New Teen Center of Excellence opens in Ferguson

01.13.20

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis recently opened its brand new Teen Center of Excellence in Ferguson, Mo.

Inspired by a need to expand services in neighborhoods with a scarcity of quality youth programming, The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis constructed the nearly 28,000-square-foot facility on West Florissant Ave so that it would serve four neighboring school districts. The $12.4M center is one of the first in the county and will serve an estimated 1,500 teens ages 12-18 annually, giving them a safe and prolific place to go each day after school and during the summer. The facility offers a nutrition education center, outdoor garden, gymnasium, intellectual commons, theater, green and drama room, fitness zone, gaming room, music and art studio, innovation center and office space.

“Teens deserve a safe place to grow and learn, exercise their creativity, explore their interests, and build meaningful relationships with peers and caring adults,” said Dr. Flint Fowler, President of The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis. “Imagine how wonderful it would be if every community expressed this level of support for children.”

Programming at the Teen Center will focus on health and wellness (including yoga and gym time), education and workforce development (including college tours, ACT/SAT prep, tutoring, job readiness, internships and summer employment), STEAM education (including lessons about visual and performing arts, coding, app creation and robotics) and leadership and civic engagement (community service, character programs and advocacy training).

The facility will offer a ratio of 1 staff member to every 16 children, not including the center director, with additional staff, volunteers and occasional visitors from local universities or places of employment. Teens can use the facility with the purchase of a $25 yearly membership, though scholarships are also available for memberships.

The Dana Brown Charitable Trust is proud to partner with this organization to better serve the needs of children in the St. Louis region.

Posted in Trust News

St. Louis Organizations Come Together to Provide Learning Resources to Area Students Amid COVID Pandemic

At Dana Brown Charitable Trust, we are forever fortunate to witness up close the unwavering kindness and hospitality displayed by...

The Little Bit Foundation Supports Impoverished St. Louis Residents

The Little Bit Foundation advocates for impoverished children in St. Louis. Most recently, the Little Bit Foundation distributed new winter...

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Performs Special Concert Series

The Dana Brown Charitable Trust was proud to partner with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO) on a special concert...

Safe Connections Connects Vulnerable Teens and Adults to Essential Services

Safe Connections is one of the St. Louis region’s oldest and largest organizations working to prevent and end domestic and...

EarthDance Farms Carries on a Long Legacy of Healthy Food and Healthier Communities

On a 14-acre historic farm in Ferguson, MO, EarthDance shares the craft and science of organic farming with people from...

Get to Know Flance Early Learning Center

Flance Early Learning Center opened in 2014 with the goal of providing quality early childhood services to children from all...

Recipient Showcase

Animal Protective Association of Missouri

Youth In Need

Youth In Need’s mission is to build on the strengths ...

FAQs

Q

Are there any restrictions on how frequently I can apply for funding from the Dana Brown Charitable Trust?

A

Yes. Regardless of whether or not your organization receives a grant from the Dana Brown Charitable Trust, you can only submit one Letter of Intent per year. That means if you submit a Letter of Intent for the 2024 Spring grant cycle, you cannot submit another Letter of Intent until the 2025 Spring grant cycle.

Additionally, suppose you are invited to submit a full grant application, regardless of whether or not you receive funding. In that case, you can still not submit a new Letter of Intent until the following year.

The only exception to this process is the Collaborative Grant Request. An organization can apply individually for an award, and regardless of whether they were awarded or declined, they can participate in the next grant cycle if two (2) or more 501(c)3 organizations, both over four (4) years in existence, submit this type of grant request outlined in this FAQ section.

Finally, suppose you do receive funding from The Dana Brown Charitable Trust. In that case, you may not submit a new Letter of Intent until a full year after you’ve received your final grant payment from the award. (Example: You receive your last award from The Dana Brown Charitable Trust in the 2024 Spring Grant cycle. You may not submit another Letter of Intent until the 2025 Spring Grant cycle.

View All Faqs

Blog