When Our Young People Lose Out, We Lose Out
Last Monday, we at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater High Point received news that no youth-serving organization ever wants to hear: our federal Title IV funding through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program has been put on hold by the Trump administration. As I shared with the High Point Enterprise in this article, this pause threatens vital services for some of our community’s most vulnerable kids.
And make no mistake—when our young people lose out, we all lose out.
At the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater High Point, we stand on the frontlines to ensure that every child, regardless of zip code or income, has access to the academic support and caring mentors they need to thrive. For too many of our kids, we are not just a safe place after school, we’re their lifeline for reading support, math intervention, and wraparound programming that schools alone cannot provide.
The data is clear: third-grade reading proficiency is one of the strongest predictors of long-term success. Kids not reading on grade level by the end of third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school — a risk that doubles for children from low-income families. Early math skills are just as critical, often predicting later academic achievement and opening pathways to the STEM fields that fuel our economy.
Our Clubs deliver more than homework help; we provide a web of caring adults, enriching programs, and safe spaces where kids can grow into their full potential. This holistic support—tutoring, meals, mentorship, and positive role models—is what keeps kids on track academically and emotionally. And we do it all at no cost to families.
But that promise is harder to keep when funding is uncertain. The reality is this: the loss of Title IV funding presents a major challenge for us. The current cycles of grants we were awarded represent approximately $1.5 million over the next three years, with most of that impact hitting us now. Even with potential carry-over funds passed through from North Carolina 21st Century programming to help soften the blow, we conservatively estimate a shortfall of $450,000 to $750,000 this fiscal year alone, and nearly $1 million more over the following two years. Like many other organizations, we are still in a holding pattern as we await clarity on what this means for our education programs and the young people counting on them.
This is why the wraparound programs provided by organizations like ours matter so much. They are not extras—they are essential. When schools let out, we are there to keep kids fed, learning, and safe. When families can’t afford tutoring or enrichment, we step in to bridge that gap. We stand with kids every day so they don’t slip through the cracks.
But we can’t do it alone. Now more than ever, we need our entire community—families, local businesses, civic leaders, and private donors—to stand up for our kids. Not just for Boys & Girls Clubs, but for every nonprofit, community-based organization, and school working to give young people the tools they need for brighter futures.
When our young people succeed, we all win. When they lose out, we lose out—in lost potential, lost productivity, and lost hope for a stronger future.
So let’s stand together. Let’s invest in them—in their literacy, their numeracy, and their dreams. Let’s ensure that every child, no matter their circumstances, can look ahead and see a brighter tomorrow.