Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County

FORT MYERS, January 5, 2012 — The Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County Announces Closing of Barrett Park Unit, North Fort Myers. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County announced today that its Board has made a very difficult decision to close the Barrett Park Unit, effective at 6:30p.m. on Friday, January 6, 2012. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County will continue to provide services for the 300-plus youth served by its other facilities in the Lee County area. Those include Pueblo Bonito, Lehigh Acres, Shady Oaks, Sabal Palm, Suncoast and East Lee County. Staff will do its best to assist the Barrett Park Club members in finding alternative programs.

“Since 1974, our mission has been and will continue to be to serve our communities’ children, especially those who need us most,” said Executive Director Deborah Currier Liftig, Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County. “The Barrett Park clubhouse has been an integral part of the neighborhood for a number of years; however, after much analysis and deliberation, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County Board has determined that it can best fulfill its mission by closing this unit and consolidating resources to other locations.”

“It is the Board’s fiduciary responsibility to direct our resources so that we can serve as many children as possible with the very best programs and facilities,” said Liftig. “The current financial reality is that continuing poor economic times, reduced government funding and a $100,000 shortfall with our Individual Giving Annual Campaign donations have dictated that we close our Barrett Park Boys & Girls Club. We are saddened to close the doors of this Club.”

Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County recognizes that the children still in the community will need a place to go once the Barrett Park Club is no longer available. Therefore, Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County will work with several other organizations in the area that provide excellent youth services to transition its members into appropriate alternative programs.

About the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County:

The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs is to inspire and enable young people to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. Our membership dues are $10.00 per school year so that all children can have access to our programs. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County relies upon the philanthropic support of individuals, corporations and foundations in order to sustain and grow its services. To make donations, contact the BGCLC Administrative office at 239-334-1886 or 7275 Concourse Drive, Suite 200, Ft. Myers, FL 33908.