Gene Matthews Boys & Girls Club receives top honor from North Port Area Chamber of Commerce

North Port Area Chamber of Commerce presented the Gene Matthews Boys & Girls Club with the 2020 Non-Profit Business of the Year Award on December 17 during its Annual Awards Luncheon.

The Gene Matthews Boys & Girls Club is one of Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties’ six Club locations where local youth can access academic enrichment, recreational and developmental programs that empower them to excel in school, become leaders, adopt healthy habits and plan for success after high school graduation.

“What makes the Gene Matthews Boys & Girls Club special is the opportunities the children get through the programs we provide,” said Chris Masucci, Gene Matthews Boys & Girls Club Director. “I have watched many of our members get scholarships, awards and confidence through our award-winning programs. These members grow up to be more successful and have a better idea of what they want to do in life as adults whether it be going the college route or jumping right into a career through a trade school.”

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the organization transformed its services to continue meeting the needs of families across the area. With instrumental support from key partners, the nonprofit distributed thousands of meals and food to those in need, launched virtual programming to keep kids on-track academically, opened the doors to serve children of local first responders, started a new daytime program to support remote learners, continued its award-winning afterschool program and more.

Highlights from the Gene Matthews Boys & Girls Club over the past year include:

• Five Club members received the Hank Aaron Chasing our Dreams Scholarship, which provides up to $2,500 each year for youth to pursue their dreams;
• Club members advanced to the regional Boys & Girls Clubs of America Fine Arts competition;
• Three Club teens were named Townsend Scholars, which provides a two-year paid tuition at a tech school or community college.
• Six Club teens graduated from STAR Leadership Training and each of them are now currently serving as Board Members on Boards across the community; and
• the Gene Matthews Keystone Club upgraded from a Silver Charter to Gold Charter, which recognizes the Keystone Club’s achievement of completing a minimum of 400 community service hours, among several other from Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

“As the Club Director, seeing our members provided these opportunities makes me very passionate about serving our members in the safest and most impactful way possible,” said Masucci. “The whole team here at the Gene Matthews Club has had firsthand experience with the impact the Club has on them as most of them attended as children and now can give back to the next generation.”

Click here to learn more about our Gene Matthews Boys & Girls Club.