Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties (BGCSDC) received support from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County to enhance structured literacy instruction to elementary-age youth participating in the organization’s Great Futures Academy Summer program (GFA).

The grant was provided through the Ira and Patricia Strauss Fund for Children’s Literacy, the Allen Wirtz Nobbe and Jo Bowen Nobbe Fund, the Leslie and Margaret Weller Fund, and the Bert and Betty Rosen Fund. This support provided Club members in grades K-2 the tools, resources, and academic support they needed to prevent summer learning loss.

Through structured literacy instruction, engaging activities, and guidance from Florida-certified teachers, GFA is designed to help young people enter the school year prepared, confident, and ready to succeed, with special emphasis on grade-level reading. This program combines academic instruction with the supportive environment found at BGCSDC. GFA helps students retain their progress from the previous year and ensure that summer is not a break from learning.

Originally launched in 2020 to directly combat the academic regression experienced by young people during the COVID-19 pandemic, GFA has become a signature program and an important component of BGCSDC’s commitment to helping those who need us most. During the past seven summers, zero program participants have regressed in their academic proficiency based on evaluations from certified teachers.

“Every child deserves the opportunity to build a strong academic foundation,” said Bill Sadlo, President/CEO of BGCSDC. “The Great Futures Academy Summer program gives our Club members the instruction and support they need to continue learning through the summer and return to school in the fall ready to succeed.”

With the support of the Community Foundation, BGCSDC can continue providing Club members with the opportunity to strengthen their literacy skills and retain their learning during the summer months to build a stronger foundation for academic success. To learn more about BGCSDC and its programs, visit bgcsdc.org

ABOUT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SARASOTA AND DESOTO COUNTIES:

Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties has been a leading youth-serving organization since 1970 and provides enriching after-school and summer programs to thousands of youths, ages 6 to 18, in Sarasota, Venice, North Port, and Arcadia. The organization’s mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need services the most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. The programs are designed to empower youth to excel in school, become leaders, adopt healthy habits, and create plans for success after high school graduation. For more information, visit bgcsdc.org or call 941-366-3911.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SARASOTA COUNTY:

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County is a public charity founded in 1979 by the Southwest Florida Estate Planning Council as a resource for caring individuals and the causes they support, enabling them to make a charitable impact on the community. With assets of $605 million in more than 1,600 charitable funds, the Community Foundation awarded grants and scholarships totaling $44.7 million last year in the areas of education, the arts, health and human services, civic engagement, animal welfare and the environment. Since its founding, the Community Foundation has been able to grant more than $542 million to nonprofits in our community thanks to the generosity of charitable individuals, families, and businesses. For more information, visit cfsarasota.org or call 941-955-300