A Planned Pause At The Longtime East Side Clubhouse Has Been Reversed After San Antonio Committed $350,000 And Local Donors Stepped In To Support Continued Youth Programming
The Boys & Girls Clubs of San Antonio will keep its Eastside Clubhouse open, reversing plans to pause operations after a combination of city funding and private donations provided a financial lifeline for the longtime East Side youth center.
The announcement comes less than a week after families learned that programming at the Eastside Clubhouse was expected to pause Sept. 30 amid financial challenges facing the nonprofit. The organization had also announced the permanent closure of its Rayburn Clubhouse on the South Side.
Community Support Keeps Eastside Doors Open
Boys & Girls Clubs of San Antonio said contributions from Harvey E. Najim, Valero, the Malú and Carlos Alvarez Family, H-E-B and other donors and community partners helped make it possible to reverse the Eastside decision.
The organization said its Mays Clubhouse will remain fully open, while in-school programming through San Antonio ISD will continue without interruption.
“Our community showed up for the kids of San Antonio, and because of that, we get to keep showing up for them too,” BGCSA CEO Debbie Powell said. “Mays Clubhouse, our schools, and now Eastside — our doors are staying open.”
The Eastside Clubhouse is expected to operate at a more limited capacity as the organization works to rebuild its programming and financial footing. BGCSA also announced plans to create a Community Voice Council bringing together nonprofits, political leaders, club families and young people to help shape the future of the Eastside location.
McKee-Rodriguez: City Commitment Helped Provide Lifeline
The reversal also follows a $350,000 city commitment championed by District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez as the possibility of losing the Eastside location drew concern from residents.
The funding, approved through the Inner City Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, represents roughly half of the Eastside Clubhouse’s annual operating costs. The funding plan was structured to initially support several months of operations while giving the organization time to establish a longer-term financial strategy.
“We are thrilled to share that, following the City’s commitment of $350,000 supplemented by recently announced contributions from private donors, the Eastside Boys & Girls Club is expected to remain open and students will continue to receive services,” McKee-Rodriguez said following Tuesday’s announcement.
He said his office’s focus now turns toward ensuring the center has stable programming and stronger engagement with the community it serves.
Related: UPDATE: Eastside Boys & Girls Club Gets $350,000 Lifeline In FY2027 San Antonio Budget
“Children and families deserve consistency, transparency, collaboration and communication from organizations that seek to serve them,” McKee-Rodriguez said.
The councilman said his office plans to participate in the Boys & Girls Club’s upcoming community engagement process and hear directly from East Side residents about what they want the facility to provide moving forward.
“Our office is committed to ensuring that, no matter what happens, this center will continue to provide the services they count on for years to come,” he said.
The Eastside Clubhouse has served generations of San Antonio children and families, offering after-school care, mentoring, youth development, meals and other programming. The latest announcement keeps those services in the neighborhood while BGCSA works with donors, city leaders and residents on a longer-term plan.
The announcement does not reverse the previously announced closure of the Rayburn Clubhouse on the South Side.
