Flint Fowler has helped set the vision and lead the growth and expansion of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis for more than 25 years, setting the tone for expansion, budget growth and greater outreach during that time. He has served as executive director/president since 1996 and is responsible for building the nonprofit into a trusted youth development brand. When confronted with a challenge, I return often to the words spoken by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” This guides my strategy for continuing to develop the organization to reach the highest levels of service for young people throughout St. Louis.”
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) is a chartered member of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Founded in 1966, the club was called the Herbert Hoover Boys Club and opened its doors at the former site of Sportsman’s Park in June 1967. The organization formally included girls in 1993 and changed its name in 2013 to better reflect its growing footprint and take advantage of the national brand.
Today, BGCSTL operates 11 locations, and the budget has grown from just under $800,000 in 1996 to nearly $11 million in 2022.
Part of the expansion strategy includes acquisition of the Adams Park Community Center in 2007, Mentor St. Louis in 2010, the St. Louis Internship Program in 2020, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bethalto and Mathews-Dickey Boys and Girls Club in 2021. The organization also built and opened the Teen Center of Excellence in Ferguson in 2019. The organization is now the largest site-based youth service provider in the region.
BGCSTL expects to continue to expand its footprint by serving more youth in shared spaces, such as schools and recreation centers. “We will also develop and operate a golf instruction center on the former site of Carter Carburetor plant, a highly contaminated property that sat vacant for more than 30 years,” the organization said. “BGCSTL will be the most trusted youth development organization in the region, the employer of choice for youth development professionals and the philanthropic charity of choice for donors.”
Fowler has served on a variety of planning committees and commissions and has provided leadership in the professional association and the state council. Fowler has received numerous awards from the Boys & Girls Clubs Movement, including the Thomas Garth Award, Horizon Award, Herman Prescott Award, Heart & Soul Award, Blue Spirit Award, and Mentors and Masters Award.
“Flint is a highly respected professional at the local, state and national levels,” his team said.
