Fewer Boys & Girls Clubs will be open in Northeast Ohio, due to loss of federal funding

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - Only 27 of the 49 Boys & Girls Clubs (BGCNEO) that were open in Northeast Ohio last school year will be open this fall, due to a loss in federal funding.

The Boys & Girls Clubs are safe, fun places for kids ages 6-18 to go after school.

“Our goal has not changed – we want to serve as many kids as possible in Northeast Ohio,” CEO Allen Smith said. “We have been encouraged by the support we’ve received from the community during this difficult time and will continue to look for ways we can serve more youth in more places.”

Smith said clubs in Cuyahoga and Lorain Counties were the ones most affected by the cutbacks.

Cuyahoga County is losing nine sites and Lorain County is losing eight sites.

Smith said it was “extremely difficult” to determine which clubs would open this school year.

According to Smith, it costs a minimum of $120,000 to operate a club. If you are interested in donating, please click here.

Fall registration is currently underway.

Below are the clubs that will be open in Northeast Ohio.

• Cuyahoga County: Broadway, King Kennedy, East Tech, Joseph Gallagher, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John Adams and Saint Luke’s.

• Lorain County: Desich Family Campus, Elyria South, Westview Terrace, Brookside, Frank Jacinto, Larkmoor, Palm, Washington, Admiral King, Clearview Durling, Garfield and Vincent.

• Summit County: Steve Wise, LeBron James, Barberton and Lincoln.

• Erie County: Sandusky Teen Center and The Regional Center for Arts & Academic Studies.

• Huron County: New London and Norwalk.