Because of YOUR support, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta can continue to ignite the unlimited potential of kids and teens by connecting more kids and teens with caring, supportive adults who can help them achieve their great futures.
Friends & Supporters –
As we reflect upon the transformative journey of our 2022-2023 program year, I extend my heartfelt greetings to you with immense gratitude and pride. Within the pages of this annual report, we thematically capture “a million moments” – that is, invaluable experiences that have impacted young lives. Moments that would not have been possible without your commitment. With your unwavering support, we have ignited the unlimited potential of thousands of youth in Metro Atlanta, leaving an indelible mark on their paths towards great futures. We invite you to read every story in this report, visit our annual report microsite to watch videos and learn more, and join us in celebrating extraordinary milestones achieved by our kids, teens,staff and supporters over the past year.
As you may recall, we made a commitment to serve more kids, more often and with greater impact by 2025–our overarching goal for our RISE2025 strategic plan. As we approach the halfway mark of that plan, we want to use this opportunity to pause and reflect on the progress made thus far.
After temporarily closing our Clubs in 2020 and serving at limited capacity in 2021, in 2022 we welcomed back many of our former members and new members. By the end of 2022 we reached 75% of our pre-pandemic enrollment and by summer of 2023, we reached 100%.
What’s more, we are seeing our members come to the Club even more often than before the pandemic – especially our teens who can now engage more frequently through college & career readiness programs.
The more often kids come to the Club, the greater the impact BGCMA has on their academic success, physical and mental wellness and character & leadership development. Our members have access to incredible opportunities and resources through the Club, including tutoring, counseling services, co-ed sports, public speaking, peer leadership, college tours, career panels and paid internships. We know we are making a difference when 88% of Club families say they would recommend BGCMA to a friend. Yet we know there are even more youth and families in Metro Atlanta who could benefit from what the Club has to offer, and we are still committed to serving more kids & teens by 2025.
But we cannot achieve our 2025 goals without YOU – our faithful donors, advocates, and volunteers.
Our RISE 2025 plan has ambitious goals around financial sustainability – to protect the organization against economic forces, to support the growing number of youth served, and to ensure BGCMA is around for generations to come. Please amend this sentence with the red text: What’s more, we are seeing our members come to the Club even more often than before the pandemic – especially our teens who’ve shown increased engagement in our college & career readiness programs.
We also know that diversity makes us stronger, and over the past two years we’ve worked to build an inclusive culture among our boards, administrative staff and Clubs. We’ve intentionally increased the racial diversity of our staff leadership and board makeup, and we’ve continued to create space for Club members to feel safe, included and empowered to make change in their communities and beyond.
Read on in this report to see how your belief in our mission made a difference for youth in 2022/2023 program year. And please continue to partner and RISE with us on this journey to serve more kids, more
often and with greater impact by 2025.
For the kids,
As we approach the halfway mark of our strategic plan, we want to pause and reflect on the big moments you helped us capture!
Visit www.bgcma.org/Rise2025
More Kids, More Often with Greater Impact
“As a business owner, I know first-hand the importance of having a strong work ethic and the skills needed to succeed in the workforce, and I’m grateful to be able to share that knowledge and experience with the next generation,” said BGCMA Board Member Stacey Eames, owner of Highland Bakery.
Through a partnership with BGCMA’s College & Career
Readiness program, Highland Bakery provides job training and mentorship opportunities in culinary arts, restaurant management and hospitality.
“Working at Highland Bakery has brought a more realistic view on my dreams,” said Kenneth, a future chef and 2023 alumnus of Michael A. Grant Boys & Girls Club in Cobb County. “After two years of working here, I actually know what I’m doing after watching Stacey do it. I see how she runs the business and what it takes to run a business. This place is a stepping stone to show me exactly what I want to do in life.” Kenneth will major in business this fall and plans to open a bakery in the future.
READ MORERelationships Matter
What attracts kids & teens to our Clubs and keeps them coming back? Meaningful relationships with caring adult mentors. 100% of Metro Atlanta Club alumni surveyed say BGCMA had a positive impact on their lives. Parents also appreciate the village of support provided by the 345+ staff and over 296 volunteers in the program year 2022/2023.
In fall 2022, we opened our Boys & Girls Club at Dr. Ronald E. McNair Middle School in Decatur! This comes after the 2020 closure of The Samuel L. Jones Boys & Girls Club in Decatur and a nearly two-year search for a new site in South DeKalb that better aligns with our mission.
Realize a Strong Financial Position
BGCMA experienced an outpouring of financial support from the Atlanta community during our 2022 fiscal year. We saw an increase in government funding and corporate donations and ended the year with a surplus. We also launched a $27.5M Comprehensive Campaign – raising 90% in the first 18 months!
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR COMPREHENSIVE CAMPAIGN
Build Diverse & Effective Leaders
As part of our RISE2025 strategic plan, our Board committed to building a group of volunteer leaders in which 50% of its members would come from racially diverse backgrounds–reflecting the diverse communities we serve. In just two years, that percentage has risen from 26% in 2019 to 36% in 2022!
“Like many organizations, we embraced the idea that diverse perspectives around the leadership table will help us make better decisions, especially when those diverse perspectives closely reflect and understand the communities we serve,” said Larry Patrick, BGCMA Board Chair-Elect and Board Governance Committee Chair.
During the 2022-2023 program year, we welcomed two new classes of Board Members from diverse backgrounds & perspectives, as well as expertise & skillsets. These volunteer leaders play a key role in shaping the strategic direction of our organization and work to secure vital funding to support Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta’s 25 locations across 10 counties in and around the city.
On Nov. 11, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta (BGCMA)’s 2022 Youth of the Year Gala: A Million Moments honored 20 inspiring teens who are exceptional leaders in their Clubs and communities. Thanks to the generosity of our corporate and individual partners, the event raised a record $1,040,000 to directly support BGCMA’s mission, including workforce readiness, mental wellness, and healthy lifestyles.
Emmy-winning journalist Monica Pearson hosted the celebration, which also featured a dynamic live performance from Grammy-nominated artist and actor MAJOR. with an accompaniment of BGCMA’s youth choir, and a special appearance by NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, who spoke about the impact Boys & Girls Clubs had on his life. Our Club in Henry County bears his name. But the true highlight of the evening was hearing speeches from five Youth of the Year (YOY) finalists describing their “Million Moments.”
“I cannot pinpoint one single Club experience that has impacted my journey, because Boys & Girls Clubsas a whole has changed my life for the better,” said Elias. “My journey from the Jesse Draper Club, Camp Kiwanis and now the Flint River Club has helped boost my inner confidence, given me a platform to express myself, and provided opportunities to share my knowledge and skills with youth of all ages and backgrounds.”
As the culminating moment, Elias of the Flint River Community Center Boys & Girls Club in Clayton County was named 2022-2023 BGCMA Youth of the Year—our organization’s highest honor. He then went on to participate in the statewide YOY program, where he was named 2022-2023 Georgia State.
Because of You…
