History-

The Cawood Ledford Club

In 2001, a group of concerned citizens- led by Tony & Tommie Saragas- joined together to form Harlan County Youth Sports, an organization devoted to providing positive sports leagues and activities to the children of Harlan County.  It didn't take long for this group to realize that the children of our area needed much more than sports.  They needed the opportunities that only a Boys & Girls Club could provide and in April 2003, the Harlan County Boys and Girls Club opened its first dedicated youth facility- The Cawood Ledford Boys & Girls Club- located at the former Loyall Elementary School.  In January 2005, the Club moved into a storefront facility in downtown Harlan and in June 2006 construction began on a new, permanent facility.

In August 2007, the newly constructed Cawood Ledford facility opened in the Fairview section of Harlan.  This new facility is tailor-made for our members and offers a large game room, an arts and crafts room, a technology lab, a fitness room, an education lab, kitchen and administrative offices. Over fifty children from both county and city schools take part in the life-changing programs offered in this new facility. 

The Tri-City Club

Also in 2001, a separate group of citizens on the opposite end of the county was also concerned with the lack of activities for children in Harlan County.  This group started the Tri-Cities Kid's Cafe program- an afterschool feeding and educational enrichment program.  Afterschool activities and a nutritious evening meal were provided to area children two evenings a week at St. Stephen's Fellowship Hall in Cumberland.  The program, directed by Kateena Haynes, garnered a great deal of community support and involvement and in August 2004 the Tri-City Boys & Girls Club Extension was officially chartered.  The Club was open three afternoons a week during the school year at St. Stephen's with activities provided by a host of community volunteers.  In January 2008, a grant was awarded to turn the Tri-City Extension into a full-service Boys & Girls Club unit.  This grant will allow the Tri-City Club to be open 5 days a week throughout the year.  Children at the Tri-City Club will now have better access to the renowned programs of the Boys & Girls Club as well as five computer stations, a pool table, video games, and a large screen TV.  The new Tri-City Club will be opening in April 2008 and is located on Main Street in Cumberland.  For more information on how you can make the Tri-City Club a success, please see the "News and Events" link on the left.