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STUART—The door to opportunity will open even wider for local young people seeking to sharpen their employment skills thanks to a generous grant from Truist Foundation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County (BGCMC). BGMCM’s Workforce Development Programs—created in conjunction with business leaders and offering in-depth insights on a variety of in-demand trades, vocations and professions—received a $60,000 grant from Truist Foundation. Committed to creating economic mobility for all, Truist Foundation prioritizes strengthening small businesses and opening pathways to career opportunities. By focusing on job‑ready skills and real‑world career exposure, BGCMC aligns with Truist Foundation’s mission to build career pathways that equip individuals for middle‑skill jobs and upward economic movement. The Foundation focuses on helping workers navigate employment, access reskilling or upskilling opportunities, and secure sustainable, living‑wage jobs.Thanks to its support, the BGCMC will be better positioned to help young people · Strengthen their career readiness · Increase their access to job opportunities · Carve out sustainable pathways to their own economic mobility The grant funding will support BGCMC’s skilled trades training, career exploration, virtual training, culinary arts, drone piloting, and Manufacturing 4.0 coursework, which provides hands‑on learning experiences and the chance to earn credentials relevant to a prospective employer. The grant will also help more youth and young adults receive enhanced support to overcome barriers to employment, education, or professional growth. “On behalf of everyone at BGCMC—our staff, our Board, and most importantly, our youth—we are deeply grateful to Truist Foundation for believing in our mission and investing in our future,” says Keith “Fletch” Fletcher, President & CEO of BGCMC. “This grant will have a transformative impact on our workforce readiness offerings and help open doors to stable, meaningful careers for so many teens and young adults in our community.” Through this grant, BGCMC’s Workforce Development Programs directly support Truist Foundation’s goals by equipping local youth and young adults with the skills, training, and support needed to succeed in the workforce—creating real career pathways and potential for economic mobility in Martin County.  “At Truist, our purpose is to inspire and build better lives and communities,” said Truist Treasure Coast Market President Steven Rivera. “That purpose comes to life through our partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County to expand workforce readiness, helping teens and young adults gain job‑ready skills, industry‑recognized credentials and exposure to in‑demand careers. We’re proud to invest in programs that open pathways to stable, meaningful work and upward economic mobility.” About Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County For more than 30 years, BGCMC has provided a safe, nurturing, and opportunity-rich environment for young people across Martin County. Through our Workforce Development Programs, we strive to ensure that every young person, regardless of background, has access to the training and resources needed to thrive. About Truist Foundation Truist Foundation is committed to Truist Financial Corporation's (NYSE: TFC) purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities. The Foundation, an endowed private foundation established in 2020 whose operating budget is independent of Truist Financial Corporation, makes strategic investments in a wide variety of nonprofit organizations centered around two focus areas: building career pathways to economic mobility and strengthening small businesses to ensure all communities have an equal opportunity to thrive. Embodying these focus areas are the Foundation’s leading initiatives – the Inspire Awards and Where It Starts. Learn more at Truist.com/Foundation.

Keith Fletcher Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County, President & CEO  This is the season for believing—and in a community as kind as Martin County, it’s not difficult to do. Even in the last-minute rush of the holiday season, the giving spirit locally is alive and shining through. That generosity can show up in wonderful and surprising ways. I’ll give an example in a moment. But first, we recently held our annual holiday relief effort Operation Merry & Bright. Civic groups, church groups, small-business owners, retirees and more volunteered in droves to assist our staff in the massive effort. Preparing food packages. Organizing toys. Wrapping gifts. Basically, doing everything necessary to ensure thousands of local children and their families can share in the celebration of the holiday. While you might expect extra goodwill during the holidays, Martin County thankfully embodies this spirit year-round. I recently shared this point with the Business Development Board of Martin County in its monthly newsletter Martinomics. “There’s a commitment (to others) here that really makes Martin County special. It’s hyper-realized during the giving season, but it plays out over the course of the year.” That’s especially important as food packages remain our highest priority this coming year. We’re grateful for the community’s recent response to local instances of heightened food insecurity following cuts to federal assistance programs. Your support helped ensure local families in need got the essential food supplies they rely on. Such needs persist, so if you feel called to help us meet them, please visit www.BGCMartin.org to contribute. It’s longstanding BGCMC practice to send all club members home with backpacks full of food every Friday so they can eat healthfully over the weekend. Everything we provide, including our services, are completely free to club members. The healthy meals and snacks they get afterschool at the clubs are among the most reliable nutrition they receive. Nearly nine in 10 children in our care qualify for Martin County School District’s free/reduced lunch program. So, we don’t just provide food, we equip them to make healthy decisions. From the vegetables they grow in the club gardens to the recipes, cooking tips and kitchen skills they learn in our culinary program—all tailored to lead to viable careers in hospitality—we emphasize principles of healthy choices and self-sufficiency. Such independence is further instilled through our youth workforce development programs, which include industry-led and directed training in HVAC, welding, electrical, construction and much more. The program helps kids acquire durable, in-demand skills for the local job market and lets business leaders share their knowledge in shaping the future workforce. Not all our contributors need be business leaders nor share employment tips, per se. One woman approached us wanting to teach kids at our Port Salerno Club how to crochet. We agreed, but I was admittedly doubtful that such lessons would appeal to middle schoolers. But by sharing her passion from an authentic place, the kids responded with an excitement that’s been contagious, making crocheting one of the club’s most popular activities. It’s a reminder that with the right mindset, anything is possible. And that’s why this time of year—and anytime of year—it’s easy to believe in Martin County that anything is indeed possible. Happy Holidays, everyone! To read the full article and more, click here.

Keith Fletcher Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County, President & CEO This column is a follow-up to my previous Fletch’s Perspective showcasing the incredible work of Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County therapy team. “Incredible” isn’t too high of praise, especially considering the obstacles they must overcome to provide care, the comprehensive efforts necessary to establish and maintain trust, and the cooperation required of our partners in the process. If you think therapy is popular today, you’re at least partly right. Even still, the state of mental health counseling exists in two largely separate cultural hemispheres. Studies show as much as a 10-percent gap along racial lines among adolescents able to access therapy. Fortunately for children in Martin County, BGCMC therapy team is available to deliver trauma-informed, solution-focused, confidential therapy. Best of all, they’re highly skilled at navigating and clearing the significant barriers to care, which include: Cost: Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the tenacity of our grants team, therapy is offered at the same rate as all BGCMC services—completely free of charge. Location and transportation: Our clubs are intentionally based in the hearts of communities with the highest needs such as East Stuart, Port Salerno, Indiantown and Hobe Sound. Plus, we operate a network of buses to pick up and drop off the kids—also at no cost. Specialized training: Our therapy team and entire staff remain trained in cultural competency curriculum and undergo ongoing professional development. Many of our staff members grew up in the communities they serve, making them uniquely attuned to the circumstances of our club members and living examples of how to rise above them. Stigma: Recognizing this as by far the toughest obstacle, we employ an advanced, holistic, four-tier intervention structure to reduce stigmas around therapy, which are especially pronounced in minority communities. Briefly stated, our certified therapists—and entire staff—are trained to identify and respond to early signs of trauma. This encompasses engaging with the member’s family, teachers and coaches, offering group and individual therapist-facilitated mentoring, and coordinating with trusted mental health partners as needed. Our mental health partners anchor Tier Four, which is activated if long-term treatment is needed. This dynamic is vital and therefore rooted in tremendous levels of mutual respect and appreciation. That’s because the vulnerabilities shared and breakthroughs achieved in therapy sessions are only possible thanks to the patience, care, and professionalism of our therapy team and the sense of safety and security our members feel—many for the first time in their lives—in the comfort of our clubs. It all boils down to trust—carefully initiated, steadily built and steadfastly guarded. To read the full article and more, click here.

Students prepare and deliver meal kits to peers this summer For Hometown News Newsml@hometownnewsmediagroup.com Oct 7, 2025

Keith Fletcher Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County, President & CEO Everyone gets annoyed with long wait-times and automated responses when on hold with a large corporation’s customer help line. We all tend to recognize that smaller class sizes usually foster better learning environments. These scenarios share a conclusion in common: People rightly place great value on individualized attention that prioritizes their needs and concerns. When it comes to caring for the mental health of our members, Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County takes a comprehensive and highly personalized approach. Credit goes to our therapists—led by a licensed clinical social worker and composed of credentialed counselors who provide trauma-informed, confidential, solution-focused therapy. While there’s much greater awareness today about the mental health challenges many young people endure, the numbers still bear repeating: A 10-year study published by the CDC in 2023 reports as many as one in five children aged 12-17 being diagnosed with mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. Forty percent of high school students reported a persistent sense of hopelessness. Twenty percent seriously considered suicide. Nearly one in 10 attempted it. Many children in our care come from difficult home environments. As high as 87 percent hail from low-income households. While limitations of finances, transportation and insurance hinder access to care, the stigma around mental-health counseling does much more so. Fortunately, BGCMC’s creative, consistent approach is overcoming such obstacles. It begins when the kids walk through our trademark Blue Doors. Club environments by design instill a sense of comfort, acceptance, stability and encouragement. Our therapists build on this backdrop with our four-tier intervention structure. Tier One enlists not only our certified therapists but the entire staff (teachers, case managers, youth development professionals) in identifying early signs of trauma and knowing how to respond, when necessary, and through a properly informed lens. Also emphasizing youth life skills, this level is vastly layered, incorporating year-around staff training, school-data collaboration, family mental health awareness and more. Tier Two invites members exhibiting early signs of mental-health conditions (isolating or moderate behavioral outbursts) into our H.E.R.O. (Helping Each Other Realize Opportunities) program, a mentoring program facilitated by therapists in concert with case managers. Should behavior worsen, the master’s level therapists—employed full-time at every BGCMC club and highly trained in crisis response and one-on-one treatment plans that contemplate the impact of trauma and present workable, sustainable solutions—intervene during Tier Three. The fourth and final tier connects members to long-term treatment and medication management with trusted mental-health partners. Through the virtue of extended time together in the club environments, our therapists forge close bonds with the members, becoming consistent examples of positive mentors in their lives. This natural dynamic enabling greater insights than an hour of clinical time traditionally reveals. The wholistic approach incorporating the entire family carries over at home and can positively alter longstanding patterns and reorient how conflicts are resolved. Best of all for our families, every aspect of this professional care is free. I’m incredibly proud of the remarkable work our therapists perform. They care for hundreds of kids in a fashion that maintains the fun atmosphere of the clubs for everyone while remaining connected enough to know when to pivot to small groups, individualized therapy or next steps if needed. They do a lot with a little while making sure the children receive even more in return.  To read the full article and more, click here.

FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS OF MARTIN COUNTY AUGUST 2025 Stuart, Fla., (August 1, 2025) – Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County (BGCMC) proudly welcomed leaders from Boys & Girls Clubs across Florida for the 2025 Florida Area Council event, held June 11–13 at the beautiful Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa. The annual convening brought together CEOs, board volunteers, and key staff from Clubs throughout the state for three days of collaboration, inspiration, and strategic planning. The gathering was led by Dede Brooks, former BGCMC Board Chair and current Florida Area Council Chair, whose motivating remarks set the tone for the event. Brooks emphasized the importance of board engagement, regional collaboration, and amplifying the collective impact of the Boys & Girls Club Movement. On June 12, attendees visited BGCMC’s Greater Stuart Club, which opened in Fall 2024 as the organization’s flagship location. Located on a 3.6-acre site behind the former Martin County School District headquarters, the 39,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility features a 15,000-square-foot public gymnasium, a performing arts studio, a commercial kitchen, and modern classroom spaces. In addition to serving youth, the Club now supports young adults up to age 24 through workforce credentialing and other career-focused initiatives. During a special luncheon, guests toured the facility and learned more about BGCMC’s innovative Workforce Readiness programs, Mental Health services, and creative youth development offerings. The event also celebrated excellence across the Boys & Girls Club network. BGCMC was honored to receive two prestigious awards: l Elizabeth Ainslie, BGCMC Board Chair, was recognized as the Beverly Burton Board Member of the Year. l BGCMC’s Readers Theatre Program was named Arts & Education Program of the Year. “We were thrilled to host our peers from across the state and share the impactful work happening here in Martin County,” said Keith Fletcher, President & CEO of BGCMC. “This event served as a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we come together to support Florida’s youth.” Participants left reenergized and united in their commitment to shaping great futures for the children and teens they serve every day. To read the full article and more, click here.

Keith Fletcher Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County, President & CEO In about 10 years’ time, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County (BGCMC) has exponentially enhanced the quality of our services, significantly expanded the number of children we serve, and consistently achieved improved outcomes for our members in academics, school attendance, overall behavior, graduation levels and workforce preparation. This is due overwhelmingly to the generosity of our community, the dedication of our staff and the skill of our grants team in attaining—and maintaining—applicable state and federal funding. One such funding source is 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC). Federally sourced and passed through the states, 21st CCLC funds are an excellent example of how to target grant assistance to those most in need, ensure local oversight and uphold accountability measures.  Administered with local oversight, 21st CCLC, broadly speaking: Empowers families to choose the afterschool program that’s right for their child, enabling BGCMC to provide nearly 700 children daily (and annually nearly 7,000 more through our outreach) with healthy meals and snacks, certified academic support, enrichment programs, field trips, workforce trainings and more—at no cost to the family. Improves learning by funding math, science and literacy teachings and academic enrichment opportunities—after school and over the summer— for students at lower-preforming Title 1 schools. Builds the future workforce through programs in conjunction with industry experts that prepare young people for in-demand professions such as HVAC, marine mechanics, drone piloting, construction, robotics, and computer coding—to name just a few. Locally, the numbers tell the story. Over 2023-2024, 21st CCLC helped BGCMC: Employ 43 certified teachers Provide 19,000 hours of instruction uniquely tailored to the students Serve 11 Martin County schools Teach more than 1,400 young people, of which 74 percent raised their attendance rates, 91 percent showed improvement in their grades, and 94 percent increased their English Language Arts scores on state assessments Support 135 positions More than 2,200 children all told benefit directly from the fund. Thank you for assisting us in delivering hope and help to our community’s most vulnerable children and families.

Keith Fletcher Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County, President & CEO In about 10 years’ time, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County (BGCMC) has exponentially enhanced the quality of our services, significantly expanded the number of children we serve, and consistently achieved improved outcomes for our members in academics, school attendance, overall behavior, graduation levels and workforce preparation. This is due overwhelmingly to the generosity of our community, the dedication of our staff and the skill of our grants team in attaining—and maintaining—applicable state and federal funding. One such funding source is 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC). Federally sourced and passed through the states, 21st CCLC funds are an excellent example of how to target grant assistance to those most in need, ensure local oversight and uphold accountability measures.  Administered with local oversight, 21st CCLC, broadly speaking: Empowers families to choose the afterschool program that’s right for their child, enabling BGCMC to provide nearly 700 children daily (and annually nearly 7,000 more through our outreach) with healthy meals and snacks, certified academic support, enrichment programs, field trips, workforce trainings and more—at no cost to the family. Improves learning by funding math, science and literacy teachings and academic enrichment opportunities—after school and over the summer— for students at lower-preforming Title 1 schools. Builds the future workforce through programs in conjunction with industry experts that prepare young people for in-demand professions such as HVAC, marine mechanics, drone piloting, construction, robotics, and computer coding—to name just a few. Locally, the numbers tell the story. Over 2023-2024, 21st CCLC helped BGCMC: Employ 43 certified teachers Provide 19,000 hours of instruction uniquely tailored to the students Serve 11 Martin County schools Teach more than 1,400 young people, of which 74 percent raised their attendance rates, 91 percent showed improvement in their grades, and 94 percent increased their English Language Arts scores on state assessments Support 135 positions More than 2,200 children all told benefit directly from the fund. Thank you for assisting us in delivering hope and help to our community’s most vulnerable children and families.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County introduced its 2025 Youth of the Year winner Mildred C. to the community during the June 17 meeting of the Board of County Commissioners. From left are Cole-Clark Club Post Secondary Manager Michael Bouzi, BGCMC Director of Marketing and External Affairs Meghan Shirey, Mildred and Commission Chairwoman Sarah Heard. By Donald Rodrigue For Hometown News STUART — The Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County introduced its 2025 Youth of the Year winner, Mildred C., to the community during the June 17 meeting of the Board of County Commissioners. BGCMC Director of Marketing and External Affairs Meghan Shirey began the presentation with a brief history of the organization’s Youth of the Year program, which is part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s annual competition. All county winners compete in regional and statewide events, and the Florida winner advances to the national competition. “The Youth of the Year event recognizes the incredible achievements of some of its most distinct and inspiring members,” she said. “Youth of the Year candidates are celebrated for their academic discipline, spirit of good citizenship and record of volunteerism; commitment to making healthy choices, avoiding vaping, drugs and other dangerous patterns; exhibiting leadership and support to their peers; and pursuing education, training and career paths to contribute to a better world.” Shirey noted that the BGCMC serves nearly 1,000 children daily across its five clubs in the county, and about 7,000 children annually through additional programs. “It should be noted that to earn even consideration for Youth of the Year, the candidates must make extraordinary efforts consistently, comprehensively and with an unquestionably clear commitment to excellence,” she explained. “Local winners advance to regional, state and national competitions, and I’m honored to say that our Youth of the Year placed in the top four in the entire state of Florida. So, it is my honor to introduce to you Mildred C.” Mildred, an incoming junior at South Fork High School this fall, began her speech by describing how a family tragedy led her from Palm Beach County to the Cole-Clark Club in Hobe Sound. “Throughout my time on this Earth, I’ve learned the further you travel down the road of life, the richer your journey becomes, with wisdom, strength and growth,” she said. “One of the biggest challenges I encountered was when my dad tragically passed away after getting deported. It was a very hard time for my family. My mom had to support my two brothers and me, playing both parental roles. Despite the hardships, she always stayed strong for us.” Mildred told the board how her mother’s decision to move the family nearly threw her for a loop. “When she made the decision to move from Jupiter to Hobe Sound, I was devastated,” she explained. “I felt we were finally figuring things out, and now we’re leaving our home. But this was where the Boys & Girls Club became my second home. I’ve been going to my club since fifth grade, and it changed me for the better. My club environment gives people a new beginning and a helping hand when needed.” Emphasizing that the staff at the Cole-Clark Club were “all so kind and people you can always go to,” Mildred described how she arrived an introvert but wasn’t permitted to remain that way. “Not long ago, I was a shy person. I’d never talk,” she said. “I’d just go to the club, sit on my phone, and that’s it. I was afraid of what people might think of me, so I found it easier to stay in my own bubble. However, the staff would motivate me to participate in fun, engaging activities to find myself and make new friends. Even though I didn’t make it easy for them, they never gave up on me.” This year’s Youth of the Year winner insists that Boys & Girls Clubs are much more than what some describe as an after-school babysitting service. “My club provides opportunities that go beyond a simple daycare,” she said. “For instance, my mom is a single mother raising three kids, so money was tight. I feared not going to college but didn’t want to put that burden on my mother. However, in sixth grade I earned my very first scholarship in my club, covering four years of college. This meant the world to me and my family. ‘Great futures start here’ is a phrase I’ve often heard throughout my club. I am living proof that the Boys & Girls Club wants to ensure that this happens.” At age 14, Mildred joined the club’s culinary team, which has enabled her to learn new skills while also earning a paycheck. Now, she can not only buy her own personal items but also help her mother financially. “There are so many different paths I could have taken — some maybe better than others, but some could have been a real catastrophe for me,” she concluded. “But the path that led me to the Boys & Girls Club has placed me down a brighter path toward my dreams and aspirations. I know if I ever get knocked down, I can count on my club to pick me right back up.” After the applause died down and Commission Chairwoman Sarah Heard posed for a photograph with Mildred, she offered a final comment. “Mildred will go far, won’t she?” Heard said to her colleagues on the dais. “Yes, she will,” Commissioner Stacey Hetherington responded. The Youth of the Year program was established by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America in 1947 to honor the achievements of outstanding young people and recognize their community service efforts, academic success and commitment to healthy lifestyles. Its goals are to promote character building and leadership qualities in youth. The competition culminates each year with the selection of the National Youth of the Year. Read the whole article, here.