ANTIGO – For some kids, being safe and happy can mean going somewhere after school that isn’t home. The Boys & Girls Club of the Northwoods provides a positive, safe place for youth and teens in Antigo and Rhinelander. Thanks to a donation from Security Health Plan, youth in these areas will continue to receive after-school homework help, reading assistance, life-skills, summer camp experiences, fun-filled activities and nutritious snacks and meals.
“Every child deserves the same resources and opportunities. They all should grow up with the self-esteem and belief that they can be anything. Sadly, that’s not the case,” said Katie Musolff,
a former board member with the Boys & Girls Club of the Northwoods and nurse practitioner with the Marshfield Clinic Health System. Musolf nominated the organization for Security Health Plan’s Employee-Driven Corporate Giving Program. Each month Security Health Plan awards $1,000 to a different charity or organization nominated by a Marshfield Clinic Health System employee. Employees are encouraged to nominate organizations making a positive difference in the community.
Musolff, an Antigo native, served on the organization’s board for seven years and is passionate about giving back to her community. She says up to 150 teens visit the organization’s Teen Zone location in Antigo every day with many from single parent homes or environments that include drug or alcohol addictions.
“These kids come with so much baggage. They just want to feel that they belong, and at the Boys & Girls Club of the Northwoods, they do. The school system is not able to meet the needs of these kids anymore, so it really does take a community to raise a child these days,” said Musolff.
According to Musolff, the Boys & Girls Club of the Northwoods provides a wide range of programs in a safe environment for kids to grow and thrive. One program called Be Great Graduate is designed for teens at risk of either dropping out or failing to graduate and teaches them academic, behavioral and social skills to be successful. Past participants of the program have even come back to mentor younger members.
The Boys & Girls Club of the Northwoods volunteers and staff are comprised of licensed mental health professionals, social workers, law enforcement and other resource professionals who are committed to helping members reach their potential despite their circumstances.
The Boys & Girls Club of the Northwoods operates out of three locations: two in Antigo with a main location and a Teen Center, as well as one in Rhinelander. All three offer programs during the school year and summer. For more information about the Boys & Girls Club of the Northwoods, visit bgcnorthwoods.org.
