About - Boys Hope Girls Hope of St. Louis

One of 16 affiliates across the United States and Latin America, Boys Hope Girls Hope of St. Louis helps academically motivated middle and high school students rise above disadvantaged backgrounds and become successful in college and beyond.

Our goal is to graduate young people who are physically, emotionally and academically prepared for post-secondary education and a productive life, breaking the cycle of poverty. Boys Hope Girls Hope of St. Louis utilizes the following elements to achieve our mission:

ACADEMIC FOCUS
We believe in the transformative power of education to develop lifelong learners using:
• Strengths-based, positive youth development approaches
• Practical preparation for careers to sustain one’s self and family
• Exposure to diverse opportunities that enrich one’s life and enhance learning
• Scholarship incentives encouraging and maximizing self-motivated learning
SERVICE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
We believe in the Jesuit-inspired, values-centered hallmark of building “persons for others” by:
• Developing character through service learning activities related to social justice and civic responsibility
• Educating those at every level of our organization in cultural competence
• Seeking collaborative partnerships to enhance our mission
FAMILY-LIKE SETTINGS TO CREATE A SENSE OF BELONGING
We believe youth derive their energy and sustenance from exposure to nurturing environments that provide:
• Inclusion in a loving community that meets youth where they are but sets high expectations
• A feeling of “being home,” with residential care as needed
• Strong and supportive developmental relationships with adult mentors and peers
• Stability, structure, and individualized guidance in small settings
• Modeling of positive values
LONG-TERM AND COMPREHENSIVE COMMITMENT
We believe an enduring relationship with youth holds the most promise for attaining positive outcomes by:
• Intervening early to support scholars from adolescence through college graduation and beyond
• Offering a holistic spectrum of programming that evolves with the age and needs of youth
• Providing ample opportunities for youth to develop social and emotional learning skills
FAITH-BASED VALUES
We believe that a loving God cares about the life of every individual and we manifest this belief by:
• Focusing on those most in need of our services
• Respecting, serving and engaging people from all faith traditions
• Fostering spirituality and an active faith life as essential elements of healthy personal development
• Helping youth develop a moral compass based on universal principles
VOLUNTARY PARTICIPANT COMMITMENT
We believe in the motivational power of selfselection into the BHGH program because:
• Parents and Scholars share a vision for a better future
• Scholars elect to invest in themselves and are empowered to join
• Families value and trust in a working partnership with BHGH
• BHGH serves bright, capable young people who are motivated to overcome obstacles to reach their potential

1977

1993

1998

2011

2016

2017

1977

Boys Hope Girls Hope Founded

The St. Louis affiliate opens, beginning the work of Boys Hope Girls Hope International with a residential boys’ home near St. Louis University High School.

1993

A Girls’ Home!

Boys Hope Girls Hope St. Louis adds a residential girls’ home in Kirkwood.

1998

The Boys Move

The boy’s home moves to a larger location on the Maryville University campus, offering the ability to serve more scholars.

2011

Hope Prep Scholars Academy

Hope Prep begins service for children on a non-residential basis, administered in partnership with the Ferguson-Florissant School District.

2016

Hope Builds

A $4.5 million capital campaign–“Hope Builds”– is completed, along with construction of a new campus where the boys’ home, girls’ home and administrative offices are co-located.

2017

Our 40th Anniversary!

Help us celebrate our anniversary! Boys Hope Girls Hope St. Louis has been serving youth in our community for 40 years.

Brandan P. Mueller
Husch Blackwell

Richard Nemanick
Lorvic Corporation (retired)

Jennifer Noakes
PLZ Aeroscience

Fr. Ronny O’Dwyer
Saint Louis University

Kristin Ostby de Barillas
Boys Hope Girls Hope National Headquarters

Barb Palmer
Community Volunteer

R. Brian Potter
Promotional Consultants

Tracy Reiter
Emerson

Jake Schlater
DOT Foods

Sharhonda Shahid

Brian Wacker
The Cook Group PLLC

Brian Wellinghoff
Barry Wehmiller

Mark F. Winker
UMB Bank

Matthew Baisden
Associate Board President
Plancorp

Twenty-one percent of children in the US live in poverty (Census Bureau, 2014)
Children born into poverty are six times more likely to drop out of school (Cities in Crisis, 2008).
The longer a child lives in poverty, the lower their overall level of academic achievement (Guo and Harris, 2000).
Children from families in the highest income quartile are 8 times as likely to earn a college degree that those from the lowest income quartile (Pell Institute and Penn Ahead, 2015).
In 1980, college graduates earned 29% more than those without. By 2007, that gap grew to 66% (Baum & Ma, 2007).

The costs to United States society are significant in terms of economic productivity, tax revenue, health care over-utilization, parental attention to children’s educational development, civic engagement, and volunteerism (Baum & Ma, 2007).
According to CEOs for Cities, every one percentage point increase in adult four-year college degree attainment adds an additional $763 to per capita income per year (One Student at a Time, 2013).
Cohen and Piquero (2009) monetized the cost to society over the course of a “negative outcome” child’s lifetime as follows: High School Dropout = $390,000 - $580,000, Plus Heavy Drug User = $846,000 – $1.1 Million, Plus Career Criminal = $3.2 - $5.8 Million.