A Boy's and Girl's Club Teen Center Story

Below is a great story written by Doris Isaacs. Doris has worked tirelessly as a community volunteer in Douglas County. She has spent the last few years working to add a Teen Center to the Douglas County Boy's and Girl's Club. We're almost there.  Enjoy Doris' story and discover how you can help this wonderful cause.

Pave the Way to Great Futures

Once upon a time in a charming and thriving community known as Douglas County, Georgia, there lived a young girl by the name of Hope. Hope was a typical, inquisitive teenager who had aspirations of making lives better for all of her friends, and wanting them to succeed in all of their endeavors, despite the shortcomings of the world around her.

When she was younger, before going to bed at night, she would talk to the Tooth Fairy. But since Hope was now 13 years old, she realized that the Tooth Fairy was also growing up and had evolved into the Teen Fairy. So, in her recent conversations, she asked the Teen Fairy for some advice. “How can we find more space at our Boys & Girls Club so that we Teenagers can have our own safe haven with activities and programs just for us?” You see, Hope realized that 87% of the members of the Boys and Girls Club finish high school, compared to the national rate of 66%. She also knew that 17% have a higher grade point average than non-members. Her primary concern was to have an affordable place to go and that the current building was just too crowded. Besides, the price of a membership is only $35 per year, even though the cost is almost $1,000 per child. This was not only affordable, but reasonable as well. The Teen Fairy did not let her down. A new 6,000 square foot Teen Center is being built adjacent to the building that the children call “their home away from home.”

While Hope was very grateful to finally have her dream realized, she couldn’t help thinking that there needed to be a way to remember those that helped to fulfill her wishes. So, once again, Hope called upon the Teen Fairy. “How can we create a pathway between the current Boys & Girls Club and the new Teen Center building?” she asked. “You know, how can we create an easy way to get from here to there?” This time the Teen Fairy came back with a very simple solution: “Get the entire community involved and ask them to help pave the way to great futures. This way everyone will feel that they were instrumental in making a difference in the lives of all the Teens; the walkway will be a transition from childhood to young adulthood.”

So Hope set about her task of putting a project together where she, her neighbors, church members, employers and everyone in the entire county could purchase a brick for only $50. Each brick would have a name on it, either the name of the purchaser or in honor or memory of a loved one. Surely, everyone in her beloved community would want to participate. She would ask everyone to get involved. They could go on the website www.douglasteencenter.com to download a brick form, fill it out and mail it in. “How simple is that?” she asked. To which the Teen Fairy suggested also giving a phone number to call (404-527-7102) or (770-830-0026).

Hope was very excited and encouraged. With the proceeds from the Brick project, not only would there be an easy way to make the transition to young adulthood, but there would also be funds to help provide the best learning programs especially designed for teens and……..

they could all live happily ever after.

Note: This is not a fairy tale, but a real life story where you can help to Pave the Way to Great Futures by participating. Won’t you do so today?

GREAT FUTURES START HERE