Keaveny: Decades of Excellence at Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club

At left: Fair St. Louis Mount Rushmore Float featuring costumed members of
Mathews-Dickey.

When St. Louis bands together, great things happen. One of the prime examples of this is the Mathews-Dickey Boys' & Girls' Club, which recently celebrated 50 years of educational, cultural, and leadership training to more than 40,000 young men and women.

Mathews-Dickey started as a facilitator for organized sports, and while that is still part of its mission, it's not all the club now does. There's a real focus on building self-esteem, while allowing for personal growth, emphasizing the importance of becoming literate and educated citizens, and a focusing on respect, restraint and responsibility in athletic competition.

Throughout the years the club has undertaken efforts to improve literacy, teach computer skills, and deter gang activity. Recent efforts include programs that address the area's drop out rate. As a result of their efforts to improve lives, the community has supported the club as it has grown to include an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a major restoration, and the In the Footprints of Jack Buck Walk of Fame that is set to be finished this year.  The facilities have grown right in step with the community impact.

Alumni of the Mathews-Dickey Boys' & Girls' Club have gone on to become professional athletes, doctors, lawyers, educators, clergymen, business executives and entrepreneurs. Founder Martin Mathews [pictured right] is quoted as saying, "The future of our country rests with the successful development of our young people."

I couldn't agree more. Thank you Mathews-Dickey, and here's to the next half century of success.