The Cliff Hagan Boys & Girls Club Mike Horn Unit received a $40,000 grant from Truist Foundation to expand their Teen Center. The expansion will allow the Center to provide positive social opportunities, develop employability skills, enhance their academic skills, and improve their fitness and health.
Teen members currently have their own space at the Mike Horn Unit location. The Teen Center expansion is going to improve the space that already exists, as well as taking the room across the hall and making that their own STEM room just for teen members.
The Teen Center’s indicators for success will include the number of teen members who regularly attend the Club and also the number of these members who graduate high school with a plan to continue their education at the next level of education, including college, university, or trade school.
“We believe our Teen Center expansion will not only help our Club teen members, but also the community at large,” said Steve Winkler, CEO of the Cliff Hagan Boys & Girls Club. “This growth will help our teens individually while also helping to contribute productive members of society into the community of Owensboro. The next generation of leaders are in our care, and we need to do our best to provide the best resources to help them achieve their goals.”
The Mike Horn Unit is located within a 3-mile radius of seven schools, including one middle school and two high schools. In addition to benefiting the local teen youth, the expansion will provide a pathway to retain the Club’s younger members.
“The Teen Center expansion will also help combat the environmental and home life challenges that the Club teens face every day,” according to a release from the Club. “It will offer strong mentors, provide a safe and encouraging environment, and give them the opportunities to enhance their job readiness skills.”
The Mike Horn Unit currently offers various programs and activities for teen Club members. They will offer more programs after the expansion is completed.
Some of the current programs include: dealing with the issue of vaping; teaching teens how to be resourceful with money; offering volunteer opportunities; providing extended hours to take teens on field trips; and partnerships with Western Kentucky University as well as Owensboro Community & Technical College.
“By supporting programs and services that enrich and enhance the lives of our youth, we’re investing in the future of our community,” said Calvin Barker, Kentucky and Ohio regional president for Truist, speaking on behalf of the Truist Foundation. “The new Teen Center expansion will provide positive opportunities for teens in Owensboro and is another way Truist fulfills our purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities.”
