The Pete Nance Boys & Girls Club of Greensboro is a leading non-profit organization that proudly promotes its motto, “We Make a Difference” in the community.
Offering several unique programs designed to encourage and instill leadership through engaging, inspiring and empowering youth, it is an organization that has been around since 1860 when established in Hartford, Conn.
Recently, the organization was honored with a proclamation declaring Boys and Girls Club Day in the city of Greensboro by Mayor Corey Williams at the new facility on Martin Luther King Drive.
Mike Lynch, chairman of the Greene County Board of Education, supports the organization for the many opportunities it provides to the area.
“The club is an important asset to Greensboro and the school system,” he said. “It provides programs that foster scholastic achievement, promote character building and reinforce individual values. It is an integral part of our educational program, a part we hope to increase in scope for the city and the children of this county.”
The Greene County Boys and Girls Club was established in 2011 and soon created an endowment fund and solicited business partners. An after-school program was put in place, in which more than 137 kids are currently enrolled. Soon, science and math labs were established through local industry partnerships, and a student advisory council was formed. In 2017, an augmented reality computer was added, which provides a virtual reality learning platform to supplement school instruction. The club continues to expand its partnerships with community projects, such as an upcoming Dairy Queen ice cream sale with portions of proceeds going to the club.
Health and fitness programs are important to the organization, and the center features a regulation-length basketball court.
Every Sunday during the summer, a “Gym Day” is held for community participants, regardless of membership. Featuring games and sports, Gym Day has become popular with area kids and parents. Last week’s event saw 65 participants hit the gymnasium to help develop sportsmanship and team bonding. Gym Day serves to reinforce the organization’s comprehensive health and wellness programs as well by encouraging daily physical activity. It is conducted by several of its student leaders, who serve the club throughout the year in a number of sponsored events.
Destiny McClendon – a star sophomore basketball player for UT-Chattanooga – was a guest at the event to help those who would like to become more familiar with the game.
She was a 2020 Pete Nance Club and North Central Georgia Youth of the Year and routinely visits the club to provide physical training for members and their parents.
Stacey McClendon is the director of the club and says the positive response for Gym Day will be continued month to month.
“We planned and did this event because it is a wonderful way to reach out to the community and make a difference in the lives of others that need us the most,” she said. “It gives people something safe, organized and fun to do outside the home while meeting people here.”
The club has an open house planned for Saturday, Aug. 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its facility. The second-annual “Evening with Art” will be held Sept. 17 from 5:30-9:30 p.m. at Bend the Trend, 2101 Reynolds Parkway. The event partners with leading contemporary Southern artists featuring original artwork for sale. All proceeds go to support the club. Tickets are available for purchase online at bgncg.com/petenance.