[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 44 (Tuesday, April 15, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E655]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BOYS' AND GIRLS' CLUB OF CLIFTON

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 15, 1997

  Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to your attention 
the momentous occasion of the 50th anniversary of the founding of Boys' 
and Girls' Club of Clifton, NJ.
  Founded in 1947, the Boys' Club of Clifton provided recreational 
activity opportunities to young men in the community. These 
recreational programs were held after-class hours in the local school 
until 1958, when the current building on Clifton Avenue was opened and 
became a center for the children in town.
  In 1966, the Girls' Club was founded to provide similar recreational 
activity opportunities for young women in the community and in 1979, 
the Girls' Club initiated Clifton's first after-school day-care program 
for 30 children.
  Since 1986, the two clubs consolidated, becoming the Boys' and Girls' 
Club of Clifton, Inc. The Boys' and Girls' Club still occupies the 
Clifton Avenue building, but over the years additions to the building 
were constructed to house the executive offices and the teen program. 
An adjacent building contains the preschool area and a recreational 
facility.
  The current facilities are right now at maximum capacity as they 
serve approximately 1,400 children from Clifton and the surrounding 
communities at any given time, and provide services to more than 2,000 
children yearly. After several years of exploring various expansion 
options, the Club's Board of Trustees finally settled on plans to add 
an addition that will connect the existing buildings as well as 
extensively renovating the facilities now in use.
  The new addition will house a modern pool, learning center, computer 
room, counseling area, and offices. The renovations will allow for the 
Boys' and Girls' Club to redesign their current program space to 
provide new program areas and make the entire facility accessible for 
handicapped and senior citizens.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me, our colleagues, the members of 
the Boys' and Girls' Club of Clifton, and the city of Clifton, in 
recognizing the momentous occasion of the 50th anniversary founding of 
the Boys' and Girls' Club of Clifton, Inc., as they commemorate the 
founding with a groundbreaking celebration on Sunday, April 6, 1997.

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