'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."

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