FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE— November 14, 2025
Francisco Bueno
Executive Director
Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington
503-891-1878 | Francisco@mybgc.org
www.mybgc.org
Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington Expands to Ogden Elementary School Thanks to 21st Century Community Learning Grant
Vancouver, WA — November 14, 2025 — Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington (BGCSW) is proud to announce the opening of a new Club site at Ogden Elementary School, made possible through a 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) grant. This new location, set to open in January 2026, will provide free, high-quality after-school and summer programming for students and families in the Ogden community.
The 21st CCLC grant fully funds the new Ogden Elementary Club for five years, allowing BGCSW to serve 150–200 youth annually, with 75–100 students attending daily. The Club will operate every day after school until 6 p.m. and offer 6–8 weeks of summer programming, at no cost to families.
Programs will focus on academic support, mental health and wellness, and character and leadership development, ensuring that students have the tools they need to thrive in school and beyond.
“We have wanted to expand our services to Ogden Elementary School for several years and now, thanks to 21st Century Community Learning Center grant funds, it is a reality,” said Francisco Bueno, Executive of Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington. “We are excited to partner with school staff and other community partners to support Ogden students and their families for years to come.”
This milestone represents the culmination of over a decade of partnership between BGCSW and the Ogden community. For more than ten years, the organization has bussed students from Ogden Elementary to the O.K. Clubhouse, providing them with after-school programming. However, as transportation back home after Club became an increasing barrier, the need for an on-site location became clear.
Working closely with Vancouver Public Schools district officials, BGCSW identified Ogden as a priority for expansion due to the number of students who fit the Club’s target audience, the lack of other youth services in the area, and the needs expressed by the district.
After co-writing an initial 21st CCLC grant proposal several years ago that was not funded, BGCSW and district partners reapplied in July 2025 and this time, their persistence paid off.
“I am thrilled for the opportunity for Ogden Elementary to collaborate with Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington to enhance support for our students and families,” said Matt Kauffman, Principal of Peter S. Ogden Elementary. “Thispartnership will give our students a safe, engaging place to continue learning and growing after school and the fact that it’s free for families is invaluable.”
The new Ogden Elementary Club will open in January 2026, becoming the latest in a network of Club sites and programs serving thousands of youth across Clark County.
For more information about Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington and how to get involved, visit www.mybgc.org or follow @mybgc on social media.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington
Founded in 1999, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington provides safe, supportive environments where young people are empowered to realize their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible community members. Through after-school and summer programs focused on academic success, healthy lifestyles, and leadership development, BGCSW serves youth across Vancouver and its surrounding areas, with special concern for those who need us most.