CLEVELAND — With 49 clubs in six local counties, Northeast Ohio has long been home to one of the country's largest Boys & Girls Clubs.
However, after losing millions of dollars in federal funding, the Clubs have been forced to shutter several locations, reduce staff, and decrease enrollment.
The clubs provide families with access to free, high-quality afterschool programs that ensure their children are safe, supervised, and engaged in learning. To help close the gap, this Thursday, Sept. 26, 3News is presenting a daylong telethon to benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio.
Oswald Companies is sponsoring this special day of giving and has donated $10,000 to help kick it off.
Each donation of $25 or more will automatically enter donors in a drawing for two premium tickets to any Ohio State football home game or any Browns home game, except the Nov. 21 contest against the Steelers. Winners will be notified after the telethon. Donations can be made in advance; the Day of Giving page is now live here.
Money raised from the telethon will enable the clubs to serve more children in Cleveland and across Northeast Ohio by increasing membership capacity at their sites.
It's a cause close to many of our hearts here at 3News, including contributor and spoken word artist Chris Webb. He recently stopped by the station to share a reflection on why it's important to help.
"Share That Love: A spoken word reflection"
Sometimes the right push at the right time could determine worlds of change. Sometimes one spark of inspiration could help someone turn a page.
Sometimes a young person needs more than what they get from school and home. Sometimes a program could give trapped imagination space to roam.
A space away from chaos, danger, bad influence, toil and strife. A space with challenge and reward. Perspectives that give hope for life.
A space that very well could switch a path from hardship to success that might be the very first time you realize you could be your best. A space of excellence, community, mentorship, hope and care. Where needs are met, futures are built. Interest ignite kind hearts are there.
I've seen it quiet down the noise from neighborhoods and broken families for all kids, whether with solid structures or with empty pantries without preference, their programming is geared to alter paths to create safety and young leaders from their impact to this staff.
Through education, art, self-care, team building, mental health and clubs, young people's view of self transforms as they find ways to rise above minds that needs spark. Become determined. Quiet hearts find a world of wealth.
And I know personally because that mind change happened to myself, I can't list how much local programs brought new purpose out of me. How afterschool initiatives altered my life's trajectory. How all I needed was to soak up new perspectives in the safe space. And it gave me a belonging that sparked life behind my brave face.
And I know that there are millions out there who feel just like me, who were met at pivotal points and were provided space to breathe. And that support should be extended. That safe space should last forever. That's why now for our Boys and Girls Clubs, we need to come together. Let us help the next young people through our donations and gifts. Let us affect the future by spreading the word until it shifts.
Let future generations have what has been proven to change lives. So new young leaders could see healthier paths laid before their eyes, and it's on us to take that first step and begin to share that love. Let's all do what we can to give support to the Boys and Girls Clubs.