FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT

What do you think is the most dangerous time in a child's life? Is it age 5, when they first go off to school? Or is it more like age 16, when they are getting their driver's license and going out on their own?

Actually, the most dangerous time in a child's life are the hours between 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. every day. This is the time when our kids are most likely to get in trouble.

Those hours - 3:00 to 8:00 p.m.- are the
times when youth are most likely to either commit or be the victims of crimes. It's a frightening reality that we all need to be aware of. It's also a reality that, every day, as many as 15 million kids are unsupervised during after-school hours.

So what can we, as a community, do to keep our children safe? One very simple answer comes to mind: give them an alternative to trouble. Give them something positive to do in the afternoons.

We all know that the last thing kids want to do is what grown-ups tell them. The trick is to provide kids with alternatives more appealing than running loose in the streets or hanging out at the mall. And that's where Boys & Girls Clubs come in.

Boys & Girls Clubs are successful because they offer kids fun and exciting activities. Clubs give youth a place to call their own, where they can feel comfortable with their peers.

At the same time, Boys & Girls Clubs help kids develop the skills they need to succeed in today's world. Clubs offer youth valuable educational programs that help them improve their performance at school and develop a love of learning.

Clubs also build character. Today, more than ever, it is critical that we teach kids how to respect themselves and respect others. And how to become responsible, contributing members of society.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Carlsbad serves 1,700 girls and boys every year. We offer a wide range of programs, from sports and technology to the arts.

Most importantly, our staff provides our Club members with the positive adult guidance they need. For many kids, all they want is someone to listen and to care. And that's what Clubs do best: let kids know that someone cares.

Over the past three years or so, there's been a lot of talk about after-school programs and how to get more kids into them. I'm here to tell you that no one does it better than Boys & Girls Clubs. We've been around for more than 50 years in Carlsbad (140 years nationally), and we've developed programs that work.

Community support is vital to our continued success. When you support Boys & Girls Clubs, you're supporting the youth of Carlsbad and letting them know that someone cares. You're also helping to shape our future leaders.

And, you're keeping our kids safe by giving them a positive place to be during those critical after-school hours. Simply put, Boys & Girls Clubs work. And people like you ensure that they will always be safe havens for America's children.

David Kulchin
Boys & Girls Clubs of Carlsbad
Chief Volunteer Officer
dakulchin@sbcglobal.net