The Boys & Girls Club of Marion County

09/14/2026

🎈 Our Future Ready Speaker Series got a little more colorful thanks to Cooper & Co Balloons!

Our Club members learned how creativity can grow into a business—from working with customers and managing supplies to preparing and completing an order. They even became balloon artists and created their own designs!

Experiences like this help young people explore careers, build confidence, ask questions, and imagine what their own futures could look like.

A huge thank-you to Cooper & Co Balloons for sharing your time, talents, and joy with our Club members! 💙

09/12/2026

A huge thank you to Marion Media Group for the partnership on their digital billboard to help us share our mission throughout our community. Steve Dailey and Bill were great to work with!

As we celebrate 30 years of serving Marion youth, visibility like this helps us reach more families, build awareness, and remind our community that investing in today’s youth creates tomorrow’s opportunities and a stronger Marion.

*this photo doesn’t do justice to how it great it really looks in person.

09/10/2026

💚 We love seeing our community come together!

Our very own Nick “Tricky Nicky” McCleese is hitting the kickball field for the Friends of Marion County Board of DD Celebrity Kickball Game!

We’re proud to collaborate with community partners who share our commitment to creating opportunities, building belonging, and helping people in Marion County thrive.

Come out October 8 and cheer on Tricky Nicky and the entire lineup! 💙💚

Stronger partnerships. Stronger community.

It's GAME ON for these local celebrities! Help them raise money for our Friends of Marion DD Committee and join us on Thursday, October 8th, to watch them compete in an epic kickball game! Tell us your favorite nickname in the comments! Click here to donate to your favorite celebrity: https://my-site-mcbddfriends.square.site/

The Boys & Girls Club of Marion County
Buckeye Community School
OhioHealth Marion General Hospital
Marion City Schools
Pillar Credit Union
United Way of North Central Ohio
Kevin Davidson Marion County Commissioner
Tri-Rivers Career Center
River Valley Local Schools
Pleasant Local Schools

09/07/2026

📣 Parents & Caregivers — we want to hear from you! Please share!

We’re exploring the need for before-school programming and need your feedback!

If before-school care would benefit your family, please take a minute to complete our quick survey by scanning the QR code below. 💙

Your input helps us better understand how we can support Marion families and youth!

We are gauging interest from parents on the possibility of before-school programming, we'd love to hear your feedback!

09/07/2026

📣 Parents & Caregivers — we want to hear from you! Link in comments!

We’re exploring the need for before-school programming and need your feedback!

If before-school programming would benefit your family, please take a minute to complete our quick survey by scanning the QR code below. 💙

Your input helps us better understand how we can support Marion families and youth!

Friends, Family, Teachers, and Principals please share!

09/04/2026

Thank you for sharing your talent, your story and your JOY with our Club kids! You gave them so much more than a fun afternoon—you gave them a chance to ask questions, experience entrepreneurship, build confidence and see what’s possible when you turn something you love into something bigger.

We can’t wait for you to bring the balloon magic to River Valley next week! 💙🎈

Yesterday, I walked into the Boys & Girls Club carrying this overflowing tub of balloons, and before I could even set it down, the kids started yelling, “THE BALLOON ANIMAL LADY!” 🎈🤣

They loved my new balloon menu and asked amazing questions about Cooper & Co Balloons how and why I started, how difficult it was to begin, what it cost and what running the business is really like.

Then they all became Cooper & Co employees! We pretended the Boys & Girls Club wanted to place a balloon order and worked through every step together from gathering the event information and checking the calendar to counting supplies, preparing and arriving at the event. They did an awesome job and were so excited to be “working” with me! Then I taught them how to make their own balloon dogs. 🐶

But the moment I will hold closest happened while I was talking about joy.

One of the older kids told me that he could see the joy inside and outside of me pouring out and that while I was talking, he could feel that joy, too.

That may be one of the sweetest things anyone has ever said to me. 🥹

To have a child notice the joy I feel while sharing Cooper & Co Balloons and then tell me that the joy reached him is something I can’t fully put into words. That is everything I hope people feel when they experience my business.

Yes, I love creating balloons. But even more, I love making children and adults feel noticed, welcomed and included. I love giving them a unique experience and watching their faces light up. A balloon may only last for a little while, but the joy someone feels in that moment can stay with them much longer.

Thank you to the Boys & Girls Club for welcoming the “balloon animal lady” and allowing me to share something I love so much.

Next Wednesday, I get to visit the other Marion location and after this experience, I am even more excited to do it all again! 🎈💛

Spreading joy, one balloon at a time.

09/03/2026

🎶 Sometimes the best Club moments aren’t planned!💙

Keonte decided to show off his best Michael Jackson moves during an impromptu dance show at the Club—and he did not disappoint! 🕺

We love that he showed up to the Club ready to go dressed in gear and feeling confident enough to say, “Watch me!” 💙

Keep dancing, Keonte! 🕺

09/01/2026

Registration for After-School Programming still has openings.

Looking for a safe, fun, and engaging place for your child after school? The Boys & Girls Clubs of Marion is here to help!

Our programs provide:
📖 Academic Success
🌟 Character & Leadership
🏃 Health & Well-Being
💼 Life & Workforce Readiness
💙 A Safe & Supportive Environment

Whether your child attends one of our partner school districts or not, they're welcome to become part of our Club family!

Program Information:
📍 Oak Street Clubhouse
• Starts August 24
• $20 annual membership
📍 River Valley
• Starts August 18
• AM or PM: $35 per family
• AM & PM: $70 per family

At the Boys & Girls Clubs of Marion, we're helping young people build confidence, discover their potential, and create brighter futures every single day.

📲 Scan the QR code on the flyer or visit bgccentralohio.org to register today!

Please help us spread the word by sharing this post with families who may be looking for quality after-school programming. Together, we're creating brighter futures for Marion's youth. 💙

08/29/2026

If you’re a Marion City Schools parent or caregiver and could benefit from before-school programming, please take a few minutes to complete our interest survey by scanning the QR code below.

Your feedback will help us better understand the needs of local families as we explore opportunities to provide a safe, supportive place for youth before the school day begins.

📲 Scan the QR code ⬇️⬇️ and let us know what your family needs!

Please share!!