For elementary-school students growing up in Glassboro and Paulsboro, the Boys and Girls Club of Gloucester County center offers a safe haven after school.
But the club will now be able to offer a place for middle- and-high school students to go after school and learn about career choices and options. It reached an historic agreement with Rowan College of South Jersey in Glassboro last month to establish a teen center for the club on campus.
“Our teen program is so important, especially how it ties in with our child-care youth ages 5 to 12 years,” said Patricia Withington, CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Gloucester County.
“This creates a pipeline for them so they have a place to go after school.
“Our E-Street Path to Career success plan starts with our younger youth and progresses with them until they graduate high school,’’ she added. “We are very fortunate to be able to host our teen program out of Rowan College of South Jersey. It is a great setting to get the teens acclimated to a college campus.”
She praised the college’s first president, Dr. Frederick Keating, for his support on the teen facility.
Withington noted that the after-school students at the teen center will be able to access computers, use the gym, visit the library and go to the drama center.
“It will expose them to a college campus and give them confidence that they can achieve their goals,” she said.
The center will open in January and serve all students in Gloucester County, according to Withington, who is talking to the superintendents of 14 high schools in an effort to arrange after- school transportation to Glassboro.
The teen program will also encourage young people to get paid internships with local businesses and teach them how to save and manage money. The E-Street path is to expose, equip, engage and elevate by celebrating career success. Youth will enter college, a trade school or the workforce.
Businesses interested in offering paid internships can contact Director of Programs Gerald Hodges by calling (856) 881-6084 or emailing ghodges@gcbgc.org.
Withington said people can support the club’s program by attending the annual fall gala fundraiser, a testimonial dinner to honor person of the year Rustin Cassway for his role in empowering Gloucester County youth. That event takes place on Oct.19, at Auletto’s Caterers.
For information, go to www.gcbgc.org/fall-gala-3.
