Boys & Girls Club of Vista

Positive youth development through after-school and summer programs, free to children of military personnel. Emphasizing responsibility, confidence and success in school to build caring citizens in our community. Ages 6-18.

Why do we exist?

At the Boys & Girls Club of Vista we serve with one purpose: To inspire and enable young people to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. Concentrating on children from disadvantaged circumstances, we offer a sense of belonging and the tools to make positive choices to each child who comes to our Club. But we cannot do it alone. We need the support of caring people and leaders like you to help us reach children who need us most.

Every day, the professional staff at the Boys & Girls Club of Vista are faced with a daunting challenge: take one day, one program, one hour to help turn a life in the right direction. To keep a child engaged and eager to learn more. To create a relationship that will provide positive influence for a lifetime. Our staff is dedicated to teaching the importance of character in daily life. They are caring adults who strive to direct children to choose right from wrong. They instill a sense of belonging and promote feelings of competence. They give children a chance to make positive choices.

According to the U.S. Department of Education and Justice, students who attend quality after-school programs demonstrate better academic performance, more positive behavior and better school attendance than those who do not. They also develop greater expectations for the future. Therefore, Boys & Girls Club of Vista offers time-tested and nationally recognized programs in five core areas:  Character and Leadership, Education and Career, Health & Life Skills, The Arts, and Sports, Fitness & Recreation.

What have you accomplished?

We have hundreds of stories about kids whose lives have been forever changed by the Boys & Girls Club of Vista, but probably the one that comes to mind first is that of Sal Cirincione. A small boy from Italy who moved here with his family with virtually no money was brought to our Club years ago and watched our karate instructor for weeks, not realizing that he could actually participate for free. When the Sensei finally asked him to join them, he declined as he still thought there was a fee. A few days later Sensei told him that he could join for free and that day forever changed his life. Sal is now a grown man, a black belt in karate, a business owner and a proud volunteer of our Club as he comes twice a week to teach our kids karate ? the same way he was brought into it. To read Sal?s entire, incredible story, visit www.bgcvista.org and click on ?Alumni Greats?.

	How do you help people in my community?		Why do you need my support?
	How can I be sure that you will use my money wisely and won't waste it?		Can I Volunteer? How?