The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC

Local News

September 16, 2009

'Closing clubs not an option'

KIMBERLY BELLAMY

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Nash/Edgecombe counties doesn't want the public to get the wrong idea of where it stands with funding for the organization this year.

The organization held the second annual Phil Ford Golf Classic in August, which has been a big funding source over the last two years.

"We're greatly appreciative of the community support for the Phil Ford Golf Classic," said Theresa Shaw, executive director.

The fundraiser brought in over $100,000 last year, but due to the turn in the economy, donations were down this year.

The organization was awarded $80,000 for after-school workforce development from the Golden LEAF community assistance initiative.

Despite these big dollar amounts, the Boys and Girls Club is still facing tough financial times due to cuts in government funding, but refuses to close any of the clubs they operate.

"Closing clubs for us is not an option, the community has to support us," Shaw said.

"We are determined that we'll be here to serve these young people," she said.

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Nash/Edgecombe Counties operates three clubs in Edgecombe county: the Phillips unit in the Battleboro community, the South Edgecombe unit in Pinetops and the Edgecombe Unit in Princeville, and two in Nash County; the Lucy Ann Boddie Brewer unit in Rocky Mount and the Nashville Area unit in Nashville.

The funding it has received is just enough to cover the essentials for operation.

Shaw said $80,000 in funding is equivalent to one month of payroll and programming.

The reductions that Boys and Girls Club has faced is partly due to reversions and cuts on the state level.

The organization reverted $20,000 to state and federal agencies last fiscal year.

Two major reductions were $125,000 from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, which provides funding for scholarships, and $50,000 from the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency, which funds dropout prevention for Edgecombe County.

"That was originally in our budget but, it was cut," Shaw said.

"Our board is working hard to raise that money another way."

The decrease in funding hasn't slowed down the need to provide funding for benefits such as insurance. There was a 17 percent increase in health benefits.

"While our revenue is down, our benefits are up," Shaw said.

The cuts have resulted in layoffs of some administrative staff, cut-backs on the number of full-time positions, and waiting list for their after school program.

The organization let go of seven full-time staff, and six part-time staff members.

Due to a reduction in staff, the number of club members that the organization can serve has decreased.

Shaw said that she is aware of other non-profit organizations that provide after school programs that are in similar situations.

"What concerns me is parents aren't going to have enough safe places to send their students," she said.

"We're grateful, but we're really in a quiet crisis right now."

Text Only
Local News
  • IMG_5889.JPG Pizza Bowl

    The biggest football game of the year brings the largest sale of the year for two area pizza restaurants.
    Tarboro branches of Pizza Inn and Dominos Pizza are gearing up for Super Bowl XLVI Sunday by increasing their regular employee lineup by as many as seven.
    Pizza Inn is running a special that they believe will keep them busy throughout the day. Last year they sold over 200 large pizzas on Super Bowl Sunday compared to 50 on an average Sunday.

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • Edgecombe unemployment up in December

    TARBORO — Unemployment rates increased in 93 of North Carolina’s 100 counties in December. Rates decreased in four counties and remained the same in three.
    Edgecombe, which saw a slight improvement in November, fell back to its October 2011 level (15.7%). Of the 100 counties in North Carolina, Edgecombe and Dare are tied at third highest in unemployment. 

    February 3, 2012

  • Three ECPS campuses ahead of First Lady's nutritional guidelines

    When First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced new guidelines for the nutritional overhaul of school meals last week, they could have chosen three of Edgecombe County's public schools as their models.

    February 2, 2012

  • Lynn_Cale.jpg ECC Executive Named to United Way Board

    J. Lynn Cale, associate vice president of instruction at Edgecombe
    Community College, has been named to the United Way Tar River Region
    Board of Directors.
        The Tar River Region serves Edgecombe and Nash counties. Cale
    will serve a one-year term, from January to December 2012.
        He and other board members oversee 41 local health and human
    service programs funded through United Way as well as 21 Community
    Partners and various community development partnerships.
    RIGHT: J. Lynn Cale

    February 2, 2012 1 Photo

  • Pattillo Alumni Association on the move

    The Board of Directors (BOD) of W.A. Pattillo High School National Alumni
    Association, Inc. held a meeting on Jan. 21, at Pattillo School under the leadership of its President, Dr. Fred S. Wood, Jr.  All of the officers except one were in attendance, accompanied by 9 of 16 Board Members and 9 of 10 Appointed Standing Committee Chairpersons.

    February 2, 2012

  • BandSEDriverHouse.jpg Local students selected for N.C. Eastern All-District Band

    Three Edgecombe County Public Schools students have been chosen to play in the All-District Band. Lillian House, an alto saxophone player and Kaitlin Driver, a French horn player both eighth graders from South Edgecombe Middle School and West Edgecombe Middle School eighth grade flute player, Taylor Joyner earned the honor this year and will grace the stage at East Carolina University’s Wright Auditorium Feb. 3.

    February 1, 2012 2 Photos

  • Robbery prevention

    Community education on robbery prevention shares equal importance with the search of robbery suspects. Robbery prevention may seem unachievable, but we can not continue to ignore the problem of robbery in our community. As local citizens, we should create ways in which everyone can benefit from the knowledge of robbery prevention.

    February 1, 2012

  • GHW 01-28-1221.JPG George Henry White: tribute to a great American

      Why isn’t George Henry White a household name?  If Vincent Spalding has anything to do with it, that will soon change.
         Long ignored in African American history books and recognitions, George Henry White of North Carolina was elected to Congress in 1896, and re-elected in 1898, becoming the last African American elected to Congress after Reconstruction, and the first to serve in the 20th century.

    January 31, 2012 1 Photo

  • Project SKILL Updates

    The National Science Foundation grant proposal for Project SKILL (Supporting Knowledge with Innovative Life-long Learning) is currently in progress.
    This full-scale developing project, if approved, will prepare Edgecombe County's underrepresented students (grade levels 8-12) for college and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) careers. An anticipated approval date is scheduled for August of this year.

    January 31, 2012

  • KevinWilson.jpg Local Demand Drives Weekend Courses in Historic Preservation

    Interested in turning an old tobacco barn into a "man cave"? You can learn how this spring at Edgecombe Community College.
    In response to local demand, the college has developed several new courses in the historic preservation trades program, including "Preservation of Farm Structures" on March 17-18 and March 24-25.

    January 27, 2012 1 Photo