Each month Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove highlights Faces of the Future.  Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove (BGCGG) has changed and saved lives, enabling young people to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Striving to help children “BE GREAT”, Boys & Girls Clubs plays an integral role in its community by providing children hope and opportunity through school age, family support, and community outreach...

My name is Charles ‘Clark’ Kent.  Over 50 years ago, when I was a young boy in Garden Grove, I attended the Boys Club with my younger brother, Gary.

I remember well how we would walk several miles to the Club just to play baseball for the fun of it.  My brother Gary never complained. During my time there, the baseball coach taught me how to pitch so well, that he would often ask me to let the batter hit the ball so that my teammates could field it.

My brother, Gary, wasn’t as talented and sat the bench all season. But he learned to always have a...

Many aren’t as lucky as me to experience being a part of a Boys & Girls Clubs for more than half their lives. Being a member of Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove for eleven years has shown me its importance in my life.    

I began at Boys & Girls Clubs when I was in kindergarten. The reason I started going to the Club was because my parents needed a safe place for me to stay after school. Both of my parents worked late and weren’t able to take care of me and my older brother.

When I began attending the Club, I thought that I would never fit in, was...

Readiness on the Road is a helping hand which helps parents as they prepare their children for preschool, in a fun way.  It’s great!

My name is Gabriela Velasco and I have two wonderful children, Chantal Dimas (16 years old) and Jair E. Velasco (4 years old). I always heard wonderful things about Readiness on the Road and I have referred people to the program.

Last summer, Readiness on the Road changed my child’s life. When Jair was 20 months old, we were told he had speech delay and problems with fine and gross motor skills. But my husband and I never gave up...

Hello, my name is Tanya and I am a Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove member at Santiago High School.  I was introduced to Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove at Doig Intermediate by Mrs. Scherry. I joined my 7th grade year and have been in this program since then. To me, Boys & Girls Clubs has always been my home away from home. I enjoyed all the activities we performed at Doig and always had a great time with my friends.

My eighth grade year something amazing happened to me through Boys & Girls Clubs. I was given the opportunity to perform in front of hundreds of...

Hello my name is Maria and I am honored to share my story with your agency.  I am very pleased with all the assistance I received from all those involved.  

The experience was marvelous and thank God that He put these people in my path.  I am grateful to your organization and all those that collaborated, but above all to Chela Marin, who helped me and put so much effort into this process.                                                  ...

My two sisters and I participated in some of the programs at the former “Girls Club” on Garden Grove Boulevard in the late 1970’s during our pre-teen years.The old house provided space for crafts, games and swimming! Growing up in a single-parent household, we were at loose ends during the summer months and looking for things to do. We lived down the street and around corner from the club, so at least once a week we would ride our bikes to the...

Main Branch has been my second home for 3 years now. I love the Club because there are a lot of fun activities such as computers, science, and sports. Kids should join the Club since it is open to everyone. The Boys & Girls Clubs bus can even pick up lot of kids from their schools. Plus, the Club is much more fun than staying at home. It’s easy to finish homework, especially since there are a lot of staff members ready to...

The Club has had an obvious, positive impact on my life. Now, I want my son to have the same experiences at Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove. The Club allows him to interact with adults and peers, explore ideas, envision inventions, and absorb a wealth of information. At only 4 years old, he already knows he wants to become a “doctor who studies flies on the moon.” The Club is inspiring his dreams and improving his communication skills. In fact, he is the most persuasive person I know. One particular day he sternly told me, “Listen to my words. I want you to...

Suddenly, when things were going so good, this small family's world came crashing down. The homeowners came and said “you have 3 days to get out,” we are being evicted. Three days! What? This family was shocked, scared, and worried for they had nowhere to go. They had just paid rent, the car payment, and the phone bill, so it was the worst time of the month financially. Since Daddy was working those next three days, Mommy and Baby Boy started packing.  Well, that third day came around and Mommy and Daddy had everything packed, but still had nowhere to live or put all...