SCROLL DOWN TO SEE HOW YOU HELPED
This annual report is filled with samples of artwork
created by kids and teens from Boys & Girls Clubs across the city.
Because of YOU…
our kids have a powerful avenue to discover themselves and express their feelings creatively through spoken word, creative writing, painting, music, and more! Along with you, they are designing their future and mapping out the steps to get there. Check out the last page of this report for a special surprise!
FRIENDS & SUPPORTERS
We can’t thank you enough. Because of you, last year, we were able to reach nearly 10,000 kids and teens and help them reach their full potential. Your support of our 20+ Clubs allowed kids to get college and career ready, live healthy, and become leaders.
The theme for this year’s annual report is Creating Great Futures: By Design. Inspired by our John H. Harland Boys & Girls Club “Innovation and Expression Studio”, slated to open in 2019, it features works of art created by kids and teens from Boys & Girls Clubs across the city. From painting to song to spoken word, you can feel and hear their passion, perseverance, and potential – all possible because of you.
While art is a cornerstone of the work you make possible, our Clubs also offer so much more. From leadership programs and team sports to homework help and career coaching, thousands of kids each day get the extra help they need when they walk through our doors.
For 2017, I’m proud to report we took some major steps forward:
• 100% of our seniors participating in the College Bound program graduated from high school and were placed in college, technical school, or the military. Club teens were awarded a total of $1.4 million in scholarships.
• Nearly 80% of Boys & Girls Club teens volunteered at least once last year – a rate 65% higher than their national peers.
• Our high school members were 88% less likely to report ever smoking a cigarette and 75% percent less likely to report ever having a drink of alcohol than their Georgia peers.
While we celebrate the successes your support made possible, we have to keep pushing forward. Many kids and teens still don’t have access to the resources and relationships they need to chart a better path. It is up to us to get them there.
As we look ahead, we have big plans and big dreams. We are thrilled to work with you to make them a reality. In 2018/2019, we are continuing to focus on quality, giving our kids the best through their Club spaces and the staff and programs that shape their lives. We are joining forces with other organizations on critical issues like mental health to identify signs of problems early and make sure kids have what they need to cope and heal. We are also continuing to up our investment in workforce development programs that give kids the skills, experience, and practice they need to fulfill their passions and serve as productive members of society.
We know you have many options for support and you give to us by design. We thank you for your commitment and passion for kids.
Thanks for all you have done and will continue to do to create great futures for our kids and our Clubs.
Sincerely,
Many kids don’t have access to the resources and relationships they need to discover their own potential. You can help us get them there by equipping them with the tools to create a great future.
The Blossoming Tree
Artwork by LaToia Jackson, 14
Douglas County Boys & Girls Club
Ladder to the Moon
Artwork by Taylor Mitchell, 11
Newnan/Coweta Boys & Girls Club
Heart Lips
Artwork by McKenzie Sewell, 17
Lawrenceville Boys & Girls Club
Many of the kids and teens we serve don’t have access to the resources and relationships they need to reach their full potential. You help give kids and teens experiences that open their eyes to what’s possible. Because of your support, kids are designing their futures with a better understanding of who they are, where they come from, and where they are going. They are able to discover their talents, nurture their passions, and plan a path forward.
Thank you! Last year, because of your time and financial investment, kids and teens:
- Met influential leaders such as Bill and Melinda Gates, Representative John Lewis, Cam Newton, Katy Perry, and Devonte Freeman and learned about their keys to success.
- Participated in job shadowing at organizations like Accenture, DPR Construction, WellStar Health System, Delta, and Chick-fil-A through Career Wise Wednesday.
- Broadened their horizons during field trips to the Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA), Woodruff Arts Center, Georgia State Capitol, and the Fox Theatre.
- Explored college life with tours of universities across the Southeast including Florida A&M University, Alabama State University, University of West Georgia, and more.
- Learned about different cultures and the richness of diversity through the Kiwanis Kids Cultural Challenge.
- Flexed their mental muscles at chess tournaments testing their creativity and problem solving skills.
- Grew fruits and vegetables in their Club gardens and competed in an org-wide Salsa Cook Off!
- Flew to baseball/softball camp in Baltimore to train and bat with the pros in the exclusive Cal Ripken Jr. clinic.
- Hiked, kayaked, and mastered archery at Camp Kiwanis – our year-round resident camp in Danielsville, GA.
- Traveled to Chicago for the National Keystone Leadership Conference, an event offering connection with likeminded peers from across the country focused on driving positive change.
- Created their very own film and musical productions in Club studios across the city.
Because of your support, in 2017, we celebrated the opening of several sites, including our At-Promise Boys & Girls Club, a partnership with the Atlanta Police Foundation and the Atlanta Police Department, our Howard Warner Boys & Girls Club in Coweta County, and our Chamblee Boys & Girls Club in DeKalb County. We are also in full swing with our new John H. Harland Boys & Girls Club, a space focused on arts, innovation, and expression that is slated to open in 2019. In addition, over the past few years, your commitment allowed us to complete renovations and/or refreshes at 15 Club locations.
We have also said some farewells. Because our organization focuses on serving the kids and families who need us most, this has meant shifting a few of our locations to new areas of the city. We bid farewell to two of our longest-standing Club locations – George Washington Carver Boys & Girls Club & Brookhaven Boys & Girls Club. We also said goodbye to our Adamsville Boys & Girls Club site. We will always cherish the families we met, the friendships we began, and the memories we made along the way.
For a full recap on all of the changes to our Club spaces in 2017, visit www.bgcma.org/inspiringspaces.
At Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, we teach kids their voices are important and they have the power to make change. Last year, with your support and encouragement, kids and teens traveled far and wide to advocate on behalf of their peers.
Our 2017-2018 Youth of the Year, Kai Hartman, and runner-up, Cory Seals, headed to Washington D.C. to serve as BGCMA’s teen ambassadors on Capitol Hill. They met with a number of policymakers, including Congressman John Lewis, to advocate not only for metro Atlanta youth, but also for millions of Club kids across the country.
Kids and teens also participated in advocacy efforts at the state level. They got a hands-on look at the legislative process through a series of workshops focused on researching bills and taking a stand. They even hosted a town hall with legislators to share their views. Also, as part of the Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network’s Day of Advocacy, they headed to the State Capitol to share why afterschool programming is important to them and their community.
Because of you, our young leaders are making a difference through the power of their voice. We couldn’t do it without you! Thank you!
Get to Know Us Even Better