BEDFORD — The Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence County (BGCLC) announced the upcoming launch of the Boys & Girls Club of Dubois County, an independent site and regional affiliate set to begin serving youth and families this fall.
The strategic partnership allows BGCLC leadership to share operational expertise, programming strategies, staff development, and organizational support to help establish high-quality youth services in neighboring Dubois County. While structured as an affiliate, the new site will operate independently to address the specific needs of its local community.
Operational Support and Financial Separation
BGCLC leadership emphasized that while operational knowledge will be shared across county lines, the financial structures of the two entities will remain completely separate. Donations, fundraising efforts, and resources collected by BGCLC will stay exclusively within Lawrence County to fund local programs and facilities.
“We are excited to have the opportunity to support another community in creating a safe, positive place for young people,” said Frank Decker, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence County. “Lawrence County will always be our home and our priority. This partnership allows us to use what we have learned here to help strengthen opportunities for youth in Dubois County while continuing to grow and serve our own community.”
Ashley Gilstrap, Director of Resource Development at BGCLC, reinforced the commitment to local donors. “It is important to us that our donors know their support will continue to make an impact right here in Lawrence County,” Gilstrap noted. “Every dollar donated to the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence County will continue to support the youth, programs, and services we provide in Lawrence County, while Dubois County will build its own local support to serve its community.”
Extending Impact Across Southern Indiana
BGCLC currently serves hundreds of local youth through its ongoing Lawrence County programs, providing academic support, mentorship, and extracurricular activities. Officials view the addition of the Dubois County affiliate as a milestone for youth advocacy across Southern Indiana.
“This is about taking the strength of the Boys & Girls Club movement and helping another community build something of its own,” Decker added. “We are proud of what has been built in Lawrence County, and we are excited to share that experience in a way that supports more young people while keeping each community’s resources focused where they were intended.”
