Frank Callen Boys & Girls Club

Whatever It Takes to Build Great Futures!  Our Boys & Girls Club does whatever it takes to build great futures for disadvantaged Savannah young people.  Here's how we and our Club members are meeting and overcoming today's challenges and obstacles.

1. Growing Our Impact.  Founded in 1917 by probation officer Frank Callen, who saw daily the cost to their futures of unsupervised kids on the street.  From that small beginning, we now serve over 1,100 youth each year.  Our young members find a safe place, where caring adults help them with their homework, they feel part of something special, forge lifelong friendships, and through their activities they discover dreams for the future.  
2. Offering Results-Driven, Fun Programs.  Club members participate in  arts, career readiness, team sports, leadership clubs and STEM education programs. They achieve some of the strongest outcomes in the country:  97% expect to and are on time to graduate from high school, and 88% expect to complete post-secondary education or training. They have realistic, planned steps for post-secondary education and career. 
3. Meeting COVID-19 Challenges.  While closed briefly,  we provided “grab and go” weekday breakfast and lunch to members and their families. Virtual Club programs were and are available to all Club members. We re-opened in June with new safety procedures, reworked programs an nursing staff on board for our Club members' safety.

We're Still Building Great Futures! Today the Club is operating at about 25% capacity, for safety reasons.  We're slowly and safely rebuilding Club member participation, because building great futures can't wait. 

1. We've become a virtual learning hub for young Club members, in cooperation with nearby elementary and middle schools. Parents can drop children off at the Club during school hours, relieving the need for home teaching support. We provide that in our socially distanced, masked space - helping with technical issues, supervising the students, and giving support as needed.
2. After school hours, we revert to our traditional daily Club programs.  Gym activities and games, reading and homework support, computer and career exploration, and building friendships and self confidence. Teen members hang out in Teen Center Club Strong  until 8:30 pm, learning digital skills, playing music, exploring job and career options and participating in staff led discussion groups.

Please Support Great Futures for Savannah's Disadvantaged Kids. Even a small contribution can truly change a young person's life.  The Frank Callen  Boys & Girls Club is currently fundraising via our Building Great Futures Telethon.  Donate now,  on Telethon day, or any time in between.  We're  broadcasting with awards, live entertainment and more on November 13 from 1 to 8 pm, on the Armstrong campus of Georgia Southern University. Live segments on WJCL-TV and our Facebook page. Visit our media gallery below to see and hear from some of the folks we've served recently and in the past.