Paying it Forward: New Reality for Boys and Girls Club of Wichita Falls #117
Making Wichita Falls families and neighborhoods stronger and more capable since 1929, a new home opens opportunities for next generations. Connecting, learning and growing into tomorrow's leaders.
Jack Browne, Wichita Falls Times Record News, Sunday May 25, 2025.
The Boys and Girls Club serves one in five children at five area clubs, their Athletic Complex at Lake Wichita Park and Camp Graham Ball near Lake Kikapoo.
The new Eastside Boys and Girls Clubs opened in March, two years after ground breaking. The Donna Piper Community Center and Eastside Boys and Girls Club building came from a dream by Bob Gunn, who served on their board for 54 years.
Here services and facilities make families and the neighborhood stronger and more capable while reaching even more children. Booker T Washington Elementary is within walking distance and Legacy High School is 2 miles to the south.
The other four facilities are receiving better lighting, technology, flooring, and gym improvements, too.
At the Eastside Boys and Girls club nine different areas include a teen center, children's center, outdoor recreation area, open dining room, teaching kitchen, dance and art studio. Twenty computers are in the learning center tech lab, and a large gymnasium hosts basketball or volleyball activities.
Inspiring kids to be their best happens as staff lead students in “power hour” homework assistance, reading skills, and skills development for tech, money, photography, dance, arts and crafts. The five community clubs host a wide range of sports, including football, basketball, indoor soccer and volleyball.
Outdoor experiences at Camp Graham Ball expand experiences hosting 50 kids at a time with an outing to Lake Kickapoo. In the fall Northwest Texas Field and Stream hunters host boys and girls for deer and dove hunts.
A child’s membership of $12 provides access for a child for one year. Community contributions cover the balance, about $650 per child. Fundraising includes the annual “It just Takes One” annual campaign, as well as donations from the Alumni Association, area foundations, United Way and others in our community.
Make a life changing difference here in our community, donate to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Wichita Falls and share this info with others about the wonderful work the nonprofit organization does for our local children.
Jack Browne is a community activist and past technology engineer, sales and marketing executive at Motorola, MIPS Technologies and other companies.