New Study Shows "Tremendous" Economic Impact of New Jersey Boys & Girls Clubs

CLIFTON, N.J., March 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A study just released by Prof. Jamshid Damooei of Damooei Global Research demonstrates how the social and economic benefits provided by New Jersey Boys & Girls Clubs translate into "tremendous economic value" for New Jersey Club members, their parents and their communities.

According to the report, "[w]hile it is easy to appreciate the work of the Clubs in qualitative and emotional or social terms, it requires additional analysis to understand the monetary and economic value of these institutions. At first glance, the Clubs can be praised for the social benefits that they create in the state. However, by digging deeper, it becomes readily apparent that these social benefits create tremendous economic value in New Jersey."

The study found that every dollar invested in Boys & Girls Clubs can generate 15 dollars of positive impact in the community, through improved safety and academic performance for children and teenagers, as well as increased parental income. For example:

• Every $1 spent by the Clubs to provide a safe after-school environment can save $2 annually on costs communities could have incurred for teenage pregnancies and births, underage drinking and expenditures for the criminal justice system.
• For every $1 spent by the Clubs, $1.45 of increased earnings is generated through the increased lifetime earnings of Club members, whose school performance and graduation rates improve through educational assistance.
• Every $1 spent by the Clubs can generate $9 of earnings by parents, who can keep their jobs due to high-quality, low-cost after-school supervision offered by the Clubs.

The study identified several additional areas where Club participation has significant economic implications:

Health: More than 60% of registered Club members reported reaching or maintaining a healthy weight by participating in physical activities; and 62.4% of parents report that their children have made better food and drink choices since attending Boys & Girls Clubs.

Parental education: 20.4% of parents whose children attend the Clubs have been able to pursue further education or skills training.

"The economic impact report confirms that the essential investment Boys & Girls Clubs make, on a daily basis, in the future of our young people is really an investment in the future of our state," said Al Koeppe, Chairman of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.

"This study clearly shows that New Jersey Boys & Girls Clubs have an impact even beyond the enormous social and educational benefits we have always recognized," said Boys & Girls Clubs CEO Connie Ludwin. "The tremendous economic rate of return is a testament to the vital role the Clubs play in shaping the lives and futures of members and their parents, as well as the community."

About the Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey

Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey serve 85,000 children ages 6-18.  There are 23 Club organizations in 65 communities who work daily to assist youth from all backgrounds achieve their full potential as productive adults and responsible citizens. Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey are part of a national network of local Clubs and Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

More information about Boys & Girls Clubs is available at www.bgcnj.org.

SOURCE Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey