Madison Square Boys & Girls Club, Inc.

The mission of the Madison Square Boys & Girls Club is to save and enhance the lives of New York City boys and girls who by reason of economic and/or social factors are most in need of its services. Since 1884, Madison has focused on developing after-school and summer activities that provide a variety of opportunities for at-risk children and teens to strengthen academic, leadership, cultural, and career awareness skills and improve their outcomes in school, at home and in the community. Madison serves youth ages six to eighteen at seven Clubhouses throughout New York City's most disadvantaged communities including Fort Greene, Brownsville, and Flatbush, Brooklyn; Fordham/Tremont and Morrisania, Bronx; and Far Rockaway, Queens. The percent of children born into poverty in these neighborhoods is high, with over 95% receiving some form of public assistance and 70% of the kids living in single-parent households. Sixty-eight percent of Madison's youth are African-American, 28% are Hispanic, 1% are Asian, 1% are Caucasian and 2% are multi-racial. Madison's programs are based on the following premises: 1) education is the most effective way out of poverty; and 2) youth development fosters the character needed to overcome the emotionally undermining impact of poverty. Program activities help reinforce lessons learned during school in new and creative ways while at the same time facilitating opportunities for young people to expand their horizons, learn new skills and nurture special talents and interests.