Notes From Our Director

Thank you for your care, concern, and support of the young people in our community.

At the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach, we make sure that the children in our community are not only taken care of, but nurtured and cared for in the special way every child deserves.

To many Club kids, we are their second family, their home away from home. Both children and parents alike are assured that when each child walks through our doors, there is someone that they trust and respect there to greet them, ask how it’s going, and to care about them through their ups and downs.

Last year we accomplished a lot, even through a time of turmoil. That was only possible because so many people came together and understood that by investing in young lives today, the future will be brighter for us all.

Today, we are working with a triple A focus to meet some of the most important needs of youth in our community.

Arts – Being in Laguna Beach, we feel it is our responsibility to make sure our community’s creative legacy flourishes. We know that art starts here with our kids. We are extremely grateful for our partnerships with Festival of the Arts, Redfern Gallery, Hearts of Montage, LCAD, as well as fantastic artists like Tom Lamb and Tom Swimm who work directly with our talented young ones.

Academics – We are totally committed to helping our kids achieve academically. We know if they are successful in school they are on the path to a successful life. Our collaborations with the School District seem to grow with each day! We also know that when kids get their homework done at the Club before their parent picks them up, that means that family time can be more about them and less about figuring out the answer to a word problem.

And then there are Adolescents – This really means a lot to me because I know firsthand what kind of trouble a teen left home alone can get into. I want to make sure that when the school day ends for teens, they have a positive place to go, both in terms of peer influence and encouragement by mentors.  Our goal this year is to get a skate ramp onto our Club and attract a lot of those teens who are out roaming the streets right now.

This Triple A vision is driven by a profoundly committed group of people, whose hearts and enthusiasm seem to grow with each day. From our Board President Bob Whalen, to each of our frontline Youth Development Professionals, every single member of our team does what they do because they truly care about our kids!

Every one of us can be a catalyst for change. Every one of us can help children discover joy, meaning and value in life. Together, we can make sure that every child knows that they can reach for the stars and achieve their dreams.
 

 

Sincerely,

Pamela Estes
Executive Director
Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach