The Louis and Gloria Flanzer Philanthropic Trust has provided Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County (BGCS) with a lead gift to expand the organization’s sixth Boys & Girls Club location in Arcadia. With authorization from Eric Kaplan and Dean Hautamaki, co-trustees of the Louis and Gloria Philanthropic Trust, the site will be named the Louis and Gloria Flanzer Boys & Girls Club. 

BGCS began operating this facility in July 2018 and providing children, ages 6 to 11, with year-round programs to help them excel in school, become leaders and adopt healthy habits. Children also receive healthy meals and snacks and foster meaningful relationships with peers and trusted mentors. The Club is currently serving at maximum capacity with nearly 75 children participating in programs each day. 

Earlier this year, the City of Arcadia transferred the lease of the Smith-Brown Recreation Center that sits adjacent to the building to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County. The goal is to transform the structure into a multi-purpose gymnasium for youth with designated space for physical activities, project-based learning and education. The facility will also be available for community use outside of the Club’s operating hours, and will become a valuable community asset.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County