Boys & Girls Clubs of the Pee Dee Area received the Advocate of Youth award from Boys & Girls Clubs of America for their advocacy on behalf of South Carolina’s youth.

“Clubs like ours have a unique role as community leaders in providing valuable afterschool programs to our country’s youth that enable them to achieve great futures,” said Lisa Bailey, director of philanthropy of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Pee Dee Area. “We are wholly committed to raising the visibility of the needs of the youth in our community, especially the ones who need us most, and show what we can accomplish with the support of our elected officials and our community.”

Staff and members of the Board of Directors always stand up for our youth, and this year was no different.

• A key series of phone calls, emails, and meetings came with the BGCA Action Alert to defend funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers. These federal dollars pass through the state and help operate three Clubs in the Pee Dee Area.
• We continue to participate in the South Carolina State Alliance, which recognized our immediate past chair Patricia Singleton Parr as the 2025 Board Member of the Year.
• State and local legislators are invited to events and Club tours.
• Staff also began developing a partnership with S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce and discussed possible connections with multiple corporate entities.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Club Advocacy Engagement Recognition Program recognizes the advocacy work that Boys & Girls Clubs do every day, with an emphasis on impact, creativity and innovation.

“Boys & Girls Clubs champion opportunities for all youth, equipping young people with the experiences and tools they need to succeed,” said Neal Zimmerman, executive director of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Pee Dee Area. “Our advocacy isn’t just a one-day event. We are raising our voices every single day, to ensure top issues and solutions impacting young people are prioritized in our community, our state and at the national level.”

About Boys & Girls Clubs of the Pee Dee Area

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Pee Dee Area have been serving youth ages 6-18 for more than 60 years. Today, we operate eight club sites across Florence, Hartsville, Hemingway, Johnsonville, Lake City, Pamplico, and Timmonsville with more than 1,000 kids passing through our doors each day.

For more information, visit www.BGCPDA.org or follow us @bgcpeedee on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.