(Pictured from left to right: BGCMA Board Chair Larry Patrick, BGCMA Regional Director Nikki McClain, Mayor Andre Dickens, BGCMA President & CEO David Jernigan, At-Promise South Site Director Nakita Williams, and BGCMA Chief of Programs & Operations Terri Fishback).
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta (BGCMA) is thrilled to announce a generous $1 million donation from the City of Atlanta and Mayor Andre Dickens in support of the Year of the Youth Initiative. This transformative contribution reflects the City’s commitment to empowering the next generation of leaders, learners, and achievers.
The “Year of the Youth Initiative” is a collaborative effort aimed at enhancing the lives of Atlanta’s youth through a variety of educational, recreational, and mentorship programs. Mayor Andre Dickens, a steadfast advocate for youth development, emphasizes the importance of investing in our future leaders and creating opportunities for their success.
“We are deeply grateful for the City of Atlanta’s unwavering support and Mayor Andre Dickens’ commitment to the well-being and development of our youth,” said BGCMA President & CEO David Jernigan. “This generous donation will significantly impact our ability to provide a safe, engaging and inclusive environment for kids & teens to thrive during critical after school hours and school breaks.”
With the generous $1M donation from the City of Atlanta, BGCMA plans to scale its services in several key areas, including an investment in more staffing to increase accessibility for more youth, employing Academic Support Coaches, who will provide enhanced academic support as youth continue to recover from COVID learning loss; technology infrastructure advancements, teen-focused transportation solutions to remove barriers that may hinder access to programs; extending operating hours on identified Friday and Saturday evenings to allow teen-only programming such as music production, and e-sports competitions; and the establishment of a Teen Ambassadors Program for peer-to-peer recruitment and retention through social media.
“The City of Atlanta is continuing its support of our youth with a $1 Million commitment to expand safe spaces through our partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta,” said Mayor Andre Dickens. “I am so proud to say that over the course of our Year of the Youth initiative, we have been able to provide services to more than 30,000 of our young people and these commitments to local organizations will continue to see more youth engaged.”
For media inquiries, please contact:
Christin Jackson
Brand & Media Marketing Manager
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta
c. 404.664.8325| cjackson@bgcma.org