Vision realized — St. Cloud Boys & Girls Club officially opens

In St. Cloud, reality has met perception on a project that an entire community can take a little credit on.

The Boys & Girls Club of St. Cloud, located at 10th Street and Virginia Avenue, opened earlier this year, and held its official grand opening Friday — the culmination of two years of work and community involvement — in front of hundreds of community members, law enforcement and other stakeholders.

In 2021, the club was merely an idea in the heads of people of the community and volunteers like Raylynne Ketchum and Robert Bass.

“It’s so wonderful that we’re finally here, my heart’s beating out of my chest!” Ketchum said Friday. “This happened through the efforts of many, many, many people in our community.”

The facility includes an activity room, a calm, quiet ‘Zen room’ for reading, a big meeting room for group activities, and an outdoor play area. The club is right across 10th Street from Cannery Park.

But wait, there’s more: Ketchum noted Friday that another lot across Virginia Street may be available to expand the Club’s available space.

They worked to secure a facility, then approached the community to raise $600,000 — three years worth of operating expenses. It came in quickly, from the business community, local government and from private citizens — to the point the Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida came away impressed.

 “We’ve dedicated 30,000 square foot buildings, and I don’t know if I’ve seen this much energy and support in one place,” said BGCCF President/CEO Gary Cain, who was on hand Friday. “For me (as a youth), the club was a shelter in the storm where there were positive people who believed in me. You know the data around children; we have an education crisis, and the data doesn’t suggest we have a very bright future if we really don’t get intentional with our children.

Araeyai Wilder, a 10-year-old fourth grader at Michigan Avenue Elementary, who was one of the first Club members, read her own stirring message about the club.

“I love the club because I get to do my favorite things here: read, go outside and meet friends and do homework,” she said. “I come here every day with my brother Orlando, and it’s like being in an after-school paradise. I know everybody here knows I can do whatever I put my mind to, and I’m grateful. I look forward to making you all proud.”

It’s the third club in Osceola County, joining the Tupperware Brands branch in Kissimmee and one in Buenaventura Lakes.

For more information or to sign a child up for the Club, contact it at 321-805-4014 or email Director Alex Lindsay at aclindsay@bgccf.org.