Success Stories

"I couldn't have made it without the Club"

— Ms. Sarah Fitzgerald, Club parent

The Mid-Peninsula Boys & Girls Club is a lifeline for the Fitzgerald Family. Ms. Fitzgerald is a single mother of five children who is a newly recovering alcoholic. As a result of her lapse back into alcoholism, she lost her home, job, husband, and relinquished her five children to her relatives' care. The unstable environment left her children with specialized needs upon their return home with their mother. Young James, age 13, is diagnosed with learning disabilities and has benefited greatly from the one-on-one tutoring our core program offers. Her other children, ranging in ages from 8 to 15 years old had problems from "learning to tie their shoes to making decisions that would aid in their success in life and everything in between". The Fitzgerald children have attended the Club for over one year. They are now doing well in school and have made wonderful lifelong friends at the Club. Ms. Fitzgerald credits the Mid-Peninsula Boys & Girls Club, its programs, and the staff as having played a major role by assisting her children feel safe and secure enough to make positive relationships with each other, adults they interact with, and their peers, and be highly successful in school.

"I know Brianna is safe at the Club"

— Ms. Alma Sandoval, Club parent

Ms. Sandoval is the single parent of three daughters and must work full time in order to provide for her family. Her daughter, Brianna, began attending the Mid-Peninsula Boys & Girls Club at age six with severe behavioral problems, at-risk for academic retention, and in-need of constant supervision. Despite receiving assistance from school teachers, counselors, doctors, and mental health workers, the family has a difficult time helping Brianna to concentrate and learn, placing tremendous stress on the entire family. Her behavior necessitates an individual aide to assist her in interacting with others, however finances only allow for the aide to be with Brianna for two days per week. Brianna needs one-on-one supervision daily. The Mid-Peninsula Boys & Girls Club provides Brianna with the extra attention needed for her to be able to be a productive individual, including her participation in a one-on-one customized homework session. Although her behavior continues to be challenging, during the after-school hours her mother is assured that Brianna is safe, learning, and surrounded by caring adults.