ABOUT US

OUR MISSION To enable all young people, especially those that need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens. OUR VISION Improving the lives of all Emerald Coast youth as the Premier Youth Development Organization. OUR CORE VALUES Safety – Organizational Over-Arching Value Commitment Empowerment Excellence Initiative Trust OUR HISTORY The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast was born in 1968 as the Boys Club of the Playground Area...

OUR MISSION To enable all young people, especially those that need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens. OUR VISION Improving the lives of all Emerald Coast youth as the Premier Youth Development Organization. OUR CORE VALUES Safety – Organizational Over-Arching Value Commitment Empowerment Excellence Initiative Trust OUR HISTORY The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast was born in 1968 as the Boys Club of the Playground Area with 15 Members. When economic conditions threatened the organization in 1988, local businessmen recognized the Club’s value and potential and made certain that it survived. In 1990 we enthusiastically jumped the gender gap and welcomed girls to the newly named Boys & Girls Club of Okaloosa County. Our focus broadened again to include education and we began operating Smart Centers in local middle schools shortly thereafter. In 2001 we opened another Smart Center in South Walton County. This became the predecessor to a fully operational Club in 2002. With the move, a new name was needed to better reflect our focus and impact on children and families in the region. We officially became the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast. In 2010, the existing Pensacola Club merged into the Emerald Coast family of Clubs. Later that year programming was also offered in Destin as a site based program at Destin Elementary School.Ground was broken for the permanent South Walton facility in 2011 and the Club was opened for programming in October 2013. Currently, more than 1,200 kids are registered during the school year and more than 1,300 enjoyed the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast last summer. Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast is a registered IRS 501(c)3 charity receiving funding from contributions, special events, grants, and major donors such as Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation and United Way agencies in Escambia and Okaloosa/Walton Counties.