Kivalina and Wrangell.
Another 12 to 15 face major cutbacks, if not closure, said John Oates, chief executive of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southcentral Alaska.
Clubhouses are encouraged to seek multiple sources of money, such as donations from individuals and corporations. Some became too reliant on the Justice Department grants, and those are the ones most likely to close, Oates said.
The Southcentral chapter of the nonprofit, which manages the clubhouses statewide except for the Kenai Peninsula, is down $2.3 million from its $8 million cash budget. It put forward an additional $650,000 from its general operating fund before it became apparent the grant money wasn’t coming through as expected.
Alaska Boys and Girls Club managers blame the national organization for not securing the grants. But an Atlanta-based official with the national organization told the Anchorage Daily News they simply didn’t get the grants this year, and no chapter should rely on government handouts.
“You can’t bank on support, really, from any source on a multiyear basis unless funding you receive is a multiyear grant or gift,” said Evan McElroy, senior vice president of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. “It’s an annual, year-to-year situation, and that’s the way it’s been since time immemorial.”
Regardless of fault, employees and parents of kids who go to the clubhouses are concerned.
The Boys and Girls Clubs focus on but are not exclusively for low-income families. They are places where the children of working parents can go to play sports, take workshops or get help with homework. The Southcentral chapter serves 11,000 kids statewide.
Susan Floyd, of Galena, who recently lost her job as clubhouse manager, said the program will be sorely missed in the Interior village.
“It’s really hard after you put your heart and soul into something,” she said.
Community Discussion
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WOW, this is unacceptable. This program has done to much for so many.
The NP club is AMAZING, even more so compared to the one in town! We have to find a way to fund this wonderful school age program that is SAFE for our children.
Our Boys & Girls Clubs do so much for the kids. The Boys & Girls Club on 8th Avenue have done an outstanding job. They need volunteers. They need snacks, juices, toys, paint, repair to walls, doors, donations.
The new Administrator ( I forget his name & hope I have the position correct) has transformed the teen room to a very cool hang out. These people devote their time to help our youth. They need us to help them.
Cheering the volunteers & employees at Boys & Girls Club. Great job!
well individual donations are accepted... parents of kid organize fund raiser or ask for donations from businesses siting that it will be cheaper to give then fix all the stuff the hoodlums will destroy if they can't go to the club!
Crz_grl, who said these kids are hoodlums? Sheesh! Paint them that way and they'll prove you right. Many, if not most, of these kids are just that...kids; too young to fit your mold. Give 'em a chance and don't label all of them.
I am sad to hear about this and I applaud Alana Humphrey and John Oates for their efforts in Alaska. This shouldn't happen if a national program has its act together.
Hoodlums? I've actually went and hung out with kids at the club. I've yet to run into a hoodlum.
I think you should look into things a little closer before "calling it".
It is sad that these clubs are closing. They give a lot of kids some place to go after school - rather than going to an empty home.
this is a program i hate to see go away :(
JUST REMEMBER ALL THAT STIMULUS MONEY YOU OBJECTED TO......WELL HERE IS ANOTHER PROGRAM "ALASKA" THE BIGGEST WELFARE STATE IS LOSING. YEP! WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD TOO MUCH FEDERAL MONEY....ALASKA IS A FED STATE YOU'RE JUST TOO HARDHEADED TO ADMIT IT.
everyone who commented on crzys_grl's comment did not read it carefully-the person said that the kids who can't get in the club are hoodlums and will trash it- remember to read it carefully before you comment.
Also yes the Boys and Girls clubs are worthwhile and we should find a way to keep it open, but forget about a handout it is not coming.
These kids are not hoodlums, they are in a SAFE place from the hoodlums.
Do the folks who benifit directly from 'programs' like the food bank, and boys and girls clubs, offer to work for what they recieve? If not,..shouldn't they?
How much money have the parents of these kids donated to the clubs for free babysitting after school? The permanent fund check is out today, if these parents or others care so much give the club a donation to keep them going. Or is it easier to demand the government pay.
Hey Tug, i before e,except after c.
Good Comment, FreeDarfur
Also - until now I haven't heard a peep from the Clubs or the Paper, etc about how there was a shortfall.....
How exactly would one know to donate otherwise?
DNM a little late on this story, no? Also - no info given on where to donate, etc.....
Tugboat- there are mornings where you actually have some something intelligent to say. Some mornings... go crawl back under your rock.
Yes, yes, everyone should pay into the system. We know that. It would be wonderful if, miraculously, everyone became responsible for themselves, and learned they had a responsibility to their community.
But that's not happening.
In the meantime, programs that foster those concepts in kids are going away, just like this one.
If kids aren't learning these principles at home- which they aren't, nor are they in school- they have to learn somewhere.
It irks me that we can read about how we have money to give our public servants raises (whether they work for them or not), and how we want to tear down buildings downtown, and how we want to put in a bridge to funnel people into the emptiness of downtown... and the list of little pet projects goes on and on... but we don't have a dime for our kids.
Tuboat: Sorry I couldn't respond earlier since I have to work to pay for these enormous taxes on a place I own- ie. no mortgage. I never said the military can't own a home. I said the military is part of why we need a sales tax. And unless you own a decent home in the city, you will never understand.
Hmm, Does anyone see the irony here? Every opportunity to raise new capital at the local government level is voted down, then things like this go away and nobody has any money to help them.
No whining if you have voted sales taxes down.
deadmoo: So then they must have been running in the red since they opened? Haven't had a sales tax in quite a number of years yet "things like this" were STILL here... You make no sen$e.
deadmoo - that sales tax was a bafoonish attempt. It was not well thought out or well planned. It was seriously unfair across the whole Borough and it WOULD NOT have been used to fund programs like the one we are supposed to be discussing.
Stay on track!
The Boys and Girls clubs in Fairbanks/Anchorage were fun places, good programs with mentors and sports teams, at least when I was in middle/high school... I hate to see them go away in smaller communities where there are less opportunities and things to do than in the city.
College & high school students should come together to help the clubs in the areas that are closing, maybe even as part of a class or leadership group - would probably help with costs and budgeting, increase interest and programing, provide experience, and would offer more opportunities for students (many colleges have student volunteers for mentorship and activities, etc). The clubs could probably pair up with another organization or mentorship programs to help keep them going in the smaller communities... ie. Fbks has the United Way. Anyways, sports and mentorship help a lot with academics and give the communities fun things to do, and probably helps kids from inevitably tougher backgrounds stay busy and succeed, just need to look outside the DOJ (easier said than done, but it can happen... just because federal funding is cut doesn't mean the mission is over!)... The clubs have a good mission and I hope they continue in places that are needed. K, back to writing a paper do-op
Why not charge a small fee, give some of your PFD if this program is so important, why not parents do a fundraiser, if you want something you will find a way to make it work.
the north pole boys and girls club was notified on 10/2 that they are closing THIS FRIDAY!! they gave us the parents no notice. the ONE employee who works there did not know what was going on. i just hope that the closure is short and they can reopen their doors soon. as a parent whose 4 children have gone to the club and still do i've donated my time, energy and money to help the NP Club in anyway.
Sublime Magic - Yes, the Boys and Girls Club has been running close to a deficit, if not in the red, in Fairbanks since its inception.
FreeDarfur - Yes, the parents pay an annual membership fee. The fee is lower than say, membership at FAC because as the article states, there is a focus on low income families. The national organization has traditionally received grants from the Justice Department, but apparently, that funding source dried up with the majority of grants for kids in the recession. Where in the article did you read about the club "demanding government pay"?
akguy and everyone else - If you really want to donate, send a contribution to the club of your choice:
Boys & Girls Club of Fairbanks (Old Main)
Fairbanks, AK 99701
Telephone: 907.457.5223
A unit of: Boys & Girls Clubs of Southcentral Alaska
http://www.bgcalaska.org
Boys & Girls Clubs at Two Rivers School
FAIRBANKS, AK 99701
Telephone: 907.457.5233
A unit of: Boys & Girls Clubs of Southcentral Alaska
http://www.bgcalaska.org
Fort Wainwright School Age Services
Fort Wainwright, AK 99703
Telephone: 907.353.7394
A unit of: Fort Wainwright Youth Services
Fort Wainwright Youth Services
Fort Wainwight, AK 99703
Telephone: 907.353.5437
A unit of: Fort Wainwright Youth Services
Boys & Girls Club of North Pole
NORTH POLE, AK 99705
Telephone: 907.488.7838
A unit of: Boys & Girls Clubs of Southcentral Alaska
http://www.bgcalaska.org
Eielson Air Force Base Youth Center
Eielson AFB, AK 99702
Telephone: 907.377.3194
A unit of: Eielson Air Force Base Youth Center
Eielson Youth Programs School Age Center
EIELSON AFB, AK 99702
Telephone: 907.377.5437
A unit of: Eielson Air Force Base Youth Center
http://www.bgca.org/
I am not affiliated with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, but I know folks who are, and I think that this organization is one of the best resource available in the country for what we used to call "latchkey kids", kids of single parents, and kids who, without such a place to go, might end up on the wrong side of the law. The average high school kid spends approximately 20 - 30 hours per week unsupervised after school.
We complain about crimes committed by teenagers - let's give them a better place in which to spend their after-school hours, a place where they can receive homework help and the attention of caring adults. Kids who have a network of caring adults are much more likely to develop competence, confidence, character and compassion for others.
How ridiculous. Where are the bailouts for programs like this that are actually positive and productive??
Well sounds to me like Humphrey or someone ougt' to start up a bank account for donations and put up a number for helpers - I know that I would take myself, my man, and my sunshine there and put my man to work on what needs fixxing while i bring some grocerys such as juice and snacks......and so on. What do you think? Sounds like everyone will be willing to help and this is a sure tragedy!
seekouttrap - Well, it's been my observation that whenever a social program like this asks for "government help", which is what I'm assuming you're suggesting by the word "bailout", there is a public outcry, followed by an investigation, followed by the GOP standing up in Congress, calling for a dismantling of the organization.
And BIG_E86 - Sounds like you're willing to pitch in! Call one of the clubs listed above and see what you can do. God bless you!
Let the parents of participating children pay for these programs using their PFD check(s). What before way to use your (and their) PFD money then on YOUR children.
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