Florida Representative Darren Soto (D) released a statement blasting the Trump administration over withholding over $2.4 million in funds designated for the Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida.
Rep. Soto claimed that withholding the funds “is nonsensical and cruel” and only serves to “hurt our local community.”
Soto continues by arguing that these clubs are “a safe haven and place to learn for so many kids,” and “This injustice cannot stand.”
Jim Clark, President and CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of America, released a statement calling upon the Trump administration to “act swiftly and release the funds that families are already counting on. America’s future depends on how we show up for its kids — especially right now.”
Clark said that after-school and summer learning programs are an essential facet of youth academic performance and public safety, especially in underserved communities where families rely on the resources provided by the organization.
“Afterschool and summer learning programs are cornerstones of academic success, public safety, and family stability for millions of young people. Students show better attendance, stronger engagement, and improved academic outcomes, with 70% completing more homework and nearly half overcoming chronic absenteeism,” he said. “Just like any organization, Boys & Girls Clubs depend on financial commitments to operate If these funds are blocked up to 926 Boys & Girls Clubs could be forced to shut their doors, and more than 220,000 kids — many of them in underserved communities — will lose access to essential supports like healthy meals, caring mentors, and safe spaces during the most vulnerable hours of the day.”
In an interview with the Orlando Sentinel, college student Elise Rina attributes her success to the Walt Disney Boys & Girls Club in Pine Hills, as she now studies industrial engineering at Spelman College and has earned a Spelman scholarship.
“I need to come here, and I need to be part of this team,” said Rina. “Without the mentorship I got here, without the materials I got from here, none of this would have happened. I wouldn’t have even known I had it in me to do it.”
