U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer visited the Ventura Boys & Girls Club on Tuesday to praise its work in assisting the community with educational after-school programs.

Boxer presented an "Excellence in Education Award" to the club at its Robert Addison Center in west Ventura. Boxer toured the site and was welcomed by City Council members and other community leaders.

"We need programs to keep our children safe after school and to build their confidence," she said. "I look at the kids in this program, and I see they are on the right path."

Boxer co-wrote legislation creating federal funding for after-school programs, and the Ventura Boys & Girls Club received some of that money.

The Boxer-Ensign amendment to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 authorized $1.25 billion in funding for fiscal year 2002, and the amount was supposed to increase annually. Boxer, however, said the legislation has been underfunded, and the after-school money has not surpassed the $1 billion mark.

"This means million of children are not getting after-school programs, and it means they are getting into trouble," she said. "Clearly here in Ventura, the Boys & Girls Club has a very special place and clearly is preventing that kind of gang activity."

Tareq Hishmeh, president of the club's board of directors, said they were excited about Boxer's visit because she could witness how the federal money is being used.

"She strongly believes in our mission," said Hishmeh. "Being an alumni of the club myself, I have seen it firsthand — children are given a safe and positive place to be."

Hishmeh said the club's five sites serve a combined 600 children a day. The club emphasizes character and leadership development, education, health and life skills, the arts, sports, fitness and recreation.

At the Robert Addison Center, the club offers a host of athletic, educational, art and other programs from 2:30 to 6 p.m. on school days, and special activities for teens from 6 to 8 p.m.

"The funding allows us to have counselors and youth directors and it helps us maintain programs," said Nancy Gregg, the club's director of development.

Boxer also gave children at the club Tuesday a U.S. flag that flew over the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

"This flag represent so much for you boys and girls. This flag means that if we all work hard and we do the right thing, we can have equal opportunity and be part of the American dream," Boxer said.