- Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coachella Valley
Empowering Youth // Changing Lives // Building Community
From education and career to sports and fitness to the arts, character and leadership to health and life skills, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Coachella Valley has provided services to the desert’s children and teenagers for over 50 years. Add My.Future, a new technology initiative designed to teach Club members the technology skills needed to thrive in today’s digital world, and you have an organization that is embracing its future so that many more generations can develop essential skills, make lasting connections and have fun. A simple two page application can be found online. Club membership fees range and are based on ability to pay.
The BGCCV mission is to save and enhance the lives of young people, especially those with economic and/or social needs, by offering a safe haven and meaningful youth development programs provided by a caring and qualified staff. They do this through a network of four full-service clubhouses, two boxing/athletic centers, and the Smilow Family Teen Center in Indio. The average daily attendance of all five clubhouses and two after-school sites totals 1,430 children and teens. Normal club hours are Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and closed Saturdays and Sundays.
The local club statistics show that 37% of members are 7-10 years old, 35% are 11-13 years old and 28% are 14-18 years old. 56% are boys and 44% are girls. The BGCCV help our youth become responsible, caring citizens and acquire skills for participating in the democratic process. According to the organization, 85% of alumni say the club taught them right from wrong. They also develop leadership skills and provide opportunities for planning, decision-making, contributing to Club and community and celebrating our national heritage. 67% of alumni say the club kept them out of trouble with the law and definitively 57% of alumni say the club saved their lives. This last figure is the most powerful and signifies the importance of the BGCCV.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Coachella Valley
Administration Office
42600 Cook Street, Suite 120
Palm Desert, CA 92211
(760) 836-1160
bgcofcv.org/
bgcofcv@gmail.com
John Carroll & Jim O’Brien Clubhouse (Indio)
83100 Date Avenue
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 347-5712
inbgcofcv@aol.com
President Gerald R. Ford Clubhouse (La Quinta)
49995 Moon River Drive
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 564-5555
twopositive@dc.rr.com
Frank Foster & Palmer Powell Family Clubhouse (Coachella)
85350 Bagdad Avenue
Coachella, CA 92236
(760) 398-5287
cobgcofcv@aol.com
The Joel E. Smilow Clubhouse (Mecca)
91391 66th Avenue
Mecca, CA 92254
(760) 396-2380
meccaclub@verizon.net
Volunteer Opportunities: You can contact any clubhouse and inquire about volunteering. Each volunteer must obtain background checks from the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Once cleared, you will be able to provide mentoring, tutoring and/or coaching of club members while providing support to club staff.
Donations: BGCCV is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization. Your donation is tax deductible. If you would rather contribute off-line or are interested in a Planned Giving Program, please contact Jim Ducatte at (760) 836-1160 or email jducatte@bgcofcv.org. Checks can be written to: ‘Boys & Girls Clubs of Coachella Valley’ and mailed to their administrative office at 42600 Cook Street, Ste. #120, Palm Desert, CA 92211
Photo by Kurt Schawacker
