Some have sports practice or extra-curricular commitments, a few likely have jobs, some hang out in the park while others go home to an empty house to play xBox or scroll Tik Tok for hours. The bottom line is many teens are left essentially on their own for hours with no supervision or expectations of them.

Our teens need a safe place to hangout after school and during the summer months. A place filled with structured, youth-led programming where teens can be their authentic selves.

The Boys & Girls Club Teen Center will serve students from Smith-Cotton Junior High School and Smith-Cotton High School, providing engaging hands-on learning programs with a focus on academic achievement and workforce development.

The Boys & Girls Club Teen Center will offer 30,000 square feet of space for junior high and high school students to take part in:

• Academic Programs and Homework Help
• Workforce Development
• Life Skills
• Leadership and Mentoring Opportunities

The Teen Center will be built on Third Street across the street from the historic Katy Depot. This strategic location will bring a Boys & Girls Club Site back to the downtown area while also allowing easy access to the Katy Trail and surrounding neighborhoods. Boys & Girls Club has already acquired the land and plans to break ground in Fall 2024.

A Teen Center project of this size requires a strategic approach to fundraising. The total cost of the Bold Vision, Bright Future capital campaign is $10 million. That includes:

• Local donations
• Already identified foundations and grants that specifically support brick and mortar projects like ours
• Government funding through New Market Tax Credits

We have already secured more than $4 million of our goal!