SEATTLE — Boys & Girls Clubs throughout the country provide kids with high-quality, low-cost activities and educational opportunities. Tre Beauchamp started attending the Boys & Girls Club of Wallingford in third grade, and he is now the director of teen programming.
“I take a lot of those things I’ve learned from my previous counselors who I now get to work with, and I like to bring that to young people as well,” Beauchamp said. “It’s just been an amazing journey to be able to teach young people about their lives and how to become members of society today.”
The Boys & Girls Club offers a supportive place to do homework, compete in e-sports tournaments or express creativity through art projects. There are also community service and leadership opportunities. The Keystone program for high schoolers focuses on community service, college prep, career readiness and fun.
“We offer whatever we can that’s going to be impactful to these young people and make a difference in their lives,” Beauchamp said.
The Boys & Girls Club does charge families for services, but it’s a small portion of what is required to keep the clubs open. Even if a family is not able to pay the full amount, the club offers scholarships to help kids attend at a lower cost. Donations help provide those scholarships and keep program costs low for families.
“These donations really are important to keeping our doors open and serving as many kids as we can,” Beauchamp said.
A matching program of up to $100,000 for many donors is now available through December 31. To learn more and donate, visit the Boys and Girls Clubs of King County website.