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JULY 2008

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Men Who Make A Difference: Keith Blanchard

Keith Blanchard has dedicated his life to working with at-risk youth. For the last seven and a half years, he has served as the president and chief presidential officer of the Boys and Girls Club of Alachua County, and, in that time span, he has turned around the club financially and positively impacted the lives of thousands of Alachua County’s youths.

While working as a police officer in Salinas, Calif., Blanchard ran the Police Activities League (PAL) program where he became involved with the Boys and Girls Club. During his time as an officer, he saw the impact of gangs and drugs on communities. “I saw how gangs and drugs drug down entire communities and how they negatively affected all the kids,” he said. “I also saw what kids went through just to stay in school and study.”

For Blanchard, the last straw was when two kids he had worked with were shot and killed. “That was it. I knew I had to do something. It’s when I decided to dedicate myself to working with atrisk kids.”

A recent study by the Florida Tax-Watch Research Institute, Inc. shows the Boys and Girls Club’s economic impact on communities statewide. The study showed that Boys and Girls Club members had lower rates of absenteeism and serious criminal offenses than the state-wide student population; they also had a lower dropout rate. In fact, if students across the state had the same dropout rate that Boys and Girls Club members did, there would be 11,293 additional high school graduates who would contribute increased annual income earnings of $78,316,955.

The Boys and Girls Club’s philosophy is to give every child the chance to do what they love, and Blanchard has helped ensure that the more than 4,000 kids at the four locations of the Alachua County Boys and Girls Club get to do just that. He and the team he has assembled have turned the club around financially, implemented many renovation and construction projects, added a softball complex and Internet labs, reenergized an award-winning football program and helped expand Endeavor baseball, where handicapped children play with the assistance of another Club member. Recently, in collaboration with The Home Depot and KaBOOM, Blanchard and the Boys and Girls Club helped construct a state-of-the-art, 2,500-square-foot playground at Woodland Park.

“My husband has led a very unusual and productive life and truly believes in the children of Alachua County,” Blanchard’s wife, Vera, who he credits with helping him accomplish all he has in his life, said.

Like many non-profits, The Boys and Girls Club, however, is feeling the affects of budget cuts, as much state, federal and city funding is being slashed. Blanchard acknowledges that this year “is proving to be the hardest year for the club,” but is determined to offer the kids he works with the best experience possible. The Boys and Girls Club’s fundraiser, the 16th Annual Caribbean Cruise Gala for Kids, will be held Aug. 16th at the Reitz Union Ballroom. To support your local Boys and Girls Club by purchasing a ticket or a table, call 352-372-5342 or e-mail bgcedu@Alltel.net.