The Oscar Cross Boys and Girls Club of Paducah has been a vital force in the Paducah-McCracken County community for over sixty years. It began with a dream of Oscar M. Cross, a probation officer, who saw a need for young men to set higher goals for themselves and prepare for their future. Fast forward to today, the Club has offered positive programs and endless opportunities for youth in our area. Thanks to a partnership
The Oscar Cross Boys and Girls Club of Paducah has been a vital force in the Paducah-McCracken County community for over sixty years. It began with a dream of Oscar M. Cross, a probation officer, who saw a need for young men to set higher goals for themselves and prepare for their future. Fast forward to today, the Club has offered positive programs and endless opportunities for youth in our area.
Thanks to a partnership with the City of Paducah, the Club recently opened a new facility on Park Avenue dedicated to youth development and recreation for members currently enrolled in elementary school. The original facility, Oscar Cross Midtown, is now dedicated to offering positive opportunities for middle school and high school youth.
There are very few facilities in Western Kentucky that focus directly on the development of middle school and high school youth. Since the 2013 Summer Program began, the Club has served over forty teens ever day. Oscar Cross Park Avenue has maintained an average daily attendance of over 140 kids each day. There are workshops to assist with educational development during the summer months as well as fun activities and field trips.
Although this is an effort initiated by the Club to address the growing need of our youth for more space and more programming their goal can only be accomplished with the support of our community.
“Sustainability is critical. We need our community to realize that the Boys and Girls Club opens a door every day to help our children become productive, caring and responsible citizens” says Executive Director Allen Treece.
Oscar Cross had a vision for the youth of Paducah. He made a commitment to keep them off of the streets, out of the juvenile justice system and to provide educational experiences that were taught outside the traditional classrooms at school. Today the Club works to find new ways to fulfill the vision of Mr. Cross.
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