The Cindy Platt Boys & Girls Club of Transylvania County has served as a cornerstone of youth development in the county since 1999. As the largest youth-serving organization in Transylvania County, the Club provides affordable afterschool and summer programming for young people ages 5–18, with a focus on Academic Success, Health & Wellbeing, the Arts, Character & Leadership, and Life & Workforce Readiness. Without the Club, fewer than 10% of school-aged youth in the county would have access to affordable out-of-school programming.
Lake Toxaway Charities is proud to support the Club’s Teen Program, which serves middle and high school youth during a critical stage of development. Teen enrollment grew 25% from 2023 to 2025, and the program enrolled 56 rising sixth graders for the 2025–2026 school year alone. In 2025, the Club served 604 K–12 youth overall, including 134 teens aged 13 and older. Among Club members, 65% qualified for free or reduced lunch and 46% lived in single-parent households — figures that reflect a higher level of need than county averages suggest.
Grant funding supports the Teen Program, which includes paid work-based learning experiences for youth ages 14–18, college tours, monthly Teen Nights open to all Transylvania County teens, leadership programming, financial literacy education, and summer enrichment. The Club partners with Transylvania County Schools, El Centro, SAFE, the Hunger Coalition, Brevard College, Rise & Shine, and the Care Coalition to provide coordinated wraparound support for youth and families.
The Club is also midway through Building A Place To Belong, a $9 million capital expansion. Phase One increased enrollment capacity by 15%; when complete, the project is expected to allow the Club to serve 25% of the county’s youth annually.
Volunteers Needed! Please contact AnaBelle Eidson aeidson@bgctransylvania.org
