More than 200 young people from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County got their first taste of tennis on June 30 at The Greater Stuart Club, as the organization hosted its inaugural “First Serve” Experience in partnership with USTA Florida and the USTA Foundation. The event, designed to introduce members in 3rd through 12th grade to the sport in a fun, engaging and accessible environment, brought together participants from all five Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County locations for an afternoon of tennis activities, games and giveaways. Lou Reyes, Athletic Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County, was the driving force behind the event, coordinating all five clubs to come together for the day. More than 25 volunteers from the local community helped instruct and encourage participants throughout the afternoon. What made the “First Serve” Experience unique was its approach to showing kids that tennis can be played anywhere. Organizers utilized every available space at the facility to demonstrate that the sport does not require a traditional tennis court to learn and enjoy. Participants rotated through more than 20 stations designed to teach movement, hand-eye coordination, rallying, teamwork and the fundamentals of tennis using age-appropriate games and modified equipment. The afternoon wrapped up with the SWAG Court, where participants put the skills and lessons they learned throughout the day to the test for a chance to win tennis equipment. Every participant also left with a SWAG Bag to encourage continued play and grow their interest in the sport beyond the event. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County became a National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) chapter this year, joining a network that brings tennis and education programming to underserved communities across the country. The “First Serve” Experience is a reflection of that commitment, removing barriers like access to courts and equipment to ensure every young person has the opportunity to experience the lifelong benefits of tennis. USTA Florida and the USTA Foundation are proud to support initiatives that make tennis accessible, fun and welcoming for young people across the state. The energy and enthusiasm at The Greater Stuart Club was a powerful reminder that when the sport meets kids where they are, the possibilities are limitless. To read the full article, click here.

Keith Fletcher Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County, President & CEO We’re used to bringing kids to our five clubs. Now we’re bringing our latest “club” directly to them. Through June, we’ve been hosting a kind of popup program at Martin County High School that’s modeled after our Club at Jensen Beach High School. It introduces key facets of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County to a fresh cohort of young people who are at an important stage of their lives. “While the school can help get them academically ready for graduation,” says Lori Vogel, principal of MCHS, “there’s so many things that Boys & Girls Clubs can help with, including testing, resumes, college, jobs and just figuring out what they want to do next.” Nearly 70 ninth- through 12th-graders are in the program from 9 a.m. to noon. BGCMC certified teachers help students looking to improve their performances in math, science, and English. The individualized attention increases accountability measures and overall performances. In fact, we recently assisted in conducting testing for more than 100 seniors who needed to meet final requirements for graduation. But alas, it’s summertime. Everyone deserves a break from schoolwork. Outings and activities are a big part of Club life, so we made sure the Martin County High experience was no different. Every Friday, we’ve gone on field trips to play paintball or visit Dave & Buster’s, Elev8 Fun and Rapids Waterpark. It’s fun, so word is getting out—in the best way possible. “The kids are calling their friends and saying, ‘You need to come here, this is great,’” says Vogel, “which I think is really cool and we’ve been growing all week.” Workforce development is another key part of BGCMC programming. We offer industry certifications, courses, even apprenticeships in such diverse disciplines as drone piloting, coding, fashion design, electrical, HVAC, construction, and more. A centerpiece of our offerings is our culinary program. From our food truck to our growing catering business, the BGCMC culinary program gives participants diverse opportunities to gain marketable job skills and earn a paycheck. At Martin County High School, students get a literal taste of the program. Each day, our culinary team cooks them breakfast and lunch. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, anyone who’s interested in culinary can take part. There’s always more activity during the kitchen those days. By combining academics, fun outings, and jobs training, we’re upholding the core Club principles of academics, good citizenship and nutrition and healthy lifestyles. It’s all possible thanks to our partnerships with the Martin County School Board, the district and principals such as Vogel and Andrew Connolly at Jensen Beach High. We’re excited about the program’s future potential at Martin County High as it contributes to higher graduation rates and more young people pursuing greater goals for their lives. “This program needs to be repeated because it’s helping kids,” says Vogel. “We had to move fast to get this one off the ground. But next year, we’d love to get more job training involved. When we expose them to things through Boys & Girls Clubs and they see what’s out there, they’re like, ‘I’m not just going to work at McDonald’s or Target.’” It was a great beginning and can only get better, says my colleague, Dr. Timothy Aitken. "We're grateful for the opportunity to partner with the leadership of Martin County High School and bring this experience to the students so they can not only get help academically,” says Aitken, “but also experience the acceptance and support of Club culture—discovering more of what they're interested in and capable of achieving." To read the full article and more, click here.