Customer Spotlight: Club for Boys

The Club For Boys in Rapid City began in 1963, and has provided a safe and fun environment to more than 39,000 boys over the years.  Today, the Club has 1,200 members and funds their operations through a very successful thrift store, live Christmas tree sales, special events and direct donor support.

In 2019, the Club raised $2.03 million to renovate a space for their older boys, create a one-of-a-kind outdoor sports venue, and remodel their busy lobby to meet modern safety and access standards.  “It was long overdue.” That’s just one reason Club for Boys Executive Director Doug Herrmann is grateful that the organization has been able to renovate so many of its spaces. “We were still using the 50-year-old doors from the original 1968 Club building, which was destroyed in the 1972 flood.

Some of the 1968 building, including the doors, were salvaged and used to rebuild the Club in 1976.”

Besides the security and fire safety improvements the new doors provide, other upgrades like ballistic glass at the front entrance and non-slip flooring make for a safer facility.  The flooring of the sports court is even made of a material designed to prevent injuries. “Everything is about safety for the kids, staff and public,” Herrmann said. “Safety sets the stage for everything we do.”

Despite the challenges of completing construction during the COVID-19 pandemic, the renovations were completed on schedule. “We just wrapped up the construction of the SportCourt – it’s the only SportCourt in South Dakota that has a roof over it,” he said. The court is removable, which will allow the covered space to be used for the Christmas tree sale, where the Club expects to sell nearly 2,000 trees in 2020.

The Club’s older boys have quickly utilized the renovated Erickson Building, which is the central hub for life skills programming. The Learning Kitchen is especially popular, with pancake wars and cooking contests that give boys the opportunity to cook – and eat their concoctions afterwards.  

This project was only possible because so many in the community recognized the importance of a thriving Club to Rapid City, Herrmann said. Security First Bank, which has been a long-time financial supporter of the Club, became their primary bank in early 2018.  “Having the right banking relationship has helped us to thrive,” said Herrmann. “The bank has played a critical role in our efforts to more effectively and securely handle our payroll and our deposits through CorpLink Online Business Banking and the daily Teller Express courier service. When COVID-19 hit, Security First helped us to successfully apply for PPP funds.  Their friendly staff are always helpful and provide us with services we can count on.”

For more information on The Club for Boys, visit their website at theclubforboys.org.