In 1999, a group of dedicated individuals set out to give Pleasants County youth something new. The collaborative effort included representatives of Pleasants County Schools, Pleasants County Parks and Recreation, and community members who made up the first Board of Directors. Within the first month of opening, more than 100 youth joined the new Boys & Girls Club of Pleasants County. Today, the Club boasts nearly 1,000 members with its afterschool and summer programs, along with the Teen Center .From a few early recreation activities and homework help, the Club has expanded its programs to include everything from peer resistance training to computer technology. Club members, ages 6-18, can participate in sports leagues and competitions, educational activities, arts and crafts, leadership clubs, and more. When academic needs are an issue, the Club works with local teachers to provide tutoring services. Community service is emphasized through a number of activities, ranging from trail building in Pleasants County Parks to our own special Club-Cops-Community CARE events.

Grants have been an invaluable source of funding for the Boys & Girls Club of Pleasants County. Annual OJP grants, through the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, provide operational support. A $134,620 21st Century Learning Center grant enabled the Club to expand its afterschool services and devise a plan to provide an activity bus. A recent NOAA grant supports a science program that sends a staff member and two Club members to Mystic, Connecticut each year for a hands-on science camp created by Dr. Robert Ballard, noted ocean explorer.The Teen Center, established as a separate unit of the Club in 2004, offers year-round opportunities for members ages 13 and older. Located in the basement of the Jim Spence Center, the Teen Center is the place where teens come to meet with friends, get involved in projects or groups, play games, or just hang out. Through the community service program at the local GE Advanced Materials plant, the Teen Center received an extreme makeover in 2005 that included fresh paint, new tables, and new appliances for the kitchen. A technology grant from the Boys & Girls Clubs of America provided a 10-computer lab used for homework and technology training. Recently, the Keystone leadership club received $2,500 for its video describing the need for new equipment at the Club.

Teens have always been active leaders in the Club. They help with the dog pound community service project, work at the pool concession stand, tutor younger members, and support other Club activities. In each of the four years that the Club has participated, our Club member has been chosen as the West Virginia Youth of the Year. These outstanding youth have been Matt Parsons, 2003; Charity Drake, 2004; Rosie Dillon, 2005; and Salik Rashid, 2006.The Boys & Girls Club of Pleasants County has had a tremendous impact on the community we serve. We are the Positive Place for Kids in Pleasants County.