Enhanced Education Strategy to Foster Academic Success for Youth

Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta Awarded $4.4 Million Grant from The Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation

July 27, 2010

Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta (BGCMA) was recently awarded a three-year $4.4 million grant from The Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation for a new comprehensive educational pilot program.

 

The pilot is the first implementation of the organization’s strategy to increase the impact delivered to youth by elevating programs and initiatives focused on academic success. In the after school hours, boys and girls who attend BGCMA’s Clubs benefit from various youth development programs that focus on fostering academic success, promoting healthy lifestyles and developing character and leadership skills. Of the youth who attend Clubs, 84 percent are economically disadvantaged and 65 percent live in single-parent households.

 

To address critical needs of the children it serves, BGCMA plans to bolster existing academic programs and provide new, innovative learning enhancement opportunities. During the 2010-2011 school year, BGCMA will launch the new educational pilot program in eight of the organization’s Clubs, including: 

The grant enables BGCMA to update technology, launch new interactive learning programs, hire full-time education-focused staff and implement tools to track academic performance and other skills critical for workplace and social success. The grant also provides year-round professional training and development for all full-time staff. Laureen Lamb, vice president of education for BGCMA, spearheaded the new initiative and will oversee all Clubs’ academic programming.

 

The goals of the new educational pilot program are to:

Programs, including StoryCove, Teen Troupe Tellers, Everfi, and Learning through Sports, will be targeted by age group to ensure activities are relevant and fun, while being tied to age-appropriate educational benchmarks, including reading level and CRCT scores. BGCMA will work hand-in-hand with the schools, teachers, principals and superintendents in the communities where the pilot sites are located.

“Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta provides an enriching after-school environment for Atlanta’s youth,” said P. Russell Hardin, president of the Woodruff, Whitehead and Evans Foundations. “The Boys & Girls Club has always been a safe, positive place for kids.  It is increasingly a partner with parents, teachers and principals to provide academic support and encouragement to help our children succeed in school and prepare for success as adults.”

“We are very excited to roll out our new program,” said William Lampley, president of BGCMA. “The support and programs we provide change young lives every day and offer opportunities that help our young people develop in all areas of their lives. And, thanks to the generous support from The Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation, we will now elevate our impact even more, while continuing to provide a fun after school environment. We are committed to being a community partner that works to address crucial needs of the children in our Clubs, families, schools and communities. Education is one very crucial need, and together, we can develop youth who grow to be life-long learners and improve current academic trends.”

BGCMA plans to expand its new program to all Clubs once the pilot program is established and additional funding is secured.

ABOUT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF METRO ATLANTA
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta’s mission is to provide a quality developmental program that empowers metro Atlanta youth, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to become productive adults. Through 27 Clubs in 11 metro counties, trained and professional staff serve more than 3,000 disadvantaged youth (ages 6-18) daily through programs that foster academic success, healthy lifestyles and character and leadership development. BGCMA also has Camp Kiwanis, a 160-acre outdoor residence camp, and the Youth Art Connection (YAC), a gallery and workspace for young artists. To effectively serve those who need us most, BGCMA asks families to pay annual membership dues of only $35 per child and no child is turned away due to inability to pay. For more information, please visit www.bgcma.org.