Courtesy: AJC
A department store’s $10 million donation will benefit hundreds of youth in Metro Atlanta, and our A.W. “Tony” Matthews Boys & Girls Club in Mableton knew just how to celebrate: with a day of service.
On June 28, as a part of a 3-year partnership renewal, Kohl’s announced a $10 million donation to Boys & Girls Clubs of America. As a part of the partnership, volunteers from Kohl’s came out to the Matthews Club to participate in the 2022 Kohl’s Day of service. While there, the Kohl’s team worked on beautifying the Club space by refreshing the softball field as well as planting gardens of fruit and vegetables.
During the event, Boys & Girls Club of America President and CEO Jim Clark spoke about how the donation will train staff to provide social and emotional care to local children. “This is an incredibly huge and generous gift from Kohl’s, and we couldn’t be happier and prouder to be partnered with Kohl’s to bring to life some of these programs and initiatives that kids desperately need here in America,” Clark said.
Also in attendance was NBA legend and Atlanta Hawks Vice President Dominique Wilkins. He shared how the Boys & Girls Club in Baltimore changed his life and taught him how to become a young man. “Without the Boys & Girls Club, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be here right now,” said the retired NBA star. “I owe the Boys & Girls Club a lot.”
Michelle Banks, Kohl’s chief diversity & inclusion officer, spoke to kids about how she hopes the donation will help them succeed. “We just wanted to show up and support you because you all are so critical, and we want to make sure that we’re giving you all that you need to make sure you are able to have a really great future,” Banks said.
The day of fun concluded with an epic game of kickball with the Matthews Club and the Kohl’s team. Wilkins even joined in on the fun by rolling out the first few game balls.