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January 8, 2020 Giving Guide 2019

Boys & Girls Club of Worcester

Future Goals

1. At the Club, there is nothing more important than the safety of the children entrusted to our care. Our highest goal is to continue to provide safe, inclusive spaces and experiences that empower our members’ learning and growth. The Club is well into its second century of existence, with a long track record of success. National and local data show that our approach works to protect and nurture our kids.

2. We are implementing our strategic plan, “Great Futures 2025.”

  • Priority #1: Build Capacity. Partnerships let us offer FREE Driver’s Ed, lifeguard and ServSafe certifications, SAT prep, music and dance lessons, as well as snow-shoeing, ultimate frisbee, a community garden, and other unheard-of outdoor opportunities.
  • Priority #2: Improve program quality. We are working to offer more of the programs that equip our kids with the tools to succeed.
  • Priority #3: Advocate for youth development. We are a voice for youth, allowing them to express themselves in our community and on a national stage. We advocate for access to high-quality after-school programs.
  • Priority #4: Reach more youth. Our goal is to serve 10,000 youth per year, including 2,000 teens, by 2025.

Fundraising Events/Opportunities

• To celebrate the Club’s 130th birthday, we will host our first-ever gala – “Evening in the Park” – on September 21, 2019, in Elm Park. It will feature dinner, live music, dancing, and a silent auction. We ask businesses and individuals to consider donating items for the auction. Please be sure to check our website for tickets and more information.

• The Club’s Holiday Giving program will run from December 2nd to December 20th. We invite the community to help Club kids have a joyful holiday season. Opportunities include “adopting” a family or a single Club youth (provide presents and support for the family or child), hosting a toy drive or wrapping party, and more.

• We will host our Annual Meeting on Thursday, June 11, 2020. It will feature performances, a commencement ceremony for our graduating high school seniors, and an induction ceremony for our Alumni Hall of Fame.

For all of our Club-run events, we invite community members and businesses to become sponsors by donating anywhere from $100–$50,000, or in-kind items, depending on the event.


Giving Opportunities

• Online donations are accepted any time at www.bgcworcester.org.

• We provide holiday gifts for 2,000 children annually, as well as 200+ Club families (including grocery store gift cards, for family holiday dinner, etc.)

• Back-to-school supplies (backpacks, calculators, etc.) for 300 kids every August/September.

• School supplies are always needed in our Learning Center, so we are happy to receive pens, rulers, notebooks, 3-D printer supplies, robotics, etc. any time.

• Our food pantry nourishes Club families in need, and we are always pleased to accept items to stock our shelves. We now have a refrigerator and freezer, so can accept perishable items for the food pantry.

• Hundreds of kids spend time in our Game Room daily, so our games wear out! Donations of fun-but-educational games like Jenga, Battleship, Legos, and Apples to Apples are always appreciated.


Volunteer Opportunities

• Be a mentor – be a supporter and adviser, encourage a Club kid to overcome obstacles, help them gain the confidence and skills for success. Timeframe: One school-year commitment minimum, meeting one-two afternoons/week at the Club.

• Homework help (all subjects!). Timeframe: One school-year commitment (Sept-June), one afternoon/week at the Club.

• Job Shadowee: Allow teens to shadow employees at work for an afternoon (or more), to see firsthand the real-world demands of a field that interests them. Timeframe: Weekday afternoon(s) during the school year, 2-3 hours, at workplace.

• Run a workshop on writing a résumé, requirements for entering your field, what interviewers look for, etc. Timeframe: School-year weekday afternoon(s) or evening(s), 1-2 hours at the Club.

• Run a workshop on financial aid, writing a college essay, admissions interviews, or lead a college tour. Timeframe: Weekday afternoon(s) or evening(s) year-round, 1-2 hours at the Club or a college.

• Host a group of teens and rotate them through jobs at your site. Provide supervision, brief training, and feedback. Timeframe: Weekday afternoon(s) or evening(s), year-round, at workplace.

• Provide a meal for Kids Café, our free meal program. Many teams of volunteers (from corporations, colleges, families, etc.) come back every year, to prepare and serve a meal for our Club kids.