Jefferson County's First Boys & Girls Club

Jefferson County’s Boys & Girls Club at O'Connell Middle School, in Lakewood, was born of a partnership between the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, Jeffco Public Schools, government officials, and community and business leaders.  With school districts facing budget cuts, O’Connell was one of several Jeffco schools whose future was uncertain.  O’Connell Middle School continues to serve the community as home of the Boys & Girls’ Club in the after-school hours. The Club is open weekdays during the school year from 3:15 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., and from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. weekdays during the summer.

A task force of civic and community leaders started work on this project in 2007. 

Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver has been serving the metro area since 1961 and now operates eight facilities. They provide quality after school programs to over 9,000 kids ranging in age from 6-18.

Boys & Girls Clubs are invaluable resource providing quality programs, after school, at a nominal cost to families. “Our Boys & Girls Club will offer the youth of our community a menu of very positive life choices,” said Lakewood Mayor Bob Murphy.

Evaluations have proven that after-school programs are cost-effective as a prevention tool when looking at school drop-out rates, juvenile crime and substance abuse, and other negative behaviors that ultimately cost taxpayers.

 

 

Last Modified: Mar 8, 2013 05:18 PM