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In the true spirit of the Kentucky Derby, Local 10's Julie Durda joined South Florida's top media athletes at the Calder Media Foot Race for charity. Read more here.

Nonprofits tend to be seen as social do-gooders but are often overlooked as economic drivers.

A new study from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County challenges that view.

The research finds that the nonprofit generates more than $18 in economic impact for every $1 it spends – or more than $180 million in economic benefits yearly.

The Broward group serves more than 12,000 youth and their families at its 12 centers yearly, including thousands of children who end each school day with supervised activities at the centers.

Its services allow parents to work longer hours or attend school to upgrade their skills, earning more than they would if they were home with their children, the research found.

In addition, youth who regularly attend the clubs are more likely to graduate from high school on time and less likely to engage in risky behaviors such as crime. They are also more likely to generate higher incomes over their lifetimes and cost society less, the report said.

Damooei Global Research, led by an economics professor at California Lutheran University, placed dollar values on those benefits as follows:

More earning power by parents of children attending clubs: $12.70 benefit for every $1 spent.

Better education and improved lifetime earnings for children who regularly attend clubs: $1.86 benefit for every $1 spent.

Lower teen pregnancy and motherhood rates: 12 cents savings for every $1 spent.

Lower crime rates and related savings: 84 cents savings for every $2 spent.

Reduction in risky behaviors such as smoking, drinking, drug abuse: $1.03 for every $1 spent.

Direct employment, construction and volunteer work: $1.90 in benefit for every $1 spent.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward employs 200 people full time or part time and mobilizes about 500 volunteers annually. It operates with a $9.8 million budget this year.

Multiply that budget by $18.45 for every $1 spent, and that's $183 million in economic impact from the clubs this year alone, said Brian Quail, chief executive at the nonprofit.

"To quantify our economic impact is huge when we talk to donors or funders," said Quail, noting investors want to know their cash generates a positive return.

Quail said he was especially heartened by the impact of child supervision on income for working parents. Roughly 57 percent of club members in Broward come from single-parent homes.

"When employees don't have to worry about leaving work early to care for their children or having children home alone, they can be more focused on their work and more productive," said Quail.

Nationwide, nonprofits account for about 5 percent of the economy and 10 percent of jobs, according to the National Center for Charitable Statistics.

Some nonprofits in South Florida also have quantified their economic impact, using varied methodologies. Among results of their recent studies:

Broward College estimates its economic impact at roughly $1 billion a year, mainly from helping boost the earnings of its students, according to a study by Economic Modeling Specialists of Idaho. The study looked at the college in the 2010-2011 school year, when it had $277 million in revenue, employed 3,525 full-time and part-time faculty and staff, and enrolled 64,102 credit and 3,546 non-credit students.

Florida Atlantic University last year estimated its economic impact at about $4 billion per year in its six-county service area — or what FAU called the equivalent of seven Fort Lauderdale boat shows. The school has an operating budget topping $600 million, more than 2,700 employees and more than 1,500 faculty members.

Nova Southeastern University estimates a $1.7 billion economic impact in the tri-county area and a $2.6 billion impact in Florida. It employs about 4,000 people and educates about 27,000 students per year.

The Community Foundation of Broward, involved in a School is Cool program, cites studies that estimate a return of $1.45 to $3.55 for every $1 invested in ensuring a student graduates high school.

Henderson Behavioral Health of South Florida estimates every $1 invested in adult community mental health services saves $3.71 in hospital, crisis unit and incarceration expenses, based on data from the Florida Council for Behavioral Health Care.

>> Click here to read the full Sun-Sentinel article.

Ferrari-Maserati of Fort Lauderdale hosted a special presentation on August 15th, featuring winning vehicle artwork designed by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County (BGCBC) as part of a summer art contest sponsored by Linda and Douglas Von Allmen.

>> View more photos

You, your company or your loved ones can be forever memorialized at the Stephanis Boys & Girls Club!

Please click the document link below for more information, and get your brick while there are still some available!

(Photo by Amy Beth Bennett, Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel)

Here is our ground breaking program we started with the Association of Builders & Contractors Institute here in Broward County.   I know we all feel this is a possible national model to be followed which is a part of our overall Academic Success equation strategy here in Broward County.

We are so proud that this vision has become a reality for all of us.  We all see this as a great return on the investment in our kids and for our local construction industry.

We are all excited about this initiative because it speaks to how our locally developed program emphasizes not only college but career exploration opportunities for our youth in the future.  It was also nice to have a professor from FAU weigh in on the merits of this effort with some solid statistics.

(Read the full Sun Sentinel article below.)

On Tuesday, November 22, 2011, the Nan Knox Boys & Girls Club was visited by some very special guests. Basketball stars Jermain Taylor and Keyon Dooling were joined by Zeta Chi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. to host the “The National Basketball Players Association Great Turkey Give Away 2011 at the club. More than 500 turkeys were distributed to families and seniors in need of a little Thanksgiving cheer.

Once the turkeys were allotted it was time to enjoy fellowship. Each year the Nan Knox Unit holds its Annual Thanksgiving Dinner. 200 members and their parents attended enjoying delicious treats prepared by Nan Knox staff and volunteers.

As we go into the holiday season, we are reminded of the many things we have to be grateful for. The events of the day and the gracious generosity of the NBPA reminds us all that we are blessed with much.