Opening Doors 2016 ANNUAL REPORT
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Opening Doors 2016 ANNUAL REPORT 1 2 Our mission is to help young people, especially those who need us most, build strong character and realize their full potential as responsible citizens and leaders. We do this by providing: a safe haven filled with hope and opportunity, ongoing relationships with caring adults, and life-enhancing programs. 3 Dear Friends, At Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston we’re dedicated to the children of our city. Our 11 Clubs are strategically located in neighborhoods with pronounced need and our caring youth development professionals serve as positive role models to our members. We thoughtfully design our programs and activities to expand children’s horizons by exposing them to the arts, technology, and more. With the help of more than 200 community partners, we are able to provide the young people we serve with life-changing opportunities and experiences that they would not have otherwise. And none of this would be possible without you. Each one of the generous contributions — regardless of shape or size — made by the individuals, corporations, foundations and community partners listed in this report have an impact on the lives of thousands of children. While BGCB invests $3,100 to serve each member — many of whom come from households with incomes of less than $27,000/year — we only charge $25 per school year for 6-12 year olds and just $5 for teens, and no youth is turned away because of an inability to pay. In order to stay affordable and continue to offer even more enriching programs to the kids who need us most, we are in the midst of a five-year comprehensive campaign to raise $125 million. Our members, past and present, all benefit from the Club in unique ways. From homework help and music lessons to the warm, nutritious meals served nightly, we support our members across multiple dimensions. We invite you to read about some of the many opportunities we provide to nearly 16,000 young people at our Clubs and through our direct service programs each year. We hope the stories will inspire you. On behalf of all the young people who benefit from the opportunities you help us provide to them, thank you. With gratitude, Josh Kraft Dana Smith Nicholas President and CEO+ Chair of the Board of Directors +The senior professional position at Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston was named in 2006 in recognition of Pete and Ginny Nicholas to honor their deep commitment to the organization and to further their dedication to ensuring excellence in organizational leadership. 4 5 Your Support Opens Doors to Opportunity for 16,000 Young People In 2013, Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston embarked on a comprehensive campaign to raise $125 million in three crucial funding areas: capital improvements, endowment, and five years of operating costs and strategic investments. BGCB is grateful to the many individual, corporate and foundation donors who had contributed a total of $115.1 million as of the end of the campaign’s fourth year, June 30, 2016, allowing BGCB to make the following advancements: 1. Opened the Hennigan Club 5. Enhanced programming to benefit Opened in 2013 in Jamaica Plain’s James W. Hennigan the youth we serve Elementary School, the Hennigan Club serves The largest portion of our five-year campaign goal approximately 230 children ages 6-12. supports our ongoing efforts to enable our talented and compassionate staff of more than 240 to deliver Transformed the former Mattapan 2. Library into the new state-of-the-art high quality programs in a safe, supportive environment Mattapan Teen Center to the children we serve each and every day. In FY16, unrestricted operating funds from the Opening Doors The 2014 creation of the Mattapan Teen Center addressed the serious need for a positive Campaign allowed for the following investments at place for teens in that community, and in its first Clubs, instrumental to offering innovative programs to year it saw nearly 300 members. reach more young people and keep them coming back. Mattapan Records offers opportunities in music • Increased staff hours across Clubs, resulting production, song writing, recording, and performing. in more one-on-one attention per member 3. Renovated the Edgerley Family • Added part-time staff for Friday and Saturday South Boston Club leagues at the Yawkey Club of Roxbury The new space, renovated in 2015, includes safe, • Added and strengthened targeted evening programs accessible, and thoughtfully designed program spaces, for teens at the Yawkey Club of Roxbury and which are a necessary component of the experience we create for members. Charlestown Club In its new space and through new partnerships, the • Improved outreach at all Clubs to increase number of Club reached an average daily attendance of 261 summer campers served members. Sparked by the renovation, Club staff found • Created pre-teen transition programs at the Edgerley creative methods to implement programs in ways that take advantage of the redesigned space. Family South Boston Club and Jordan Club • Strengthened aquatics programming and swim teams Grew BGCB’s Endowment by more by adding lifeguard hours at the Berkshire Partners 4. than $20 million Blue Hill Club and improving outreach to potential The endowment growth is giving the agency the swim team members at the Charlestown Club stability we need to create a brighter future for Boston for generations to come. Endowment income now generates approximately 8% of our annual operating budget. Every gift to the Opening Doors Campaign will benefit thousands of youth across Boston and Chelsea in unique and 6 powerful ways, and will help Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston create a brighter future for our city for years to come. 1 3 2 7 77 4 5 8 Ron, a freshman at the Boston Arts EPIC was a Academy, was 13 when he participated in the EPIC program and learned commitment invaluable life lessons. He says, “EPIC I had to make to better was a commitment I had to make to better myself and my future. It was an myself and my future. opportunity to tap in to my success and get me prepared for the real world.” For one year, Ron attended workshops every It was an other week and visited the Mattapan Teen Center regularly, where he enjoyed opportunity singing in the music studio. “We learned to tap in to my a lot of practical skills like how to budget money, communicate, and also learned success and get me about different career options. The prepared for the real world. program helped me become a better role model for my four younger siblings.” Opening Doors and Inspiring EPIC Change Last spring, 46 young people became the first intensive program follows a curriculum with many graduating class of EPIC: Enhancing Potential, small group workshops like career exploration Inspiring Change. The program, developed in and money management, coupled with regular partnership by Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston’s meetings with an appointed social worker who YouthConnect, the Mayor’s Office of Public Safety also works with the young teen’s immediate family. and John Hancock, addresses the serious need Teens visit the Mattapan Teen Center as part of to provide a positive experience for at-risk youth the program and earn a stipend, up to $800, over ages 11-14 during these critical adolescent years, the course of the program for participation and often a time of transition. EPIC aims to increase attendance. EPIC is funded by a grant from John self-awareness as well as empower participants Hancock and will continue as an annual program to reach their full potential. The 12-month serving 50 youth each year. 9 Berkshire Partners Blue Hill Club: 20 Years of Great Futures, Inspired by You On June 29, 1995, the Blue Hill Boys & Girls Berkshire Partners and Chair of BGCB’s Board Club opened its doors in one of Boston’s most of Directors from 1992 – 1995. In the years since underserved neighborhoods, at the corner of Russ Epker passed away in 2003, his colleagues Blue Hill Avenue and Talbot Avenue in Dorchester. at Berkshire Partners have carried on his legacy BGCB’s fourth Clubhouse, the Blue Hill Club with tremendous generosity and continuing provided a safe haven for youth, attracting more support of Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston. To than 1,300 members in its first year of operation. celebrate the Blue Hill Club’s 20th anniversary, Now the heartbeat of the Dorchester community, several of these colleagues established the the Blue Hill Club has helped shape thousands of Berkshire Partners Endowment Fund for the Blue young people into effective citizens and leaders Hill Club, which supports day-to-day operating who have embarked on lives of achievement. costs and ensures the long-term sustainability of the facility. To recognize Berkshire Partners’ Several of BCGB’s Board members spearheaded unwavering financial support, in 2016 the Club the creation of the Blue Hill Club. One of these was renamed in their honor as the Berkshire individuals was Russell L. Epker, Co-Founder of Partners Blue Hill Club. 1 0 The Club has changed a lot In 1997, just two years after the Club opened, 6-year-old Shavoryia McElroy became a member. in 20 years, in a lot of positive “The staff at the Club were like family to me,” Shavoryia says. “They opened their arms and their ways, but the best thing is hearts to me, cared for me, made me feel safe and gave me memories I will never forget.” In 2009 she that it’s still a place was named Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston’s Youth of the Year, and went on to attend the University of where members Massachusetts Amherst, spending her summers can feel safe and working at the Club.