Helpful Honda: Boys And Girls Club Of Hollywood

Christmas is all about the children, but what about the rest of the year? Some youngsters are in danger of falling through the cracks when the focus shifts away from them as the new year replaces the traditional season of giving.

Fortunately, The Boys & Girls Club of Hollywood supports kids with year 'round programs aimed at igniting a passion for learning in its young members. They're nurtured academically, but the Boys & Girls Club also supports their creative sides. The kids served by the club develop leadership skills in its programs, too. Rather than falling by the wayside, they find a place to fit in and do positive activities.

A Modest Beginning
The Boys & Girls Club of Hollywood dates back to 1937, when Mrs. Earl Gilmore of the Assistance League of Southern California kicked off a modest club to help local at-risk youth. At first, she focused on boys, starting the club in two rooms over a garage on DeLongpre Avenue in Los Angeles. Even though she already knew there was a need for such a program, she quickly realized that she'd underestimated how great it was. Although she initially thought perhaps 10 to 15 boys would show up, 60 flooded the small space over its first month. By 1942, with the help of local businesses, she was able to build a new club that's expanded many times over the years.

By 1986, the club recognized that there were plenty of girls who could benefit from its services as well. Since then, it changed its name to the Boys & Girls Club of Hollywood and welcomed children of both sexes into its programs.

Continued Growth
The club's latest location is on 850 North Cahuenga Blvd. It's grown far beyond the initial two small rooms and there are ambitious plans to continue that growth in the future, with a community garden and rooftop play field on the wish list.

The Southern California Honda Dealers want to make the SoCal community a better place, so the Boys & Girls Club of Hollywood is a natural partner. For the second year, the local SoCal Honda dealers are lending a hand to make sure the organization's important work continues in the future.

Spreading Good Cheer
The Guys in Blue visited the Boys & Girls Club this holiday season bearing goodie bags and took "elfies" with the kids after a fun night of arts, crafts and other activities. This event is part of their month-long Happy Honda Days celebration, and they showed over 150 kids that community businesses care about them with a very special night.

The Boys & Girls Club visit was just one of a whirlwind of activities for the Guys in Blue this holiday season. They have and continue to help more kids and families with food, gifts and more around the Southern California area. This holiday season, the SoCal Honda Dealers have enjoyed a month of spreading cheer, and performing Random Acts of Helpfulness. The Helpful Honda team has built bikes with children and teenagers and fed the homeless this holiday season, in addition to roaming around town giving people random holiday treats. They step up their efforts during the Christmas season, but just like Boys & Girls Club of Hollywood, watch for them to do their part throughout the whole year.