Worcester Business Journal

26 Worcester Business Journal | October 25, 2021 | wbjournal.com VOLUNTEERING At the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester we believe that service rewards both those who give and those who receive. Making a difference in the life of a child, or in our community offers benefits that can only be understood by reaching out and lending a hand. There are a variety of ways volunteers at the Boys & Girls Club including; 1. Mentor a Club kid. Mentoring is key to helping members through difficulties arising from COVID. 2. Our Community Reader program was so successful this summer, it has been extended through the school year. Volunteers read a book to kids in our School Age Child Care program, to promote the importance of literacy. 3. Job Shadowee: Allow teens to shadow employees at work for an afternoon, so they can see firsthand the real-world scope of a field that interests them. 4. Run a workshop/be a guest speaker on writing a resume, requirements for entering your field, new hire requirements, etc. 5. Day of service. A group volunteers clean, paint, do yard work, etc. at the Club. For more information contact Leah Motsis, Director of Development at lmotsis@bgcworcester.org or 508-754-2686 ext. 250 We serve Worcester's children and teens from under-resourced areas including Main South, Great Brook Valley, and Plumley Village. Without the Club, the majority of our members and their families would have nowhere else to go due to a lack of transportation, limited finances, language barriers, and more. • We serve 8,000 youth a year, 93% of which do not receive services from any other agency. • 80% of our members live in poverty (54% of households earning $15K or less a year), 64% live in single-parent households, and 88% identify as people of color. • An estimated 30% of our members have specials needs, most often with emotional or learning difficulties and 20% have IEPs. • At any one time, we have 500 members who are in-crisis, and 75 who are gang– or court-involved. • 88% members are youth of color and we strive to hire staff to the reflect the cultural diversity of our membership. WHO WE ARE OUR GOALS WAYS TO INVEST FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE ENDOWMENT FUND THE PROGRAM The Boys & Girls Club of Worcester and the Business & College Communities are vital components of the workforce pipeline in Worcester. Youth will receive additional support and resources, and business professionals & college students will be immersed in meaningful service. Boys & Girls Club of Worcester will provide volunteer opportunities including monthly events for mentors and mentees to meet. Mentor trainings & coaching, along with background checks will be included. Business & College Community will recruit professionals & students to be mentors to our members. The mentors provide support & knowledge to our youth, which will contribute to their emotional and academic growth. MENTORING OPPORTUNITIES Monthly events will be hosted at the Boys & Girls Club as opportunities for Mentors & Mentees to meet. • Kick Off Event • Holiday Bash • Spa Party • Hoops Clinic • Paint Night • STEM Lab All gifts to the endowment—no matter the size—will continue to grow over time, along with our Club and kids, making an even bigger impact for the future. There are several ways to give to the endowment: • Take advantage of our named gift opportunities which include sponsoring different areas at our Harrington Clubhouse such as Kid's Café, the gymnasium, the outdoor patio overlooking the athletic field, and more. • Become a sponsor of our "Great Futures" wall with an endowment gift of $10,000 or more. • Purchase a brick for $500 or $1,000 in honor of someone special that will represent a piece of our Club's foundation. Your brick will be added to our "Pathway to Great Futures" outside of our Harrington Clubhouse. For more information please visit www.bgcworcester.org/endowment or contact Liz Hamilton, Executive Director at Lhamilton@bgcworcester.org or 508-754-2686 ext. 201 Our goal is to raise $10 million in the first 5 years for the endowment. Hitting this milestone will ensure we can execute our top priorities including: • Build capacity to strengthen our organization in order to improve the Club experience for our members and grow our financial assets and resources. • A $10 million endowment will not only continue to grow in time but will provide the Club with $350,000-$500,000 (4%-5% interest) a year we can utilize for operations, programs and building maintenance. HOW CAN YOU HELP?

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