When Jessica King joined the Boys & Girls Club staff in 2014, she didn’t know she would one day become the organization’s CEO. What she did know was that she wanted her work to support children and families in the Rogue Valley.
At the time, the club focused on providing a safe place for kids after school, along with homework help and opportunities to connect with friends. Today, the club serves students in grades K–12 during the school year and throughout the summer. Each afternoon follows a familiar and welcoming routine: kids burn off energy, enjoy a meal, and gather for a short assembly to learn what programs and activities are available that day. Some activities are quick and simple—like dodgeball. Others require a six week commitment, allowing skills to build over time.
Within a few years, the Boys & Girls Club added a new flagship program: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM). The hands-on, project based learning style of STEAM complements classroom learning and is especially helpful for kids who struggle with traditional, book-based instruction. By building and creating, students gain a deeper understanding of core concepts.
The club was the first in the area to hire a fulltime STEAM coordinator. In the program’s early years, both youth and staff grew comfortable sharing ideas and learning in new ways.
STEAM quickly proved successful. What began as a trial became a permanent program, with staff trained as educators through project based learning. Today, STEAM programs operate at four sites across Southern Oregon—Illinois Valley, Grants Pass, Phoenix and Talent. Having multiple locations allows kids from different schools to meet, collaborate, and form friendships they might not have otherwise made.
Before 2025, one coordinator supported all five locations. This changed in 2025, when the club added a second coordinator, allowing coverage in both Josephine and Jackson County. Weekly themes now help keep all sites aligned.
STEAM projects are designed to teach skills and keep learning fun. Students build circuits, work with magnet tiles and puzzle blocks, use microscopes, and create stopmotion animations. Math lessons come to life as kids measure surface area by wrapping presents. Engineering skills are tested when students construct houses and see if they can withstand a fan blowing them down—a playful nod to The Three Little Pigs. If a structure fails, students discuss what went wrong and how to make it stronger. They also explore flight simulators, 3D printers, recycled materials found along local shorelines, and creative dioramas. Along the way, they build confidence—and friendships.
A recent grant from the Avista Foundation helped ensure the club could continue providing the materials that make this hands-on learning possible. Support like this helps keep programs accessible and engaging for local families.
The club also collects feedback through annual surveys. Year after year, results show the program is making a positive impact: 99% of participants say they feel emotionally safe at the club, and 96% report that they have fun while taking part.
Those numbers include the children of staff member Cassie Coates, who once stayed late at work because her kids refused to leave. “My kids didn’t want to go home,” she said.
The Boys & Girls Club serves nearly 1,000 children each year. In 2025, the organization added a parent survey to better understand how its programs support not only children, but families as well.
Alison Cavaner, who manages development and marketing for the club, has seen the impact firsthand. She joined the organization in 2024, and her son participates in the STEAM program. “Coming to the club has really helped him overcome a lot of struggles,” she said. “And he’s just one of many kids who face similar challenges.”
For Jessica King, the work has always been about community. “It really takes a village,” she shared. “These kids are the future leaders of our communities. The more we invest in them, the brighter their futures will be—and we might as well make it fun.”
At Avista, we recognize our unique position gives us the chance to contribute in an impactful way and make a real difference in people’s lives. Since 2002, the Avista Foundation has made grants totaling over $17 million to organizations that support vulnerable and limited income populations, education, and economic and cultural vitality. The foundation is a separate, non-profit organization established by Avista Corp., and does not receive funding from Avista Utilities’ customers through rates. For more information on grant applications and geographical areas covered, please visit avistafoundation.com.