Jahmir Mitchell, 12, loves connecting with friends at the Tracy Boys & Girls Club..
"Good spirits, nice, pleasant," said Mitchell.
But, after the club received word recently it would not be getting $500,000 in grant money, the summer program he loves could go away for good.
"Myself, our staff, my board of directors were upset. We were devastated that this is happening," said Kelly Wilson, the club's executive director.
Wilson says through a set of complicated criteria, the state did not allocate any federal grant money to San Joaquin County.
The grant money lost is nearly a quarter of the Tracy Boys & Girls Club overall budget. With the loss, the club is facing losing the entire summer program that serves nearly 400 kids.
They are faced with losing 177 kids of the 800 served during the school year at the club's seven Tracy sites. Aside from kids playing games, swimming and playing basketball, they also focus on living a healthy lifestyle, nutrition and academics.
The club is now asking for the community to donate to make up for the funding shortfall.
@kurt rivera
12 year old Jahmir Mitchell loves connecting with friends at the Tracy Boys & Girls Club.
"Good spirits. They're nice, pleasant," says Mitchell.
But, after the club received word it would not be getting $500,000 in grant money, the summer program he loves could go away for good.
"Myself, our staff, my board of directors were upset. We were devastated that this is happening," says executive director Kelly Wilson.
Wilson says it's a complicated process that led to the club not getting the half- million in federal grant money allocated from the state.
The impact: wiping out the summer program-- which serves nearly 400 kids each week day-- and the school year program-- which serves about 800 kids.
The school year program would be forced to cut 177 kids.
"But it really impacts our community what the kids are going to be doing? Where are they going to be going?" says Board Member Julianne Cordova.
There are sports to play.
And, the kids learn about music, healthy lifestyles, academic success and fitness.
12 year old Klisha Tongson has come here almost every day for about a year.
"We do like art. We do like triple play which is like playing basketball. Doing all kinds of sports," says Tongson.
If not for the Boys and Girls Club, the Director of Operations Junior Cueva says at age 15 he would have been out on the streets with the possibility of a different outcome.
"The ones that didn't want to come to the club or weren't interested in it, they didn't up in great places. And again, any of us could have went left or right. There really was zero parent supervision."
And 16 years later, Cueva is still here.
The club is hoping the laughter and fun will continue for everyone.
They are now hoping the community will step up with donations to make up for the funding shortfall.
The Boys & Girls Club has a big fundraising golf tournament each year run by former San Francisco 49er football player Kenna Turner.
It is set for Monday.
However, it is sold out.
You can still help out by donating.
Go to bgctracy.org for more information.