TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Clubs' Second Families Bring Out Their Best

ADVERTISEMENT

DEBORAH MERON

Published: September 19, 2007

A place to play ball, hang out, stay out of trouble. The Boys & Girls Clubs is all that, say three young alumni — and much more.

The say their years at the club inspired them to succeed.

Nineteen-year-old Navoy Frederick II had friends in high school who got drunk, stole things and got arrested. At the Brandon Boys & Girls Club, he was surrounded by different kinds of friends: dependable, caring mentors.

"Coaches at the clubs really care about you and what's going on in your life," Frederick says. "The clubs kept you focused."

Helping kids was empowering for Chuck Yingling, who directed several Tampa area clubs.

"It was about building relationships," Yingling says, and watching good kids grow into strong, self-confident adults.

The nonprofit Boys & Girls Clubs of America celebrated 100 years of support and guidance to children last year. It also opened its 4,000th club.

The neighborhood centers reach out to children who have access to few or no other after-school and weekend programs. They come to the club to play, create art, learn leadership skills and get help with homework, among other things. For that, the kids pay an average of $5 to $10 a year in dues.

Famous alumni include comedian Bill Cosby, former President Clinton, baseball player Derek Jeter and actor Denzel Washington. Many, many more young people credit the clubs' programs and coaches with leading them to success as adults.

Anibal Cabrera, 23

Cabrera's parents worked late and wanted to keep him out of mischief. So he spent summers at the Jackson Springs Boys & Girls Club in Town 'N Country. There he found tutoring, friends and guidance.

By high school, Cabrera was on his way to becoming a model citizen.

As president of the Keystone Club, he organized leadership and community service events for other high school students. He participated in missionary trips to Peru and Chile. He taught English to children in Eastern Europe.

When Cabrera won second place in a regional speech competition, the club sponsored his trip to the nationals in Washington, D.C.

"I thank God for putting me into that situation," says Cabrera, who felt his involvement kept him out of dangerous situations. "I can truly say that the clubs molded me and pushed me forward — and I stayed motivated."

Counselors helped widen his focus to include opportunities that stretched beyond his working-class background.

"He was civically minded," says Yingling, who was Cabrera's counselor . "I could see him becoming president one day. I could see him becoming entrepreneurial, but he could also be in politics."

Today, Cabrera owns The Escape for Men, a barbershop and spa, and mentors youth leadership groups at the Interbay club.

Terrin Lawrence, 22

A shy little girl, Lawrence avoided the other kids at the Salesian club in South Seminole Heights and tagged along with staff.

But counselors pushed her to grow, immersing her in sink-or-swim situations meant to teach responsibility.

When she was 12, counselors gave her $500 to pay for a pizza order.

"What if I were the type of person that would steal?" she says. "I guess that's what I mean by sink or swim. I had the opportunity to be honest and do my job — or to steal. And they saw the potential in me to be a good person."

They were "brutally honest" with the kids, offering supportive but realistic advice for their future plans.

"They break it down and say, 'Look, if this doesn't work, what are you going to do next? What's your Plan B?'"

Lawrence became passionate about the performing arts and more outgoing out of necessity. She began singing, dancing and acting in the club's shows. She also was active in the Mayor's Youth Advisory Committee and the Keystone Club and was named the regional Youth of the Year.

By the time she graduated high school, on her way to Meredith College, Lawrence says she had become more assertive and outgoing. She credits the counselors' guidance.

She's studying for the LSAT and plans to pursue entertainment law.

Navoy Frederick II, 19

Majoring in physical therapy at the University of North Florida, Frederick carries a 3.8 GPA and dreams of medical school.

Even though he was a strong student in high school, he didn't always have college in his plans.

"Truthfully, I don't think I would be here without the Boys & Girls Clubs," he says. "They gave me a lot of guidance … and pushed me to succeed."

Frederick joined the Brandon club in high school as a member of the Brooks Bunch program, which teaches life skills and tips for applying to colleges.

The club kept him focused on his future at a time when many of his friends were getting into trouble. He looked after younger children in the after-school program. And he had a place to get homework done, socialize and get advice on going to college.

Accepted to UNF, he left for Jacksonville having created lifelong friendships.

"People at school usually go to clubs to satisfy volunteer hours to get into college," he says. "But it wasn't about that; it was very satisfying. It was about the family ties you make there. You learn so much about yourself and stay out of trouble."

Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay plans its 26th annual Steak Dinner fundraiser Nov. 7 at Desert Grill at Busch Gardens, Tampa. The event includes entertainment and live and silent auctions. Tickets are $300 per person. For information about the clubs or the event, go to www.bgctampa.org or call (813) 875-5771.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT