Boys and Girls Clubs reviews 25-year Casa Grande partnership, reports rising attendance and budget pressures

Matt Lindbergh, a representative of Boys and Girls Clubs of the Sun Corridor, told the Casa Grande City Council on a study-session night that the organization has deep roots in the city and has expanded its services while facing budget pressures.

“We want to be a safe place for young people to go when they're not in school,” Lindbergh said, reciting the organization’s mission and its three outcome goals of academic success, good character and healthy lifestyles.

Lindbergh reviewed the group’s local history, saying the steering committee that led to the club’s formation included former city officials and that the city helped finance the early renovation of the old high school gym with bed-tax money. He said the club began school-based after‑school programming in August 1998 and moved into the renovated gym for a summer program on June 1, 1999. Lindbergh told the council the organization later opened additional branches and in 2019 moved into a space in the city’s new recreation center.

On current operations, Lindbergh said the organization now runs seven clubs (one in Arizona City, four in Casa Grande and two in Maricopa), five of which are school‑based. He said the network’s average daily attendance is about 650 children systemwide, with Casa Grande accounting for roughly 360 of those daily attendees. Lindbergh said Casa Grande has more than 1,000 registered members and that the organization recorded more than 38,000 visits in the prior reporting period.

Lindbergh provided the club’s current fees and budget figures: a monthly program fee of $80; an operating budget of about $1,800,000; and a revenue mix he described as roughly 30% business and individual contributions, 5% fundraising events, 20% government support (about 13% of the total budget from the city of Casa Grande), 20% grants and 25% program fees. He said more than 55% of members receive some level of financial assistance and that the club waives fees entirely for teens and for families from Palo Verde.

Multiple council members thanked Lindbergh and praised the club’s programs and role in the community during a short public exchange following the presentation. Mayor Fitzgibbons and Mayor Pro Tem Herrmann both highlighted the organization’s youth and teen programs; Councilman Romo and other councilmembers commented on the value of the Lincolnola (recreation) location and the club’s work during the pandemic.

Lindbergh described several program highlights and fundraising efforts the club plans to expand, including music and drumming classes, prevention and homework‑help programs, and events such as Dancing For Our Stars. He said the club is exploring how to grow services if money were not a constraint and emphasized the organization’s ongoing reliance on city support and other partners.

The presentation was given as part of a council study-session series that the city manager said will bring partner organizations to brief the council ahead of the budget retreat in April. Lindbergh’s remarks were informational; no council action or vote was taken at the meeting.

Looking ahead, Lindbergh asked the council to continue its financial support and partnership while the club pursues expanded fundraising, tax‑credit campaigns and event revenues.

Ending: The council did not take formal action on the report. The presentation was recorded during the study-session portion of the meeting and the city manager said partner briefings will continue through the budget process.