Palm Beach County’s largest Boys and Girls Club is set to open at Dreher Park in West Palm Beach, offering a 31,000-square-foot facility to serve approximately 800 kids and teens each year.
Facility Features
The Julie and Mike Connors Boys and Girls Club will feature separate spaces for elementary students and teens, including academic centers staffed by certified teachers, a culture arts room, and other resources. Teens will have access to workforce readiness programs, remediation, credit recovery, and college preparation, as well as specialized spaces to explore careers in healthcare, construction, and digital media.
The facility will also include a 12,000-square-foot gym with a stage that doubles as a dance studio, and a state-of-the-art kitchen where students can receive snacks and dinner prepared by other students trained under a professional chef.
Membership and Recruitment
Membership at the Boys and Girls Club is $30 per year, making it an affordable option for families. Recruitment will primarily focus on students from Belvedere Elementary School, Palmetto Elementary School, Conniston Middle School, and Forest Hill High School.
Jaene Miranda, CEO of Boys and Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County, expressed excitement for the club’s opening, stating, ‘I get chills just even talking about it. I know my upbringing and the fact that I had no place to go when I was young.’ The club is slated to open in September.
Original reporting: WPBF (Treasure Coast / Hearst) — read the source article.
