As a part of the new series reviewing the Rush County Community Foundation’s “designated endowment” funds, we’ll be taking a weekly look at the Rush County nonprofit organizations that have funds that support their mission and work held at RCCF.  This week’s installment focuses on the Boys and Girls Club of Rush County.

The mission of the Boys and Girls Club of Rush County is to enhance the quality of life for boys and girls as participating members of a richly diverse society by helping youth help themselves by realizing their potential for growth and development as they grow into contributing human beings with the necessary skills for living.  Through an array of programs, services, and caring staff and volunteers, the Boys and Girls Club of Rush County fulfills their mission daily.

In 2015, the Club served 1200-1300 youth, with just under 800 members.  These numbers alone display that the Boys and Girls Club is a well-loved and utilized resource within our community!  The Boys and Girls Club is more than just a place for youth to play pool after the school day concludes:  a range of programs occupy the minds and bodies of the participating youth.  The Boys and Girls Club of Rush County has something to appeal to nearly every interest:  organized basketball leagues, environment education, arts and crafts, and games in the facility’s gym take place each week.  In addition, a program called Smart Girls meets weekly for girls in the 8-17-year-old range to provide education on positive self-concept, decision making skills, mentor relationships, and developing a healthy lifestyle and attitude.  Students not interested in participating in specific programs can receive free tutoring through the 21^st Century Community Tutoring Program and/or the Indiana Kids Homework Help Program.  It’s easy to see how valuable of a resource the Boys and Girls Club of Rush County is to our entire community.

The Boys and Girls Club receives ongoing support from the Rush County Community Foundation via two funds specifically dedicated to the Boys and Girls Club:  the permanently endowed Boys and Girls Club of Rush County Fund and the temporary Boys and Girls Club of Rush County Pass-Through Fund.  The endowed fund maintains permanently invested funds to pay annual distributions to support the charitable needs and activities of the Club.  The Pass-Through Fund was made possible by an estate left to the Rush County Community Foundation, dedicated specifically to support the as-needed requests for charitable good of the Boys and Girls Club.  Between the two Funds, more than $300,000 has been supplied via the Rush County Community Foundation to support the Boys and Girls Club.  In addition to this amazing amount disbursed, the endowment fund will continue to grow and give back to the Boys and Girls Club year after year, forever.

If you are interested in supporting the wonderful work of the Boys and Girls Club of Rush County forever, you can learn more about the Boys and Girls Club of Rush County Funds (and donate) on our website www.rushcountyfoundation.org, or by visiting or calling our office at 117 N. Main St., (765) 938-1177.  We’d be happy to give you more information on the power of your donation, today and for the youth of generations to come!