Boys & Girls Club of East Mississippi

Whatever it Takes to Build Great Futures

Meet some of The Boys & Girls Club’s distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame honorees: Alex Rodriguez, Anthony Anderson, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Hulk Hogan, Michael Jordan, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Jennifer Lopez, Shaquille O’Neal, Bernard Shaw, Mark Wahlberg, Denzel Washington, and Kerry Washington. In Meridian, alumni include school administrators and teachers, bank administrators, firemen, policemen, and others that serve and work in the community. From pro-athletes to accomplished business leaders, Olympians to award-winning actors, each of these outstanding inductees first got their start at their hometown Boys & Girls Club.

There is no silver bullet to success. It takes an army of people, a safe environment, high-quality programs and unique experiences to level the playing field for all kids. Boys & Girls Clubs don’t just do one thing, they do whatever it takes to build great futures for America’s young people. The Boys & Girls Club provides afterschool and summer activities for youth throughout Meridian. It is a year-round program. There are four locations throughout Lauderdale County, with headquarters at 1717 45th Avenue. There are also clubs in Philadelphia, Carthage, Walnut Grove, and Kosciusko. 

“The Meridian location was founded in 1986, as a part of the national group. It is a nonprofit organization that employs 87 people full and part time,” states Ricky Hood, Director. “The Boys & Girls Club is a part of the community and provides local job opportunities. The club’s goal is to support the community and being a chamber member enables us to give and receive support. The chamber’s backing and the community’s assistance, both financially and through resources provided, is of great benefit.” 

The Boys & Girls Club provides a safe and fun place for kids to grow and thrive. When kids don’t feel safe, they can’t learn, grow, or develop the resiliency that will aid them throughout their lives. The club delivers engaging programs, such as after-school tutoring, focused on academics, health, and leadership. There is sports and recreation, education, arts, health and wellness classes, workforce readiness, and character/leadership. 97% of Club teens expect to graduate from high school and 88% expect to complete some kind of post-secondary education. 

Boys & Girls Club provides a world-class Club Experience that assures success is within reach of every young person who enters their door. Their goal is for all members to be on track to graduate from high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character and citizenship, and living a healthy lifestyle. 

And as you saw among the successful alumni, Boys & Girls Club changes lives. Imagine a place where who you are, where you’re from, or the circumstances that surround you, don’t determine your access to experiences and opportunities. One local member said, “The Boys & Girls Club saved my life”. Through your support, you can help make great futures a reality for our local youth with Boys and Girls Club of East Mississippi.

Boys & Girls Club of East Mississippi
1717 45th Ave., Meridian, MS