Boys & Girls Club of Apopka hosting teen carnival this weekend

The Boys & Girls Clubs of America had its beginnings in 1860 when Mary Goodwin, Alice Goodwin and Elizabeth Hammersley believed that boys who roamed the streets should have a positive alternative, and organized the first Club.

With character development as the cornerstone of the experience, the Club focused on capturing boys interests, improving their behavior and increasing their personal expectations and goals. A cause was born.

That cause came to Central Florida in 1944.

For over 75 years, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida has been serving the children who are the most needy. From its humble roots as the Orlando Boys Club, operating out of a ‘Quonset hut’ in Pine Hills, to its current status as the leading provider of quality after school care for at-risk youth, Boys & Girls Clubs has bridged the opportunity gap for generations of Central Florida children.

And this summer, the Boys and Girls Club of Apopka is kicking off the break from school with a safe and fun option for teens.

On Saturday, June 11th from 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm, the Boys and Girls Club of Apopka is hosting a Teen Carnival at the John H. Bridges Community Center – 445 West 13th Street in Apopka.

This event is free for teenagers 13–18 years old.  Music, food and games will all be a part of the celebration.

The program is funded by Orange County Government, and is being held as a part of the Save Our Students Orlando Initiative. Also sponsoring the event are Cobaris Ministries International, Livingston Street Church of God, and Access Granted.

According to its website, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida's locations are in neighborhoods that, on average, rank at the 12th percentile for household income and the 71st percentile for incarceration rates. Families pay either nothing or a nominal fee for their children to attend. By providing Club members with academic support, extracurricular opportunities and positive adult role models, it aims to break the cycle of poverty for future generations.