Sponsor a child at the Boys & Girls Club

The Club is excited to share that we opened three new locations this school year at Circle View, Golden View, and Lake View Elementary Schools in the Ocean View School District! Kids in grades TK - 5 join the Club right on their school’s campus for a fun-filled afterschool program that includes enrichment activities, homework help, and time to have fun with friends.

These new sites give kids a safe place to go after school where they can make friends, get help with their homework, and just have fun. Each day, kids get to enjoy activities like arts and crafts, sports, STEM projects, and more. With our focus on education, our staff makes sure kids are getting the support they need to succeed in school while still having plenty of fun.

All participating children are from low-income households, are English Language Learners, or are experiencing homelessness. Ryan Brenes, our Chief Operating Officer, shares “We’re so excited to be able to reach more kids in the Huntington Beach community,” Ryan shared. “By opening these new locations, we’re able to offer afterschool programs completely free of charge for the kids who need us most. It’s not just about homework help—it’s about providing a safe space for kids to make friends, learn new skills, and grow. The Ocean View School District is great to work with, and we’re thrilled to grow our partnership with them to give kids in our community the support they need.”

At the Boys & Girls Clubs, we’re all about making a positive impact on kids’ lives, and we’re so excited to bring our programs to these new locations. Whether it’s through helping kids with their homework or giving them the space to explore new interests, we’re here to support them every step of the way.

This spring, the Club teamed up with Free Rein to offer twelve members of our Oak View Branch an incredible opportunity to participate in Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) sessions under the expert guidance of trained facilitators and equine specialists. Like our regular afterschool program, which is free thanks to your donations, the horse therapy opportunity was completely free of charge for the kids who participated.

Throughout the course, youth ages 11-13 learned about resilience by working with horses rescued from abuse, now living at Free Rein Sanctuary. Each week, the group explored a new theme: building trust with horses, enhancing communication skills (both verbal and nonverbal), setting and respecting boundaries, and understanding emotions.  Safety was a priority, with each session beginning with a thorough briefing on interacting with the horses. The program also featured special guests - police officers from the Huntington Beach Police Department's equestrian unit. This unique time together helped foster positive relationships between the children and uniformed officers in the community. 

Michelle Alvarez, Director of Family Support Programs, shares, "The kids are so engrossed in the experience of being with the horses that the lessons don't feel like 'learning' to them. To the kids, it feels like they're just having fun interacting with these extraordinary animals. But, as an educator, I love seeing each of the children build their self-confidence, their communication skills, and the skills needed to support their good mental health and well-being. We're thrilled to continue this empowering program and witness the growth, learning, and bonds formed between our young participants and their four-legged partners."

Thank you for helping give Club members extraordinary opportunities like this one! Your donation makes a difference.