No Place Like Home

Guest post by Traci Christler, Annual Fund Coordinator, 

Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland

Growing up in the suburbs, I couldn’t wait to leave Cleveland and move to a state that wasn’t “round on both ends and hi in the middle.” I was positive that there was something, somewhere, better out there for me. So, off I went, spending years living and working in three other states before I decided to come back home.

As I have gotten older, I reached a point that I wanted nothing more than to come home. To be back with my family and friends became very important to me.  I was tired of missing holidays, birthdays, anniversaries and the good old movie night, all because I lived a state away. There is no other place like Cleveland.  There is no place like home. 

When the opportunity came to work at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland, I jumped on it, not only as a way to come home, but more importantly, as a chance to make a difference in my community. Over the years, the city of Cleveland has taken hits, whether from dwindling education budgets or from Forbes Magazine calling Cleveland one of America's Most Miserable Cities. I wanted to be a part of making Cleveland a better place to live. I want to make Cleveland a better place to call home.  

Last year, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland was a second home to over 6,000 children. The Clubs provide kids with something that they need most - a safe place to grow, learn and realize their full potential. With over 50% of Cleveland’s children living at or below the poverty line (and over 80% of the children that come to the Clubs are living at or below the poverty line), the Clubs are a place where children can get a hot meal, play in organized sports, try their hand at arts and crafts and get a little nagging about their homework. All this is a reminder that someone cares about them.

Home is something that is easy to take for granted. That is, until you are away from it or don’t have one.

If you are interested in taking a tour of one of our Clubs to see our home, please contact Kara Copeland at kcopeland@clevekids.org.