SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio city leaders are considering a $350,000 funding proposal for the Boys and Girls Clubs of San Antonio, just days after the organization announced the permanent closure of its Rayburn Club and a pause in programming at its Eastside Club.
A city memo obtained by KSAT Wednesday night shows the money would be included in the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget. The funding would come from the Inner City Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ), rather than the city’s General Fund.
The proposal is not final. City Council is expected to vote on the budget Thursday.
Under the proposal, the city would authorize $175,000 for three months of operating expenses. Another $175,000 would be available if BGCSA develops a financial plan. Payment would also require approval from the Inner City TIRZ Board of Directors.
The potential funding comes as families are already facing major changes.
This week, Boys and Girls Club of San Antonio announced Rayburn will permanently close Sept. 25. Programming at the Eastside Club will pause beginning Sept. 30 and remain paused through the rest of the 2026-27 school year.
The organization said ongoing operational and financial challenges are to blame for the decision.
Adrianne House, a community advocate and mother whose children have attended the Boys and Girls Club of San Antonio, said the clubs provide more than after-school care.
“That club is the reason why parents can go back to school to further their education,” House said. ”That club gives children a safe space, a safe place.”
House said families now have little time to find alternatives.
“We’ve given people less than 14 days to try to find a solution for their child to go somewhere,” she said.
For House, the Eastside Club is also a place where generations of children, including hers, have built relationships.
“They know every summer they’re going to the Boys and Girls Club,” House said. ”They get to see their cousins in there. That’s what it is. It’s community.”
District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez has also raised concerns about the impact on the East Side. He posted a response to the changes on his social media pages.
“Like many of you, I hate this pattern where the Eastside is asked to absorb the consequences when those organizations are facing financial challenges,” McKee-Rodriguez said in the post. “If the Eastside is being asked to shoulder a disproportionate share of those cuts, I’m going to have a problem with that.”
Debbie Powell, CEO of Boys and Girls Club of San Antonio, said the organization understands the changes are difficult for families.
“For more than 85 years, Boys and Girls Clubs of San Antonio has been proud to provide young people in our community with safe, positive places to learn, grow, and thrive,” Powell said in a statement sent to KSAT.
She added that Rayburn youth will be able to transition to another after-school program, while BGCSA works with community partners to identify available options for Eastside families.
The organization is also working with local foundations and other partners on fundraising opportunities and a plan to strengthen its long-term financial position, Powell said.
“We recognize that this news is difficult,” Powell said. “Your support has made a meaningful difference in the lives of countless young people and families across our community, and we are committed to strengthening our impact as we move forward.”
The proposed $350,000 would provide potential short-term financial support, but it does not yet reverse the announced closure of Rayburn or the pause in Eastside programming.
For House and other community members, the proposed funding could offer some relief. But families still face an immediate question: Where will their children go in the meantime?
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